TicketsBy Will Rettig
CINCINNATI – Tuesday night featured a semifinal matchup in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Nippert Stadium between MLS side New York Red Bulls and USL underdog FC Cincinnati. It was a riveting, momentum-swinging contest that lasted more than 120 minutes.
Once the clock expired, New York had captured an emotional 3-2 triumph over FCC while the city of Cincinnati and its fans reflected on a memorable cup run. However, different kinds of emotions – more personal and genuine – were also present Tuesday with a couple individuals rooting for opposite sides in the cup match.
That would be University of Cincinnati women's soccer Head Coach Neil Stafford and NY Red Bulls goalkeeper coach Preston Burpo, who began his coaching career in 1995 as a graduate assistant at UC under former coach Meridy Glenn. Stafford and Burpo first met as teammates in the 1990s on the Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team and quickly became best friends.
"[Our relationship] kind of blossomed on the field and then went from there off the field," Burpo replied, when prompted to explain how he and Stafford's friendship developed during their time at SNHU. "We had a good time going through college together. Two guys that were loving life and embracing college life."
"I think he felt sorry for me," Stafford joked. He then continued, "We couldn't have been more opposite. There was something that just clicked. Maybe it was that we balanced each other out. I've always felt with Preston I could be myself and not get judged."
Following their time together at SNHU, Stafford and Burpo took different paths that ultimately brought them back together to UC's campus Tuesday. After a short stint as an assistant under Glenn, Burpo went on to pursue a professional playing career. The majority of his career was spent with the Seattle Sounders during the franchise's USL days, but he joined the MLS in 2006 and has 59 career appearances to his name.
Stafford, meanwhile, spent less time playing professionally and instead started to build his resume in coaching. Before arriving at UC, Stafford made stops with the Boston Renegades, Seacoast United, Assumption College and Central Michigan. He took over the women's program at UC prior to the 2013 season.
Through it all, the two remained close. They talked every couple months and exchanged text messages with words of encouragement or updates on their careers. Through more than two decades of friendship, the conversation that stands out the most was when Stafford asked Burpo to be the best man at his wedding.
"It was a real honor to be his best man. I was pretty blown away and got a little emotional on the other side of the phone when he asked me," Burpo said. "It's been fun watching him grow as a person and into the man he's become."
"[I'm] getting ready for my wedding and…" Stafford looked away as he collected himself. "Just him telling me how proud he was. That was a cool moment."
Stafford describes Burpo as having a "fierce loyalty" in regards to their relationship. It is this same phrase – fierce loyalty – that Stafford assimilates as part of coaching his players and one of three core values that comprise the Culture of Excellence at UC.
"That fierce loyalty he's had to me is what we have within our program here," Stafford said.
Stafford's program has portrayed fierce loyalty on and off the pitch. His 2015 team used it to help win the American Athletic Conference championship and finish strong academically as well. According to Stafford, it's about trusting the person to your left and to your right and believing in each other.
On Tuesday morning, Burpo set aside time to make an appearance at the UC women's practice, in spite of the magnitude of New York's match against FCC that night. He chatted with his old friend and spoke briefly to the team.
Both Stafford and Burpo went into detail about their feelings not only for one another, but also for Cincinnati and what the city and the university mean to them. Stafford remembers calling Burpo to ask him about Cincinnati and about coaching Division I.
"This place is amazing. It's been 22 years since I've been here," Burpo admitted. "Such a good energy through the campus."
With the MLS and collegiate soccer seasons getting underway, Stafford and Burpo will not hear from each other as much, but that won't prevent them from keeping tabs on each other.
"I'm hoping that we're old and gray many years from now and we're still talking," Stafford thought to himself. "My dream is FC Cincinnati [joins] MLS and maybe Preston ends up coaching out here."
CINCINNATI – Tuesday night featured a semifinal matchup in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Nippert Stadium between MLS side New York Red Bulls and USL underdog FC Cincinnati. It was a riveting, momentum-swinging contest that lasted more than 120 minutes.
Once the clock expired, New York had captured an emotional 3-2 triumph over FCC while the city of Cincinnati and its fans reflected on a memorable cup run. However, different kinds of emotions – more personal and genuine – were also present Tuesday with a couple individuals rooting for opposite sides in the cup match.
That would be University of Cincinnati women's soccer Head Coach Neil Stafford and NY Red Bulls goalkeeper coach Preston Burpo, who began his coaching career in 1995 as a graduate assistant at UC under former coach Meridy Glenn. Stafford and Burpo first met as teammates in the 1990s on the Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team and quickly became best friends.
"[Our relationship] kind of blossomed on the field and then went from there off the field," Burpo replied, when prompted to explain how he and Stafford's friendship developed during their time at SNHU. "We had a good time going through college together. Two guys that were loving life and embracing college life."
"I think he felt sorry for me," Stafford joked. He then continued, "We couldn't have been more opposite. There was something that just clicked. Maybe it was that we balanced each other out. I've always felt with Preston I could be myself and not get judged."
Following their time together at SNHU, Stafford and Burpo took different paths that ultimately brought them back together to UC's campus Tuesday. After a short stint as an assistant under Glenn, Burpo went on to pursue a professional playing career. The majority of his career was spent with the Seattle Sounders during the franchise's USL days, but he joined the MLS in 2006 and has 59 career appearances to his name.
Stafford, meanwhile, spent less time playing professionally and instead started to build his resume in coaching. Before arriving at UC, Stafford made stops with the Boston Renegades, Seacoast United, Assumption College and Central Michigan. He took over the women's program at UC prior to the 2013 season.
Through it all, the two remained close. They talked every couple months and exchanged text messages with words of encouragement or updates on their careers. Through more than two decades of friendship, the conversation that stands out the most was when Stafford asked Burpo to be the best man at his wedding.
"It was a real honor to be his best man. I was pretty blown away and got a little emotional on the other side of the phone when he asked me," Burpo said. "It's been fun watching him grow as a person and into the man he's become."
"[I'm] getting ready for my wedding and…" Stafford looked away as he collected himself. "Just him telling me how proud he was. That was a cool moment."
Stafford describes Burpo as having a "fierce loyalty" in regards to their relationship. It is this same phrase – fierce loyalty – that Stafford assimilates as part of coaching his players and one of three core values that comprise the Culture of Excellence at UC.
"That fierce loyalty he's had to me is what we have within our program here," Stafford said.
Stafford's program has portrayed fierce loyalty on and off the pitch. His 2015 team used it to help win the American Athletic Conference championship and finish strong academically as well. According to Stafford, it's about trusting the person to your left and to your right and believing in each other.
On Tuesday morning, Burpo set aside time to make an appearance at the UC women's practice, in spite of the magnitude of New York's match against FCC that night. He chatted with his old friend and spoke briefly to the team.
Both Stafford and Burpo went into detail about their feelings not only for one another, but also for Cincinnati and what the city and the university mean to them. Stafford remembers calling Burpo to ask him about Cincinnati and about coaching Division I.
"This place is amazing. It's been 22 years since I've been here," Burpo admitted. "Such a good energy through the campus."
With the MLS and collegiate soccer seasons getting underway, Stafford and Burpo will not hear from each other as much, but that won't prevent them from keeping tabs on each other.
"I'm hoping that we're old and gray many years from now and we're still talking," Stafford thought to himself. "My dream is FC Cincinnati [joins] MLS and maybe Preston ends up coaching out here."