SACRAMENTO, Calif. – University at Albany alumnus Danny Vitiello ’18 will participate in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship Wednesday night. Vitiello and his Sacramento Republic FC team of the United Soccer League Championship tier will play Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer.
Sacramento Republic is the first team outside the MLS to play in the U.S. Open Cup final since Charleston Battery played D.C. United in 2008.
Vitiello, Sacramento Republic’s starting goalkeeper, has guided his squad through every match of the Open Cup, during which time Sacramento has defeated three MLS teams. In the Round of 16, Sacramento defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0, and then beat the LA Galaxy 2-1 in the quarterfinals. To advance to the championship, Sacramento played Sporting KC to a draw and advanced 5-4 on penalty kicks. Vitiello made the decisive penalty save against Sporting KC in the final round of the shootout to send Sacramento the the final.
The Open Cup is the oldest soccer tournament in the United States, beginning in 1914 and crowning a champion from among a field of the top four tiers of American professional soccer as well as teams from the amateur division. The 2022 edition featured 103 total teams in participation.
Vitiello, who graduated UAlbany in 2018, is currently in his fourth season as a professional player. He began his career at Nashville SC before moving to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for two seasons. Vitiello joined Sacramento before this latest season, and has guided the team to second place in the Western Conference standings.
Vitiello left his mark as one of the most formidable goalkeepers in UAlbany history. Upon his graduation, he held the program record for goalkeeper victories with 31, and shutouts with 24. He ranks second in goalkeeper games played with 60, and is one of two players with a goals-against average less than 1.00. Finally, Vitiello ranks fifth in program history in total saves, 221, and save percentage, .784.
The U.S. Open Cup title match is scheduled for September 7 at 8:00 pm and can be streamed live on ESPN+.
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