Aug. 11, 2008

Seattle, Wash.- UIC volunteer assistant men's soccer coach Minos Vlamakis, former midfielder Adnan Ejupovic and sophomore forward Stevan Jovcic made their marks in two different divisions of the United States Adult Soccer Association's 2008 National Cup at the Starfire Sports Complex this past weekend.

Vlamakis coached Ejupovic, a two-year letterwinner as a midfielder for the Flames from 2005-2006, and RWB Adria to a semifinal finish in the National Cup Men's Open division. The RWB Adria side featuring Vlamakis at the helm and Ejupovic on the pitch lost an offense-dominated 5-3 match to the eventual Open champion Pancyprian Freedoms.

In the separate Men's U23 division, Jovcic scored all three goals to guide ELA Elite to a 3-0 victory over Lone Star in the National Cup semifinals on Friday before leading the club to the U23 national title in a 3-0 win over the Arizona Sahuaros in the championship match on Sunday.

The National Cup competition is considered the oldest and most prestigious soccer tournament in the United States that is open to teams playing in a league of four or more teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Adult Soccer Association, according to the USASA. Each year approximately 250 teams participate in the National Cups, with a champion crowned in each of the four men's and four women's divisions.