Ahead of Saturday’s Third Round U.S. Open Cup Qualifying match against Sharktopus FC, Ballard FC have announced their official roster for the qualifying tournament.
Mutanda Kwesele will make his Ballard FC head coaching debut with a 23-man squad that features plenty of familiar faces — 15 players on the qualifying roster have suited up for Ballard FC in the past.
Five players — Declan McGlynn, Lars Helleren, Bailey Letherman, Cale Spence, and Evan Aune — were part of the club’s inaugural roster in 2022. Khai Brisco and Pierluca Carnovale joined McGlynn, Helleren, and Letherman on the 2023 National Championship squad. In addition to Brisco and McGlynn, another seven players were part of a Ballard FC roster in 2025, including Jackson Buck, Oliver Nybonn, Omar Grey, Rafi Otero, Kelyn Rowe, Nii Engmann, and Omar Yehya.
Those won’t be the only names fans recognize, as four former Seattle Sounders headline the team. In addition to Rowe, Ballard FC co-founder and Sounders legend Lamar Neagle will lead from the front as captain for Kwesele’s squad this fall. The defensive duo of Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Jordan McCrary also brings major experience. McCrary was a top-ten MLS SuperDraft pick in 2016 by the New England Revolution before joining the Sounders in 2018, while Hurtado made over 100 appearances for Seattle from 2009 to 2013 — winning three U.S. Open Cup trophies during that span. Now, Hurtado is aiming for even more Open Cup success with Ballard FC.
The Brisco–Spence defensive pairing will also be an integral part of the qualifying roster, with both players currently in top form as they train with the Tacoma Stars of the MASL (Major Arena Soccer League) this fall.
Fans can check out the full Fall Open Cup Qualifying Roster below.
Goalkeepers
- Jackson Buck
- Pierluca Carnovale
- Lars Helleren
- Oliver Nybonn
Defenders
- Evan Aune
- Julian Avila
- Khai Brisco
- Omar Grey
- Jhon Kennedy Hurtado
- Jordan McCrary
- Chris Myers
- Cale Spence
Midfielders
- Bailey Letherman
- Declan McGlynn
- Rafi Otero
- Kelyn Rowe
- Christian Soto
- Tsigab Tesfamariam
Forwards
- Nii Engmann
- Scott Menzies
- Lamar Neagle (C)
- Mori Tsuchiya
- Omar Yehya
Read Saturday’s match preview to learn more about the match details and the opponents.
Written by Max Dresbach
