The 2010 National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) Champions Sacramento Gold (Gold), kicks off its 2013 season by taking on CD Aguiluchos USA in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifier this Sunday at Raimondi Park Stadium in Oakland Ca. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Should the Gold win the match, they would earn home field advantage for the semi-final and final of the qualification rounds. Those games would be played at River City High School in West Sacramento with 7pm kickoff times on March 16th and 23rd, respectively. Winner of the Golden Gate Conference (formerly North West Conference) of the NPSL earns an automatic bid to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament. The Gold will continue to participate in the NPSL. The Golden Gate Conference includes four returning teams and one new team to the league. The new team is the CD Aguiluchos USA out of Oakland Ca. The returning teams are the San Francisco Stompers, Real San Jose, Sonoma Sol and the Gold.

The 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Tournament features 68 teams, an increase from the 64 that competed last year, marking the largest field in the modern era (1995-present). This year also marks the second-consecutive year in which all U.S. based Division I, II and III teams will participate in the tournament proper: 16 from Major League Soccer, six from the North American Soccer League and 12 from USL PRO. The tournament will begin with the Play-In Round to be completed by May 7 and will culminate with the tournament final, which will take place on Oct. 1 or 2. For more info see http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Lamar-Hunt-U-S-Open-Cup/2013/03/2013-US-Lamar-Hunt-US-Open-Cup-Release.aspx

The Sacramento Gold returns a solid core of players that have been part of the successful program for several years. Returning to the lineup is star forward Manolo Pina, Anthony Chimienti who was part of the active roster in 2010 during the National Championships, midfielders Abrahm Prado and Marco Ramirez, defenders Diego Marraquin and Rene Pina. New signees that should bring strength to the team are former MLS players Peter Lowry and Adam Smarte. The team will be coached by Rick Caldwell and assisted by Ruben Mora, who have switched roles for the 2013 campaign. Ownership remains the same and volunteers are always welcome. The season starts Saturday March 30, 2013 as the Gold visits the Sonoma Sol. All home games will be played at River City HS Stadium in West Sacramento.

The overall league continues to expand nationally and is currently made up of over 40 teams.