May 12, 1935 – St. Louis Central Breweries 1:3 (7:6) Pawtucket Rangers, U.S. Open Cup final at Newark School Stadium (Att. 2,000)

According to The Boston Globe, the National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) final had been set as a best-of-three series, the title going to the first team to win twice. The Centrals had taken a 5-2 home victory and the teams had played to a 1-1 tie in Pawtucket. But on May 11, 1935, the day before the match, the U.S. Football Association decreed total goals would decide the winner.

Former Fall River Marksmen teammates Billy Gonsalves, Alex McNab and Bert Patenaude led the way for the St. Louis team. Patenaude set up Willie McLean for the opening goal 20 minutes in. The Rangers, who had a 10-1 edge in corner kicks and struck the bar and post “many times,” rallied for a 2-1 halftime lead Bob McIntyre’s 28^th-minute score and the first of two Walter Dick goals, in the 30^th-minute. Dick converted again with 10 minutes remaining.

Gonsalves and Patenaude had formed an effective combination for several years, leading the U.S. in the 1930 World Cup. During the 1935 U.S. Open Cup final, Gonsalves was 26, Patenaude 25 years old. They might have thrived together for several more years, but the demise of the American Soccer League and poor organization at the national team level led to the U.S. failing to qualify for the 1938 World Cup.

On the same day, a 2,000 crowd attended the Fall River city championship game.

May 12, 1935 – Tennessee Boys 5:3 St. Michael’s at Bigberry Stadium (Att.: 2,000), Fall River city championship

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY