Despite an upcoming game with Louisville City FC, its only professional opponent ever, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon FC isn’t likely to put in much practice time before Wednesday.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one team captain, Andy Kalas, is a certified public accountant. Another, EJ McCormick, works as an event planner during the day.
Only in a competition like the U.S. Open Cup would the Tartan Devils face a LouCity — and get to host the game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pittsburgh’s Highmark Stadium in the single-elimination national tournament that sometimes matchups up amateur and professional clubs.
“We never look down at teams,” said LouCity midfielder Guy Abend. “We don’t take anything away from teams. We’re going to do our homework against them.”
Formed during a merger of two teams from the Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League — the Tartan Devils and Oak Avalon — Tartan Devils Oak Avalon FC is considered a local powerhouse. The club hasn’t lost since 2014 and serves as an avenue for a number of former high school and college players to continue playing the game they love.
To earn a game against LouCity, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon defeated locally based Derby City Rovers, of the Professional Development League, in a penalty shootout.
“It would’ve been great to play the local derby,” said LouCity coach James O’Connor. “It would’ve been fantastic for the community to have that, and obviously it wasn’t meant to be.”
Of Wednesday’s opponent, O’Connor added, “This is a massive game for them. The opportunity to play against professional players is something that they were made up for.”
The winner will move on to the U.S. Open Cup’s Third Round set for May 31 against either FC Cincinnati or AFC Cleveland of the National Premier Soccer League. The boys in purple will again play away should they advance.
Off Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies — LouCity’s first loss of 2017 — the club gets two games in Pittsburgh over a four-day span. Following the U.S. Open Cup game is a 7 p.m. Saturday meeting with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in USL play, and also at Highmark Stadium.
O’Connor hinted at some lineup changes for Wednesday’s game.
“I think it’s important that we get good minutes into some guys — perhaps get a couple that maybe need a rest,” the coach said. “And then make sure that we have enough in our quality in our attitude and our mentality is right for a tough game Wednesday night.”
This year’s U.S. Open Cup marks LouCity’s third appearance in the competition. In 2015 the club advanced to play the Chicago Fire and took the Major League Soccer side to overtime before falling 1-0. Last season, LouCity knocked off Detroit City FC before falling to the Indy Eleven.
