Tartan Devils Oak Avalon

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Louisville City leaves no doubt in 9-0 thrashing of Tartan Devils

May 21, 2017 by John Krysinsky

The Tartan Devils Oak Avalon have been a resilient amateur club — making an unprecedented run to reach the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup’s Second Round.

That run came to crashing halt on Wednesday night at Highmark Stadium, as the Pittsburgh-based team were outclassed by Louisville City FC, 9-0.

“People look at Open Cup, or FA Cup in England, and sometimes underestimate teams,” James O’Connor, Louisville City FC coach, said. “It was important that we showed them the respect that they deserved for getting to this point. And for our guys who needed to get important minutes, and show tremendous hunger to make a statement.”

Indeed, Louisville City may have bungled a few possessions early on when the Tartan Devils stayed back in an organized defensive shape, but by the eighth minute, they broke through for a goal that would set the tone for the rest of the game.

Ilija Ilic’s hard shot ricocheted off the post, at Tartan Devils keeper Zach Varga and in the back of the net.

“When you play a game like this, a little bit of unluckiness is not going to help you at all,” Varga said. “But they kept coming at us, and made it very difficult on us.”

From there, the visitors controlled a game which was mostly played in the LouCity attacking third. The underdog Devils, who knocked off the Derby City Rovers a week ago in a match that extended to penalties, really had a hard time trying to play the ball out of the defensive third.

Tartan Devils Oak Avalon conceded again in the 16th minute when Sean Totsch delivered a lengthy cross to Mark-Anthony Kaye, who out-jumped a Devils defender in good position to head in a goal.
Ballard scored his first professional goal in the 22nd and Ilic was later credited with his own in the 41st, sending LouCity into the locker room ahead 4-0 at halftime.

“That really wasn’t our best effort tonight. The moment was pretty big for our guys, but give all the credit to Louisville, they are a really great team,” Andy Kalas, Tartan Devils player/coach, said. “We didn’t know what to expect. They got up 1-0 early, then another, then another. It was tough to bounce back.”

With both teams using all three subs at halftime, LouCity were determined to keep filling the goal at Highmark Stadium, where they have a league match against USL foe Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a few days.

“That’s the biggest thing for us – guys that hadn’t got minutes – got them. And we performed professionally,” O’Connor added. “Now we’ve got a big game to prepare for here in a few days, so we’ll need to get some rest and train and hopefully get another win here in Pittsburgh.”

A hungry Louisville City FC squad, coming off its first league loss at Tampa Bay last week, would tack on five more second half goals, and could have reached double-digits if it weren’t for the efforts of Tartan Devils’ goalkeeper Varga, who faced more than 20 shots on goal.

“Last week, we beat a team (Derby City Rovers) that was technically sound, but they were younger, and small, and we were able to frustrate them,” Kalas added. “But playing a team on this level. They are so technically gifted, they have speed, size and quality — and they don’t let up.”

Varga, a former Duquesne University standout, played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2008-09, making 17 appearances, said that despite the loss, it was a special night for the Pittsburgh soccer community and for a club that only came together just three years earlier at Pipers Pub on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

“I really haven’t played in this kind of environment, and having a great group of fans here supporting us like this in a long time,” Varga said. “We started out as a small, little club, and look at where we’ve come. As heartbreaking as result may have been, we’re all happy to have had this opportunity and there’s a lot of smiles on a lot of people’s faces. We have a great group of guys and maybe this can be the beginning of more great things.

The final tally marked the most goals scored by Lou City in a single game, eclipsing the six racked up on Oklahoma City Energy FC in a June 27, 2015 game at Louisville Slugger Field. In fact, entering Wednesday’s contact, Louisville City had only scored a total of five goals in all five of their previous US Open Cup matches.

As a result, LouCity advanced to a Third Round matchup against FC Cincinnati, a 1-0 overtime winner Wednesday against AFC Cleveland, to be played May 31 at Nippert Stadium.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: Tartan Devils first Pittsburgh amateur team to advance in 25 years

May 12, 2017 by John Krysinsky

In a battle of contrasting teams, a veteran group of amateur players from Pittsburgh’s Tartan Devils Oak Avalon battled back to net a late equalizer, then beat a Derby City Rovers FC 1-1 (4-3 on penalties), in the First Tound of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday night in Jeffersonville, Indiana, at the Woerle Sports Complex.

“It’s extremely special. These guys do this every day,” said the Tartan Devils’ Rich Heuler. “We all have jobs. Work 9 to 5. We don’t train that much at all, but to come out, and get a result like this, it’s something very special.”

With the win, the Tartan Devils Oak Avalon now advance to the Second Round, as they will host United Soccer League pro side, Louisville City FC at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, May 17.

“I’m glad it’s over, we kind of ran out of gas in that last 15 minute overtime period,” chuckled Andy Kalas, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon player/coach. “It was a helluva team win. I could not be prouder of this group of guys, to come back and tie it, and win it in PKs, and to be honest, I thought we had the better of the chances for much of the way.”

After surrendering a goal in the 12th minute, the Devils tilted the momentum in its favor as the match wore on, and finally capitalized with a dramatic, game-tying goal in the 89th minute on a header from Heuler, who redirected a Derek Mackenzie free kick.

“The last free kick, moments before, I was wide open on the last stick, and I knew that was my spot,” said Heuler, who Kalas brought on as a sub right after the second half started. “So, I was ready, lined up on the back stick. I was able to lose my defender, and it was a beautiful ball right on my head to the back stick. I was able to put it – upper 90, left side.”

The Rovers came out early in the game seizing possession, and really putting the Devils on their heels in the first 15 minutes of the match.

After a few dangerous balls into the box, and near misses in the opening 10 minutes, the Rovers cut through the Devils back line with a nice diagonal, cut-back pass from Cory Thomas who found Igor Ibrahimkavic with a through ball to the right side of the box. Getting behind the Devils defenders and with enough space, Ibrahimkavic sent a grass-cutting low shot just inside the left post to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.

Moments later, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon responded, pushing forward for a couple of solid opportunities. E.J. McCormick slid inside his defender on a ball played back to steal the ball to create a one-on-one chance against Rovers goalkeeper Wyatt Durbin, who came out to cut off the shot angle. McCormick’s shot would barely slide right past the post.

The Devils would keep biding time, staying back with solid defensive shape and started to disrupt the Rovers attack and limit chances. The younger side, with many players between ages 18 to 24, started to get frustrated with the Devils physical presence on every play – and started picking up fouls.

“That’s our team,” Heuler said. “It’s not the prettiest at times, but we started to connect. We get after every 50/50 ball, we’re going in one hundred percent.”

The Rovers had a few spells near the end of regulation and into extra time when they were sending in balls into the box with regularity, but after surrendering an early goal, the Tartan Devils back line held their ground.

“We have some pretty big guys back there,” Kalas said. “So we don’t mind them swinging it out wide and they want to serve it in. We’ll take our chances. We’ve got guys 6-2, 6-3 and we’re clearing the ball, our goalie was phenomenal and we’re a countering attacking team, so it worked to our advantage as the game wore on.”

Holding on to a one-goal lead, the Rovers nearly put the game away for good only moments before Heuler’s equalizer. Derby City’s Kenny Doublette cut back a pass to the center of the box for Dubai Tashiro, who chipped a shot over Zach Varga and into the back of the net. The goal was waved off, as the Rovers were offside.

As the game entered overtime, with heavy legs, both teams were picking their spots in creating chances, but the Rovers kept most of the possession, as Varga came up with a few big saves, and the Devils were heading balls back out of the box with regularity.

“They were really laying it on thick, and yeah, we had countless headers. But to be honest, that’s soccer. If you can defend well late in the game, then it’s good,” Kalas said.

After 120 minutes, the veteran group of Devils that includes many former college players from Pittsburgh area schools like Pitt, Duquesne, Robert Morris – relied on maturity and experience to get through the penalty kick rounds.

In the first two rounds of kicks, the teams were each stopped once by dazzling saves by Varga and Dublin, and it was 1-1. The next two kicks were converted for each team, setting up the stage for the fifth, and what would be the deciding round.

The Rovers sent Greg Fischer to beat Varga – but his shot banged off the bar.

This gave the Pittsburgh amateur club, which was formed only three years ago while sitting around at Pipers Pub, on the city’s South Side, a chance to advance.

Travis Mackenzie stepped up to take the clincher – and the former Chartiers Valley, Duquense University and Pittsburgh Riverhounds standout put it through.

2017 Meet the Underdogs: Tartan Devils don’t have to win “pretty” to represent Pittsburgh in US Open Cup

May 7, 2017 by John Krysinsky

Tartan Devils Oak Avalon came about as a creation of two local soccer teams that were hoping to come together to field a more competitive team in a local open division league.

Three years after sitting around in a local pub to form this alliance, they have become a local juggernaut in the Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League (GPSL), and they’re now preparing to take part in the oldest cup competition in United States soccer – Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Tartan Devil Oak Avalon will travel to the Greater Louisville metro area on Wednesday, May 10 to take on Premier Development League (PDL) side Derby City Rovers in the first round of the 104th edition of the US Open Cup.

Members of Tartan Devils Oak Avalon club never fathomed that this opportunity would come their way, but they are certain of one thing, they are proud of where they come from — and play in a way that is emblematic of Western Pennsylvania’s blue collar roots.

“We’re hard nosed. We’ll run straight through you,” said E.J. McCormick, vice captain of Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (TDOA).

The Tartan Devils celebrate their second goal against Aromas Cafe FC in the second round of the 2017 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: Tartan Devils Oak Avalon

“You can do all the fancy stuff. We’re going to take it and then we’re going to score — and you’re going to lose. That’s our style. It doesn’t have to be pretty — but we really are a ‘Pittsburgh’ soccer team,” added McCormick.

This no frills approach has been a formula for success for a group of players made up entirely of former local college standouts at schools like Pitt, Duquesne, Robert Morris, California, Geneva, Penn State and Seton Hill among others.

In 2015, they got their first taste of the US Open Cup qualifying competition, losing to Virginia-based club Aromas Cafe, 3-1.

That first experience, driving all the way to Virginia, and having only 14 players, and having a couple injured early in the match, was tough,” said club president John Battersby. “But now, we have a different attitude, everyone’s really commitment and excited about this opportunity that’s now in front of them.”

This past October, they finally broke through.

This time, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon were the hosts in a rematch at Rooney Field at Duquesne University. After receiving a first round bye, they avenged last year’s qualifying loss to Aromas Cafe with a 3-1 win to earn the Devils’ first-ever US Open Cup berth.

The Pittsburgh-based club advanced on the strength of two Travis MacKenzie goals to help the Devils become the first open division amateur club from Western Pennsylvania to qualify since 1992.

“It’s pretty exciting for us,” added McCormick. “A lot of us are 27, 28 – even some 30 or older, so we haven’t played in a meaningful, in a broader sense, games like this probably since we were in college. It’s been quite a while.”

MacKenzie, a former Duquesne University standout, who had a stint with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, usually roams near the top of the attack as part of a group that Battersby believes has talent, and all the intangibles that it takes for a team to make a run in the US Open Cup.

“They’ve been successful in the and in other competitions, basically because they know how to win,” said Battersby. “It may not be pretty, but when they step foot on the field, they play with a sheer determination to win.”

With a victory over the Derby City Rovers, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon would be the first amateur team from Western PA to win a U.S. Open Cup game in the Modern Era (1995-present).

Western Pennsylvania has a rich history in the US Open Cup, especially in the 1940s and 1950s. During those two decades, eight Pittsburgh-area teams reached the final with four of them lifting the trophy: Gallatin Sport Club (1942), Morgan Strasser (1949), and the Harmarville Hurricanes (1952, 1956).

“It’s exciting to have this opportunity. We know it only takes one game, and we have goal in mind — to win and have a chance to host a game against a pro team right here in Pittsburgh,” said McCormick, eluding to a possible second round date against USL’s Louisville City FC on May 17 at Highmark Stadium.

While McCormick, Battersby and the club members would have really cherished an opportunity to play against the local USL team, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, whom they are often seen supporting at Highmark Stadium, they are equally motivated to host an Open Cup game against a pro side.

“A couple years ago we were sitting around putting this together in a bar,” said McCormick. “Now, through trial and error, we pushed it further and further. And, look, he we are in the first round proper in the same tournament with USL, NASL and MLS teams.

“It’s quite an achievement. Let’s just see where it takes us.”

2017 US Open Cup qualifying review: A New York-New Jersey thriller highlights opening weekend of Round 2

October 19, 2016 by Josh Hakala

FC Motown celebrates the game-winning goal scored in second half of stoppage time in the club's 3-2 win over Lansdowne Bhoys in the 2017 US Open Cup qualifying. Photo: James O'Rourke | FC Motown — FC Motown celebrates the game-winning goal scored in second half of stoppage time in the club’s 3-2 win over Lansdowne Bhoys in the 2017 US Open Cup qualifying. Photo: James O’Rourke | FC Motown

The second round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying tournament kicked off with four games. Three teams that qualified for last year’s US Open Cup (West Chester United, Aromas Cafe FC, Lansdowne Bhoys FC) were eliminated by teams who are seeking their first-ever tournament berth (Christos FC, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon, FC Motown). The fourth game featured recent tournament regular GPS Omens who knocked off Newtown Pride FC (CT) as they aiming to qualify for the third time in four years.

The biggest game of the weekend was between New Jersey’s FC Motown and New York’s Lansdowne Bhoys. The Bhoys tied the game up in second half stoppage time but FC Motown answered that with the game-winner in the final minute.

There are still 14 more games to be played in Round 2, but they will take place the following weekend (Oct. 22-23). Check out the full schedule, and past results, here.

Below is a brief recap of each game:

Christos FC kept the Maryland flag flying in the 2017 US Open Cup qualifying tournament with a narrow 1-0 win over one of last year’s darlings, West Chester United. In the end, it was a trio of former University of Maryland Baltimore County players who eliminated the Philadelphia-area club. Pete Caringi III headed home a pass from Geaton Caltabiano in the 87th minute to break the scoreless tie and Phil Saunders earned a clean sheet in goal. Christos FC won last year’s USASA Amateur Cup and has won three Over-30 national championships in club history. They have been a regular entry in US Open Cup qualifying, but have yet to punch their ticket to the big dance. Now they are moving on to the third round.

Keith Caldwell assisted on two of GPS Omens’ three goals as the Massachusetts-based club cruised into the third round of the tournament with a 3-1 win over Newtown Pride FC. With the win, GPS takes another step toward qualifying for the US Open Cup for the third time in four years. FULL MATCH REPORT »

Last year, the Tartan Devils Oak Avalon traveled to Charlottesville, Va. and lost 3-1 to Aromas Cafe FC. It was the second year in a row that they had lost their opening round qualifier by the score of 3-1 (They lost to the Aegean Hawks the year before). This year’s rematch took place in Pittsburgh and it was the Devils who advanced 3-1. It was the first qualifying win in club history and they did it on the strength of two goals by former Pittsburgh Riverhounds player Travis MacKenzie. FULL MATCH REPORT »

FC Motown celebrates their 3-2 win over Lansdowne Bhoys in the 2017 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: James O'Rourke | FC Motown. — FC Motown celebrates their 3-2 win over Lansdowne Bhoys in the 2017 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Photo: James O’Rourke | FC Motown.

New York vs. New Jersey is always a heated rivalry, especially in the sports world. This made Sunday’s battle between FC Motown (Morristown, NJ) and Lansdowne Bhoys FC (New York City) even more intriguing because it featured two of the best amateur clubs from those respective states. The game lived up to the hype with FC Motown, who are making their US Open Cup qualifying debut, eliminating the Bhoys 3-2 on a game-winning goal scored in the final minute.

FC Motown got off to a hot start with a pair of goals in the opening 30 minutes by Dritan Sela and Max Garcia. The Bhoys pulled one back in the 36th minute and could have equalized five minutes later. They earned a penalty kick, but FC Motown’s Andrew Tartara made a full-extension save to help Motown take a one-goal lead into the halftime break.

After a more physical second half, Lansdowne Bhoys earned another penalty kick in stoppage time. This time they converted and most in attendance thought the goal would send the game into extra time. Everyone except Motown FC. They pushed forward and earned a free kick just outside the Bhoys’ penalty area. There, Martin Lukaschik delivered a cross into the box where it was headed into the back of the net by Andres Berriel to give the home team the dramatic 3-2 win.

MORE: Interview with FC Motown head coach Sacir Hot after the win (from OnceAMetro.com)

2017 US Open Cup qualifying: Tartan Devils avenge loss to Aromas Cafe to earn first win

October 18, 2016 by John Krysinsky

Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (TDOA) overpowered Aromas Cafe FC 3-1, on the strength of two Travis MacKenzie goals to win its first-ever US Open Cup qualifying contest. With the win, the Devils are one step closer to becoming the first open division amateur club from Western Pennsylvania to qualify since 1992.

The victory was a reversal of last year’s result with Aromas Cafe winning 3-1 in front of their home fans in Charlottesville, Va. This time, it was the Devils with the home field advantage at Rooney Field at Dusquesne University, and they took advantage on Sunday afternoon.

“It was a great win for our club and for soccer in the Pittsburgh area,” said Tartan Devils player/coach Andy Karas. “This was a good team we beat today. They beat us last year, and had a nice run in Open Cup, so it was great to come back and beat them this year.”

After both teams exchanged chances and runs into the box in the early going, it was a former Duquesne Dukes and Pittsburgh Riverhounds standout, MacKenzie, who scored the game’s first tally in the 25th minute.

MacKenzie played a pass to Erin McCormick, who quickly turned and chipped a ball in the air back toward the box. MacKenzie beat his mark to get to the ball and buried a low shot past Aromas Cafe FC keeper Michael-Martin Hohoff for the 1-0 lead.

Aromas Cafe had two excellent chances in the 34th and 40th minutes, but each time, TDOA keeper Vargas made quick reaction saves on Luke Oosdyk and Jacob Van Yahres shots to preserve the lead.

“In the first half, it could have gone either way,” said Karas. “As the game went on, we started to play our game, and things opened up.”

Sure enough, after halftime, as TDOA strengthened its defensive shape, they started to find a lot of open space on counter attacking opportunities.

In the 60th minute, Gregory Annan delivered a high ball from the left side to MacKenzie beyond the far past. MacKenzie’s shot was stopped by Hohoff, but Tyler Solis put the rebound through to give the Devils a two-goal edge.

Annan initiated the next goal in the 75th minute by making a nice play to make a solid tackle and steal the ball away. He then found Ryan Slaby streaking along the left side with plenty of space. Slaby drew two Aromas Cafe defenders and played a through ball to an unmarked MacKenzie on the right side, who delivered the final blow for his second goal of the game.

Aromas Cafe added a late goal on a Neil Harrison redirected header from a corner kick in the 90th minute to prevent the TDOA shutout.

The Tartan Devils Oak Avalon will find out its next opponent in the next qualifying round after this weekend’s action. The next round dates and locations are yet to be finalized but are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19-20.

2016 US Open Cup qualifying: Newcomers Aromas Cafe oust Pittsburgh power Tartan Devils, 3-1

October 19, 2015 by CJ Cunningham

It was cafe versus pub in Saturday’s 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifying match in Charlottesville, Va., with the home side Aromas Cafe FC defeating the Tartan Devils Oak Avalon of Pittsburgh, 3-1.

The Tartan Devils, who are undefeated in their last two seasons in the Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League. were tense coming off their five-hour trip south and Aromas Cafe imposed their will in the first 45 minutes. The Virginians had the better of the chances and finally converted one right before halftime when they sprung a counterattack around the 40th minute. An Aromas player slipped a pass through the face of goal with Price Thomas on the other end to drive home the game’s first goal.

Hope for a second half comeback for the Devils quickly suffered a setback when a penalty kick was awarded to Aromas three minutes into the second half. Dangerous striker Jake Van Yahres was taken down in the box by a Tartan Devils defender. Van Yahres then scored the spot kick to double Aromas’ lead.

Five minutes later, the Devils flipped the switch through a quick response from former Pittsburgh Riverhound Travis McKenzie. Midfielder Greg Annan turned a couple defenders before finding McKenzie in space, who then split the two center backs and fired a shot past the keeper.

It was then the traveling team on the front foot for the next half hour with belief restored. Tartans Devils had an opportunity to level, but a one-on-one with the Aromas keeper was fired over the crossbar.

Legs started to wilt in crunch time for the Steel City soccer team. The final substitution for Tartan Devils twisted an ankle. Once another player began cramping up, they essentially closed the match with nine men. Despite fighting valiantly through the disadvantage, Thomas sealed the match for Aromas at the stroke of full time with his second goal of the day.

“In the first half we came out flat and showed them too much respect,” said Tartan Devils player coach Andy Kalas. “We weren’t confident enough. In the final 35 minutes we were playing much better. In these kind of tournaments you have no idea what to expect from the opposition, and (Aromas) had two or three playmakers that really took it to us.”

Aromas Café FC will continue their qualifying campaign at home next month against Open Cup regulars, Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC. The game is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 3 p.m.