WHAT: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2017 Tournament – 2nd Qualifying Round
WHO: Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (Pittsburgh, PA) vs Aromas Cafe FC (DC/VA)
WHERE: Rooney Field, on the campus of Duquesne University
WHEN: Sunday, October 16 – 4:30 p.m. kickoff
Rooney Field will be the center of lot of soccer action this weekend, as the Duquesne men and women’s teams will be playing both on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, as well as a Pittsburgh-based team, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon who will be making its debut in the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S.
In recent years the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament, the world’s third-longest-running open soccer tournament, we’ve seen action played annually in Pittsburgh in May, when the Pittsburgh Riverhounds get involved in the second and/or third rounds of action.
The 104th edition of the tournament, the 2017 version, has already begun qualifying rounds as Tartan Devils Oak Avalon (TDOA) will be the first team to represent PA West Soccer Association in the Open Cup in more than 10 years.
The TDOA play in the Open league (GPSL) and was formed in 2013, by the joining of the previously two best teams Tartan Devils & Oak Avalon together. Since then they have been unbeaten in League and Cup play within PA West league.
Tartan Devils club formed in 2008 out of Pipers Pub joined with Oak Avalon traditional power house team, 3 years ago when the best two teams in PA West GPSL. Won league every year since. Tartan Devils called as Pipers Pub is Scottish based pub, and Devils as main guys were Manchester United fans.
The team is made up of almost all local to Pittsburgh college players, and led by player/coach Andy Kalas.
The only player that have played professionally is Travis MacKenzie, a former Char Valley and Duquesne standout who played for the Riverhounds. MacKenzie and his brother Derek, who also plays for the Tartan Devils, are sons of former Pittsburgh Spirit defender Dave MacKenzie.
“We take great pride in being a pub team with the emphasis on fun, and have charity events and always try to give back to the soccer community and community at large,” said John Battersby, of Tartan Devils.
“We just happen to have a great and talented bunch of ‘youngsters’.”
For updates on Sunday’s game, please be sure to follow Pittsburgh Soccer Report’s John Krysinsky on Twitter for in-game updates.