Tartan Devils get a bye, draw Rochester in 2nd Round Open Cup qualifying rematch on Oct. 21

Pittsburgh area’s top amateur club in recent years, Tartan Devils Oak Avalon found out its fate on Wednesday, as the draw for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying rounds was announced by U.S. Soccer.

The Tartan Devils received a first-round bye, and will be playing in the second round of qualifying against a familiar foe, NPSL’s Rochester River Dogz (Lancers) on October 21, in Webster, NY (5 p.m. kickoff).

The Devils came up short a year ago against Rochester in the USOC qualifying round, losing 2-1 in a tightly contested match played at Rooney Field last September.

At the start of the day, prior to the release of the draw, Tartan Devils team manager Andy Kalas was hoping for a home match, but feels good about the road ahead for his team this time around.

“Excited to get a first-round bye,” Kalas said on Wednesday after the draw. “We’re equally as excited to get another shot at Rochester. I thought we had the better of it against them last year, so it’ll be nice to get some revenge.”

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U.S. Soccer has determined the pairings for the first qualifying round and four of the match-ups for the second qualifying round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – U.S. Soccer’s National Championship. The historic annual tournament, entering its 106th year, is the only high-profile event in American team sports where amateur sides have the opportunity, should they advance far enough, to face professionals in meaningful competition.

Seventy-six of 94 local sides will see action in the first qualifying round, scheduled for Sept. 22-23. The remaining 18 teams have been issued byes, either due to geographical considerations (13 clubs) or the result of being randomly selected (five teams), into the second qualifying round, set for Oct. 20-21. Eight of the teams receiving byes have been paired to play each other and have had their game details finalized along with all the first qualifying round match-ups via a draw that took place earlier in the day at Soccer House, U.S. Soccer’s headquarters.

The Tartan Devils were among those eight teams that received second round byes.

Playing in the Open Cup affords those players who have put aside playing soccer full time, and moved on to other things in their lives, with continuing opportunities to still compete at a high level.

“A lot of us were competitive college players, and it gives us another chance for competitive opportunities,” Kalas said after last September’s match. “So, it’s a chance for that, and to play on behalf of Pittsburgh, and our local club.”

Two years ago, after winning its sole qualifying match-up, the Tartan Devils advanced to the 1st Round of the proper tournament where they defeated Derby City Rovers in a match that went to penalty kicks.

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Despite losing in the second round to eventual USL Champions, Louisville City FC, Highmark Stadium in a one-sided affair, the Devils proved to the be the first Pittsburgh-area amateur team to win an Open Cup match in a very long time.

Much like the Tartan Devils did in 2017, the River Dogz advanced to the first round in 2018, but were defeated by fellow NPSL foes Erie Commodores in another first round tournament match that was decided on penalties. The Commodores played host to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, putting up a fight but losing 2-1, in the second round in May.

With the extra round to prepare and one less potential qualifying game to play, while the Tartan Devils are also competing through September and early October in the Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League, Kalas is optimistic that getting into the 2019 proper tournament is a realistic possiblity.