Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast: Steel City FC’s Nick Graeca and Grant McIntosh look forward to facing Riverhounds in Open Cup

On the newest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, Pittsburgh Soccer Now‘s John Krysinsky is joined by Steel City FC’s Nick Graeca and Grant McIntosh to discuss their upcoming Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match vs the Riverhounds on Tuesday, March 17 at Highmark Stadium. 

In addition, John wraps up the podcast with his thoughts and breakdown of Riverhounds season opening loss at Charleston.

During the 2025 USL League Two season, Graeca and McIntosh, both midfielders, were the engines who steered Steel City to the Great Forest Division title in its first year in the league (its third straight season winning a division title — as they won NPSL’s Great Lakes in 2023 and 2024).  Graeca, who was an NCAA Division III All-American at John Carroll, scored three goals and had an assist, while McIntosh, who wrapped up his college career at Duquesne this past fall, scored three goals for Steel City last Summer.

Among the topics discussed included:

• Juggling post-collegiate life while still training and competing with Steel City FC
• How Steel City’s roster evolved through Open Cup qualifying, building a strong player pool and rounding into form as the Open Cup and USL League Two season approaches
• Thoughts on building on a successful first season in USL League Two
• Importance of match between two Pittsburgh-area teams in the US Open Cup (First Match between two Pittsburgh clubs in USOC proper in 69 years)
• What it will be like to have Steel City FC supporters and soccer family supporting them at Highmark Stadium
• Importance of Open Cup friendlies against Robert Morris and Duquesne
• Thoughts on facing the Riverhounds

Listen Anywhere

More Options »

More on Nick Graeca

A native of Dubois, PA, Graeca established himself as a mainstay with Steel City FC.  When veteran players who helped established Steel City FC’s first team, going back to when they were still Pittsburgh Hotspurs, Graeca began to take on a more significant leadership role with the club, eventually wearing the captain’s armband.

The Steel City FC box-to-box midfielder graduated from John Carroll in 2024 and has since passed the MCATs, enrolling in Medical School in Erie at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).  At John Carroll, Graecasecured a spot on the 2024 NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer All-America list. Looking at his career accolades, Graeca finishes his time at JCU with 83 total appearances, starting in 59 of them playing just under 5,700 minutes. Graeca had an even spread of goal involvements, scoring 14 and assisting another 17.

In his tenure, the Pennsylvania-native earned an All-Ohio, All-Region, two All-Conference honors, and made the OAC All-Tournament team all four years, most notably getting it his freshman year assisting Benjamin Hryszko’s golden goal in overtime for the OAC Title over Otterbein.

With Steel City, Graeca earned recognition on USL League Two’s Central Conference Team of the Year in 2024, helping lead Steel City to Great Forest Division title (the club’s third straight division title, with the previous two coming in NPSL).

Steel City FC’s Nick Graeca earns well-deserved recognition on USL League Two Central Conference Team of Year

More on Grant McIntosh 

Native of Plano, TX, transfered from Akron to Duquesne in 2023.  Took reshirt season at Akron.  Started 46 of 47 matches played at Duquesne from 2023-25, where he netted six assists.

Prior to college, played with MLS Next club, Solar (TX), including a National Championship game appearance in the fall 2020/spring 2021 MLS Next season.