Learning on the Fly: Unbeaten Steel City FC eyeing adjustments and historical fourth straight title after Derby draw

To the casual observer, a scoreless draw in the middle of a sweltering June slate might look like a minor speed bump.

But for Steel City FC men’s squad, the USL League Two’s Great Forest Division defending champions, every mid-week battle is a chess match with implications.

Following Wednesday night’s grinding 0-0 stalemate against cross-town rivals Pittsburgh Riverhounds Two at Founders Field, Steel City FC (3-0-2, 11 points) remain firmly entrenched at the summit of the USL League Two Great Forest Division table.

For a club that has evolved into a regional juggernaut, the stakes go far beyond a single summer table; the men are hunting an unprecedented fourth consecutive division title across multiple leagues, having captured the NPSL division crowns in 2023 and 2024 before successfully transitioning to win the USL2 Great Forest title in 2025.

To keep that unblemished run alive and lock down a fourth straight banner, however, Steel City knows they must master the thin margins dictated by summer elements and quick turnarounds.

The Tactical Evolution at Founders Field

While Steel City utilized a clinical, high-pressing transition game to dispatch Hounds 2 (RH2) by a comfortable 2-0 scoreline back on May 27 at the South Side turf, Wednesday’s chapter on the thicker natural grass of Founders Field demanded a different approach.

Under thick, muggy air, the hosts struggled early to find their passing rhythm.

“We chose to go direct in the opening period but failed to change tactics until later in the half,” Steel City Head Coach Dan Brower noted post-match in an exlusive interview with Pittsburgh Soccer Now.

“We’ll have to improve tactically with a clearer understanding of each other and what the game, opponent, and other conditions like, say, the weather give us.”

That initial rigidity allowed a resilient Hounds 2 squad to dictate portions of the opening stanza, exploiting gaps in a stretched Steel City formation.

“Our lines were too stretched and so our opponent was able to get a hold of the game a little more than we would have liked in minutes 15 to 30,” Brower explained.

“After the drinks break, we were able to take a little more control of the match in minutes 30 to 45 but were unable to break down a solid defensive block from our opponent.”

Managing the Roster for the Long Haul

Chasing championships across a compressed summer amateur calendar requires careful sports science. Knowing his squad was navigating a brutal stretch of three matches in eight days, Brower and the coaching staff executed a pre-planned, heavy squad rotation, making three substitutions exactly at halftime and utilizing seven bench players in total.

“We addressed a few things at halftime and also made a few pre-planned changes,” Brower said. “We need to manage minutes as we protect player health and well-being. We were a little happier with the second half and kept pushing for the winner, but ultimately we’re not satisfied with the draw.”

Captain’s Perspective: Grounded and Gritty

That dissatisfaction is precisely what drives the culture of the club. Speaking on the pitch immediately after the final whistle, team captain and midfield anchor Ryan Kopay reeled in the raw reality of grinding out results on a night when the final ball wouldn’t click.

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Kopay emphasized that while the team wanted all three points in front of the home supporters, walking away with a clean sheet and keeping an arrow pointed up in the loss column is what championship teams do when they don’t have their best stuff. His focus—and the focus of the entire locker room—has already shifted away from the draw and squarely onto the quick turnaround ahead.

“Our effort was there—never in doubt,” Brower echoed, reinforcing his captain’s mentality.

“We’ll use the match as a learning tool while we plan for another quick turnaround to get ready for our third match in just eight days.”

Up Next: Erie Sports Center on Saturday

There is no time to linger on what could have been.

Steel City FC will defend their top-table positioning this Saturday afternoon, June 13, at 3:00 p.m. when they play host to Erie Sports Center right back at Founders Field.

With the division race tightening and the margin for error shrinking, along with some tough opponents on the horizon including Saturday’s clash vs Erie, expect a tactically adjusted, highly motivated Steel City side ready to assert their championship pedigree from the opening whistle.

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).