The Western Pennsylvania soccer calendar rolls into mid-September with high-stakes action across every level from the Riverhounds hitting their final six match stretch of the season to Pitt’s teams opening up ACC play this weekend to all of the other college program.
But added to the busy slate now features a major national tournament kickoff: Steel City FC launching their 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying campaign.
Steel City FC Begins U.S. Open Cup Quest; Jonathan Velotta Appointed Head Coach
Can Steel City FC run it back?
After last year’s historic qualifying run that culminated in a memorable derby showdown against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Steel City FC returns to the U.S. Open Cup trail today.
Fittingly, their opening match is a road clash against Croatia Cleveland—the exact opponent Steel City defeated 3–2 last November to punch their ticket to the 2026 tournament.
The U.S. Open Cup remains America’s oldest soccer tournament, open to any adult club across the nation. While professional teams receive automatic berths, amateur and pre-professional clubs must navigate up to four grueling regional qualifying rounds to earn a spot in the proper tournament.
New Era at the Helm
A significant shift comes on the touchline: Dan Brower, who served as the driving force behind the men’s team’s emergence and culture in recent years, has stepped down. Taking over as the new Head Coach of the Men’s First Team is Jonathan Velotta.
Velotta has been a central leadership figure at Steel City FC since 2021, previously serving as the Director of Coaching at Arsenal FC of Pittsburgh and coaching across every age bracket from U8 to U18.
“The club has positioned itself as one of the most ambitious and innovative in the area, and having the opportunity to work at the top of your pyramid to continue to move the project forward is exciting,” Velotta said.
2027 U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Squad
Coach Velotta’s initial squad features a strong core of club veterans, recent college alumni, and top academy talent:
| Position | Players (* Current Academy / * Academy Product) |
| Goalkeepers | Garret Watson, Kevin Garcia |
| Defenders | Giuseppe Croce, Jack Nury*, Josh DiMatteo, Michael Bishop*, Noah Simmons*, Nolan Hutter, Owen Christopher, Victor Koah, Wilder Jacobson*, Zander Plizga* |
| Midfielders | Anass Hadran, Cameron Territo, Dylan Sumner, Gabe Norris, Jacob Alberts*, Kupa Katompa, Nick Graeca |
| Forwards | Darius DD Flowers, Jude Perhacs*, Nathan Prex, Sam Boehm, Tyler Shaw* |
Pittsburgh Soccer Weekend & Mid-September Master Calendar
Below is the complete regional schedule across Division I College, USL Championship, and U.S. Open Cup action for the remainder of September:
| Date | Time | Team / Property | Opponent / Event | H / A | Venue / Location | Notes / League |
| Sat 9/12 | 2:00 PM | Steel City FC | Croatia Cleveland | Away | Mentor, OH | 2027 U.S. Open Cup Qualifier (Round 1) |
| Sat 9/12 | 7:00 PM | Pitt Women | Louisville | Away | Louisville, KY | ACC |
| Sat 9/12 | 7:00 PM | Riverhounds SC | Loudoun United FC | Home | F.N.B. Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA) | USL Championship |
| Sun 9/13 | 1:00 PM | Duquesne Women | Ohio | Home | Rooney Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | Senior Day |
| Mon 9/14 | 4:00 PM | RMU Men | Mercyhurst | Home | North Athletic Complex (Moon Twp, PA) | Non-Conference |
| Tue 9/15 | 7:00 PM | Pitt Men | Cornell | Home | Ambrose Urbanic Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | Non-Conference |
| Thu 9/17 | 7:00 PM | Pitt Women | Virginia Tech | Home | Ambrose Urbanic Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | ACC |
| Sat 9/19 | 3:00 PM | RMU Men | Oakland | Home | North Athletic Complex (Moon Twp, PA) | Horizon League |
| Sat 9/19 | 4:00 PM | Duquesne Women | Rhode Island | Home | Rooney Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | A-10 Opener |
| Sat 9/19 | 5:00 PM | RMU Women | Wright State | Away | Dayton, OH | Horizon League Opener |
| Sat 9/19 | 7:00 PM | Duquesne Men | Rhode Island | Home | Rooney Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | A-10 Opener |
| Sat 9/19 | 7:00 PM | Riverhounds SC | Detroit City FC | Away | Keyworth Stadium (Hamtramck, MI) | USL Championship |
| Sun 9/20 | 6:00 PM | Pitt Men | California | Away | Berkeley, CA | ACC |
| Tue 9/22 | 7:00 PM | Duquesne Men | West Virginia | Away | Morgantown, WV | Regional Derby |
| Tue 9/22 | 7:00 PM | RMU Men | University of Akron | Away | Akron, OH | Non-Conference |
| Thu 9/24 | 4:00 PM | RMU Women | Purdue Fort Wayne | Home | North Athletic Complex (Moon Twp, PA) | Horizon League |
| Thu 9/24 | 5:00 PM | Duquesne Women | Richmond | Away | Richmond, VA | A-10 |
| Thu 9/24 | 7:00 PM | Pitt Women | Syracuse | Away | Syracuse, NY | ACC |
| Fri 9/25 | 7:00 PM | Pitt Men | Louisville | Home | Ambrose Urbanic Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | ACC |
| Sat 9/26 | 3:00 PM | RMU Men | Green Bay | Away | Green Bay, WI | Horizon League |
| Sat 9/26 | 7:30 PM | Duquesne Men | Saint Louis | Away | St. Louis, MO | A-10 |
| Sat 9/26 | 10:00 PM | Riverhounds SC | Orange County SC | Away | Championship Stadium (Irvine, CA) | USL Championship |
| Sun 9/27 | 1:00 PM | Duquesne Women | VCU | Away | Richmond, VA | A-10 |
| Sun 9/27 | 1:00 PM | Pitt Women | Duke | Home | Ambrose Urbanic Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | ACC |
| Sun 9/27 | 1:00 PM | RMU Women | Cleveland State | Home | North Athletic Complex (Moon Twp, PA) | Horizon League |
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