FC Tucson’s matchup with the San Diego Zest FC has a chance to set the tone for the remainder of the season.
The teams will meet at Kino North Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m.; a win by the Men in Black would likely keep FC Tucson (4-2-1) atop the Mountain Division standings and in control of its own destiny over the final month of the PDL season.
The Zest (3-4-1) handed FC Tucson its only home loss during last year’s PDL regular season, something players and coaches alike haven’t forgotten.
“Last year was hard for us, it was our first home (PDL) loss of the season and obviously we remember that.” FC Tucson midfielder Afonso Pinheiro said.
The two teams met this season in San Diego on May 13 with FC Tucson pulling out a 2-0 victory in the team’s first true road game of the season.
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However, FC Tucson coach Jon Pearlman was cautious to say the team could draw major takeaways from that May matchup, as both teams have changed in formation and in the names on the team sheet, something Pearlman was quick to point out.
“The Zest are good, they have experience, they were a playoff team last year and they’re still in the mix now,” Pearlman said. “There’s no reason to think they won’t be motivated after losing at home.”
One area that could favor FC Tucson is an aspect neither team can control: the weather.
The drastic difference in temperature from San Diego in May to Tucson in June and the different pitch dimensions from San Diego Zest FC to FC Tucson, could provide the Men in Black with a noticeable home field advantage.
“Certainly for us, we feel like our pace and our comfort in the temperatures that we train in … could be an advantage for us,” Pearlman said.
Pearlman has fared well in his inaugural season as head coach of FC Tucson, dealing with consistent personnel changes along the way and rolling with the punches.
Those changes continue Saturday: Starting midfielders Tate Schmitt (training with Real Salt Lake) and Moshe Perez (personal reasons) will miss the game.
Pearlman has the task of replacing two of his top performers and integrating several newcomers on the team sheet come game time, a task made easier by the team’s depth this season.
“We feel, top to bottom, we have 26 starters … and we really just get to use different weapons in different ways,” Pearlman said.
Two of the guys who could take over the vacated midfield spots are Pinheiro, who has been featured prominently over the past four games, and Daniel Musovski, who has been a mainstay in Pearlman’s lineup this campaign.
Both players are a part of FC Tucson’s depth, and a big reason why the first-year head coach has his team atop the Mountain Division.
“For the most part at FC Tucson, we have so many good players and we … have good depth,” Pinheiro said.
“We have many guys who we can sub in and the level is going to be the same.”
