After opening the season with three straight home matches, FC Tucson will leave the friendly confines of Kino North Stadium for the team’s first road match of the season.
The Men in Black will take on San Diego Zest FC on Saturday at 5 p.m.
FC Tucson and Zest FC matched up twice last season, splitting the season series 1-1, with each team picking up a road victory by just one goal.
The local 11 captured the 2016 Southwest Division crown last season over the Zest by a margin of six points.
FC Tucson will look to play spoiler in San Diego’s home opener.
“They were the only team to beat us at home last year in the regular season so now we go there with the same feeling, trying to get those three points and the first win of the (PDL season),” FC Tucson midfielder Afonso Pinheiro said.
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Both teams have numerous new faces on the roster this season, including a handful of players who have been with the team for about a week.
FC Tucson team members have used the three home games in one week as a chance to learn one another’s play styles and tendencies.
Going forward, the team will look to gel quickly, as the team’s next three PDL matchups are all on the road.
“It’s been our first week so far; we’ve only played three games … and we’re still getting to know each other,” FC Tucson midfielder Moshe Perez said.
“It’s going to take a few days, but we’re going to get it eventually.”
Fresh off a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over the Colorado Rush in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup, FC Tucson players and coaches alike are ready for the first road challenge of the season.
After the game, FC Tucson midfielder and captain Tate Schmitt said the team will need to display the same fight showed in Wednesday’s game for the rest of the PDL season.
“We had to battle, we had to deal with the refs and there was a lot of adversity, but we found a way to win,” Schmitt said.
“In the PDL season there’s going to be some games where we have to do that to get the (win).”
Coach Jon Pearlman will be back on the sideline for Saturday’s game against the Zest.
The first-year coach was ejected from Saturday’s match against the BYU Cougars, which ended in a draw.
Assistant coach Jose Miranda took over coaching duties after the ejection.
