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FC Tucson Postseason History

By Staff Reports, 11/02/21, 4:30PM MST

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First playoff berth in its USL League One history, but the club is no stranger to the postseason

July 26, 2014 - FC Tucson captain Ricardo Velazco battles for the ball in midfield against the Kitsap Pumas

July 26, 2014, FC Tucson captain Ricardo Velazco battles for the ball in midfield against the Kitsap Pumas. - Joshua Pearson, Tucson Sentinel

Saturday night’s scintillating victory over the Richmond Kickers gave FC Tucson the first playoff berth in its USL League One history, but the club and the coach are no strangers to the postseason. In fact, they were playoff regulars during their Player Development League days.

In its seven seasons in the PDL, FC Tucson made the playoffs in all but one year, and the club reached the Western Conference title match four times. The club had a 6-6 record during their PDL playoff days.

It didn’t take long for FC Tucson to make its mark. In 2012, its first season in the PDL, the club went 9-4-4 and reached the playoffs. Donny Toia, who was a star player at Pima Community College and Canyon del Oro High School before rising up the pro ladder to Real Salt Lake, gave FC Tucson a lead just after the break. But a pair of Sounders FC U-23 goals in the following 17 minutes quickly ended the hopes of the fledgling program. 

Two seasons later, the club proved it was not going to be a quick out this time. In a one-off match played in Las Vegas, FC Tucson defeated Los Angeles Misioneros FC, 2-1, on goals by Peter Kelly and Christian Volesky. It was, however, goalkeeper Billy Thompson who provided the moment of the match. He dived to his right, stretching out his 6-foot-6-inch frame to save a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time and give the club its first playoff win.

That victory earned FC Tucson a chance to host the 2014 PDL Western Conference semifinals and final the following week. It was again late drama that locked up playoff win No. 2. In the 94th minute, the final minute of the match, Sebastian De Rada headed home a corner from 2 yards to seal a 1-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 at Kino North Stadium. Playing the next night, FC Tucson fell to the Kitsap Pumas 3-0 in the final.

The following season, it was former Pima College and Nogales High School standout Edgar Reyna who emerged as the hero. Reyna, a defender once called a “legend” and “folk hero” of the club, scored in the 86th minute to give FC Tucson a 2-1 win over Albuquerque Sol FC in a first-round match at Kino North Stadium. The winning ways continued the next week at Kino when the club gained revenge from the previous year’s ousting by clobbering the Kitsap Pumas 4-1 in the semifinals. In the final a day later, Reyna scored again but it wasn’t enough to overcome two Sounders FC U-23 goals.


July 13, 2016, FC Tucson celebrates after clinching first in the Southwest Division with a win over Albuquerque Sol FC. - Curtis Dutiel, Tucson Sentinel

For a third straight season, FC Tucson opened its postseason with a victory, this time it was a 3-2 win over Burlingame Dragons FC in the 2016 Western Conference semifinals at Kino. An 83rd-minute goal by Ozzie Ramos provided the difference and pushed the club to its third consecutive PDL Western Conference final. An 80th-minute goal by Calgary Foothills FC broke a 1-1 tie and ended FC Tucson’s bid to reach the league’s Final Four.

In 2017, lightning strikes forced the PDL Western Conference semifinals to be delayed at Kino North Stadium and it was almost the bewitching hour of midnight when the club were defeated 1-0 by the Fresno Fuego.

During those first five postseason appearances, current FC Tucson coach Jon Pearlman played a crucial role as general manager. He was also the coach or assistant coach on those playoff teams. 

With Pima College coaching legend Dave Cosgrove taking over, FC Tucson made it five straight seasons in which it made postseason play and, while the matches were not at the friendly confines of Kino in 2018, the club still had the penchant for drama. 

FC Tucson rallied from a 2-0 deficit with AJ Valenzuela, a former standout at Pima CC and Desert View High School, scoring on a bicycle kick in stoppage time to even the match in Whittier, California. After a scoreless extra time, the club converted three of their four penalties while top-seeded FC Golden State Force managed just one. Returning the next day, the Men in Black put on a gutty performance before falling 2-0 to Calgary Foothills FC in the Western Conference final.

FC Tucson's first professional playoff game is Saturday at Kino North Stadium. The club will host the Richmond Kickers and the game will kickoff at 7 p.m. (BUY TICKETS). 

FC TUCSON POSTSEASON

Playoff Record: 6-6


November 14, 2013, FC Tucson's Edgar Reyna brings the ball up the midfield. - Larry Gaurano, Tucson Sentinel

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