The Fighting Tomcats of the American Soccer Club have secured the Long Island franchise’s first-ever playoff berth. The team clinched the spot with a 3-1 victory over Osner’s FC in their final regular-season match on Wednesday night.
This achievement comes just days before the United States' 250th birthday, a timing that head coach John Fitzgerald acknowledged with a touch of sentiment. "I don’t know if it’s fate," Fitzgerald told The Post. "But whatever it is, we’ll take it."
Last year, the Tomcats narrowly missed the playoffs in the NPSL season, falling short by one point. This year, they concluded the regular season with a 4-2-4 record to rewrite that history.
"My message to them was that you don’t just arrive at this; it came because of what they’ve done beforehand," Fitzgerald said, reflecting on the team's motivation and preparation. He encouraged the players to enjoy the moment but to remain focused for their upcoming conference finals match.
The Tomcats are scheduled to face the Albany-area New York Shockers on Wednesday. The winner will advance to play New Haven United FC for a conference finals spot. Fitzgerald emphasized the team's professional attitude and motivation, noting that "these guys, they have a very professional attitude about it. They know what needs to be done, and they’re very motivated, because they’re the ones who actually do the work."
Amidst the team's success and the upcoming holiday, Fitzgerald humorously advised his players to moderate their holiday celebrations, quipping, "I said not too many hamburgers and hot dogs this week."
Separately, the Long Island Ducks, a local baseball team, is also preparing for a significant July 4th weekend. The team plans to host an extensive fireworks display, described as an "unrivaled extravaganza" that will feature more shells and larger displays than their usual pyrotechnic shows. The event is planned for three games from Thursday through Saturday, including matchups against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. Team president Michael Pfaff stated the show is intended to be "quite memorable" and will incorporate a patriotic theme. George Washington is also expected to make an appearance to throw out the first pitch on July 4th.