Could it be any more patriotic?
The Fighting Tomcats of the American Soccer Club clinched the Long Island franchise’s first playoff berth with a final regular-season victory over Osner’s FC, 3-1, Wednesday night.
“I don’t know if it’s fate,” head coach John Fitzgerald told The Post about earning the inaugural postseason spot days ahead of the USA’s 250th birthday.
“But whatever it is, we’ll take it.”
ASC came up a point short of the playoffs last year in the team’s NPSL season, but rewrote history this time around with a gritty 4-2-4 record.
“Maybe they tasted it a little bit, perhaps [in 2025],” Fitzgerald said. “My message to them was that you don’t just arrive at this; it came because of what they’ve done beforehand.”
The Tomcats will face the Albany-area New York Shockers on Wednesday for a conference finals spot against New Haven United FC.
“I told them, enjoy the moment, but then be ready and focused for next Wednesday and take care of yourselves,” Fitzgerald said.
“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.”
While he wholeheartedly trusts the squad, Fitzgerald did advise his crew to take it easy at the barbecues this weekend.
“I said not too many hamburgers and hot dogs this week,” he said with a laugh.
Ducks fans will have a blast
Thousands of Ducks fans are waddling into a treat on Fourth of July weekend.
The Long Island ballclub is taking its decades-long, beloved tradition of postgame fireworks to an entirely new level in celebrating America’s 250th birthday with plans for an unrivaled extravaganza.
“It will have more shells and bigger displays than we have in any of our normal pyrotechnic displays,” team president Michael Pfaff told The Post.
“It will be a show that will be quite memorable.”
The Ducks flocked to have the much bigger-than-usual pyrotechnic program ready for three games from Thursday through Saturday, the first against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, followed by the next two vs. the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars.
And black and orange is all about the red, white and blue beyond lighting up the night skies.
“It will all have a patriotic theme,” said Pfaff.
“I don’t want to ruin any of the surprises, but we will have George Washington here on the Fourth of July to throw out our first pitch as well,” Pfaff said.
