Homecoming on tap for Lovitz, Steffen
GA graduate working his way up ladder
PHILADELPHIA >> The references to a big year abound from both Daniel Lovitz and Zack Steffen.
For the former, seven months have turned his first nationalteam training camp at any age level into his first U.S. cap into his first international tournament. The latter has gone from being one of MLS’ best goalkeepers to landing a move to reigning English Premier League champion Manchester City, one of the biggest moves ever by an American player.
That each should have their path in this unforgettable career year intersect with their roots in Philadelphia seems almost too perfect.
“It’s a surreal thing to be home here, play at that stadium, at that venue, knowing so many familiar faces are in the crowd,” Lovitz said Saturday at U.S. national team training. “It’s incredible.”
Sunday brings the U.S. to Lincoln Financial Field for the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Curacao (8:30 p.m., FS1). It’s the back half of a doubleheader, with Jamaica (led by the Union’s Andre Blake) and Panama kicking off in another quarterfinal at 5:30.
Lovitz, a Conshohocken native and Germantown Academy grad, and Downingtown West alum Steffen have both appeared in the tournament. Steffen picked up his 11th and 12th caps with the national team in the first two group-stage games, blanking Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. Lovitz earned his sixth cap in the 1-0 win over Panama to close out the group.
Steffen is likely to get the nod against Curacao, with national team caps vital to him securing an English work permit, though he’s likely to be loaned out (Fortuna Dusseldorf is the German Bundesliga is the reported destination). This tournament will be his last games in the U.S. for a while, as his move is effective
July 9 after 2½ stellar seasons with Columbus.
Getting to play at the Linc for the first time seems an appropriate sendoff for a player who has established himself as the country’s undisputed starter.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Steffen said. “I’ve been to a couple of Eagles games and it’s an amazing stadium. I know the Philadelphia fans are crazy, so I’m excited to play there in front of familiar faces and my support group.”
This is Steffen’s second voyage to Europe after leaving the University of Maryland at age 19 for German club Freiburg. That stint was uneven as he grew into adulthood, playing a position where teenagers rarely get chances. But the version that Man City is getting is much advanced, as a player and a person.
“I’m much more mature, much more composed on and off the field,” Steffen said. “My experiences over there and then coming back to Columbus and the highs and the lows with Columbus have really given me perspective and allowed me to grow off the field and on the field. I’m ready for this next step and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Lovitz is at the other end of the prodigy spectrum, having gone to Elon, the only Division I team to offer him. He wasn’t on the radar at any youth international level, was a secondround draft pick cut loose by Toronto after an MLS Cup run and only caught on with Montreal the week before the 2017 season.
But he’s become a vital cog for the Impact, starting 73 games in the last 2½ seasons. The epitome of a blue-collar worker, Lovitz set the goal for January’s camp for MLSbased players to not just be a one off. He’s accomplished that, and is constantly looking for the next step.
“I didn’t want to be one of those guys that showed up in a January camp, was there for the experience and was never heard from again,” he said. “I wanted to be a guy that was counted on in big moments, and whether that was friendlies moving forward, in the March camp or I had the Gold Cup circled as somewhere I wanted to come and contribute. And it’s a dream come true.”
The next dream will have some loved ones in attendance. Steffen hopes to have a sizable contingent down from Chester County. Lovitz will keep it more low-key, he said, not just because it’s likely that Tim Ream will get the nod over him at left back. There’s also the emotions to manage on the day. His parents have been immensely invested in helping him fulfill his soccer dreams, and he’s wary of the emotions he’ll have to manage there.
“I don’t usually look where the tickets are because I don’t really want to know,” Lovitz said. “If I catch eyes with my parents when I’m on the field, it’s an incredibly overwhelming experience. It’s still pretty intense after the game, but nonetheless, I’m there for a reason, they’re there to watch me do what I love at a high level and at the end of the day, I want to make them proud and help my team win.”