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OCEAN CITY - When the Ocean City Barons pull up to the SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md., on Tuesday, they aren't going to think about how they are facing a Major League Soccer team.

Or that this is the biggest game in Barons history.

Or that it is a great opportunity to get scouted by professional teams.

Not even that this could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for some of them.

Unless someone reminds them, of course.

The Barons face MLS' D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Open Cup is the oldest soccer tournament in the country, having started in 1914. It pits teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation against each other, with low-level minor-league teams getting the opportunity to play professionals.

"It's the biggest game in the club's 12-year history," Barons coach Neil Holloway said. "We've had some tremendous players come through this program, but not even those have had opportunities that these guys got."

Ocean City is an amateur team in the Premier Development League. The players aren't paid, and most are still in college.

D.C. has international superstars and is one of the most storied franchises in MLS history. It is also the reigning Open Cup champion.

MLS teams aren't introduced into the Open Cup until the third round.

You can call the Barons an underdog. You can call them a longshot. But don't count them out.

"On any given day, you can raise your game enough and have enough desire and determination. I will not be telling our guys they are the underdog," Holloway said. "I feel lady luck is on our side. Having beaten two professional teams (in the first two rounds), I will remind them of what they have accomplished so far and not to be frightened."

The Barons have been popular since their 1-0 extra-time win June 16 over Real Maryland of the United Soccer League's second division (USL-2). The game propelled the franchise to this point.

"Lots of people have been asking me questions," said William Swetra, a James Madison University senior from Galloway Township. "They are asking if we have what it takes to beat them or when the game is. People just want to know a little about it."

This is the 17th time a PDL team has met an MLS team in the Open Cup. The PDL is 2-12-2, with one of the teams winning in penalty kicks.

In 2000, the Mid-Michigan Bucks beat the New England Revolution 1-0 on a late goal at Foxboro Stadium. The Bucks were so good that year, they went into penalty kicks against the MLS' now-defunct Miami Fusion in the next round but lost. Also that year, the Chicago Sockers and MLS' Kansas City Wizards were scoreless heading into penalty kicks. The Sockers won the shootout 7-6.

"It's an MLS team, but I try to look at it as just another game. I don't want to psyche myself out too much for it," said the Barons' Kevin Curran, an Upper Township resident. "It's definitely possible (to beat them). Any team can play. I definitely believe in David and Goliath. It's happened before. We have heart and can give them a run for their money."

Sure, a PDL team can win, but it's not going to be easy.

MLS teams have learned in the past that if they don't take minor-league opponents seriously, they won't come out on top.

Barons striker Byron Carmichael helped the Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) defeat the MLS' Dallas Burn 4-1 in 2003.

"It's a different round this time and a little bit of a different level," Carmichael said. "That year, we went in confident. It's kind of the same atmosphere. There is a lot of buzz for local fans and everyone pushing us to do well."

While this is the biggest game in the franchise's history, it also does so much for the individual players. Many of the D.C. United players understand the circumstances around the game. They have played in the minor leagues before, including PDL teams.

But United doesn't plan to sleep on Ocean City. D.C. United knows what can happen in that type of situation. They were upset 1-0 by Harrisburgh (USL-2) in 2007.

"I think it's exciting because you never know what could happen," said D.C. United defender Greg Janicki, who played in the PDL for two years earlier in his career. "Last year, a lot of USL teams made it pretty far. We ended up playing Charleston (USL-1) in the final. Anyone can do anything. PDL teams can make it in and do some damage. It's just exciting because you never know who you can play."

E-mail Susan Lulgjuraj:

SLulgjuraj@pressofac.com

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