PITTSBURGH (August 26, 2017) – Behind a goal and two assists from captain Kevin Kerr, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (8-8-9) defeated Bethlehem Steel FC (10-11-3), 3-2, on Saturday evening at Highmark Stadium for their third consecutive victory. The Hounds concluded August with a 3-0-1 record, their first-full month of 2017 without a regulation loss.
Corey Hertzog opened the scoring in the 10th minute with his first of eight shots on target. Later on, Jamal Jack gave Pittsburgh a brief 2-0 lead in the 19th minute before Kerr scored the game-winner in the 75th minute.
In a chippy first half, the two teams combined for five yellow cards and 12 fouls, but Pittsburgh still recorded seven shots on target – its most in any half this season.
Hertzog put the Hounds on the board first with his team-best 10th goal of the season. While on the attack, Kerr received a pass at the top of the 18-yard box, turned and found Hertzog, who headed it past goalkeeper Jake McGuire far post.
The opening goal was historic for Hertzog, as he tied Phil Karn for most goals scored (23) by a U.S.-born player in club history.
Nine minutes after this opening tally, the Hounds converted on their second corner kick of the game. After Kerr battled for and ultimately gained control of the entry pass, he found Jack at the top of the penalty area. Jack’s shot found the back of the net off a deflection by the defense for his first goal of the season.
Late in the first half, Steel FC found the back of the net courtesy of Cory Burke. In the 42nd minute, Hounds defender Ritchie Duffie took down Santi Moar and Bethlehem was awarded a penalty kick. Burke took the kick and fired the ball toward the top-left corner of the net. Although goalkeeper Matt Perrella got a hand on it, he couldn’t punch it out of play.
Burke wasn’t finished on the offensive end. After nearly 30 minutes of scoreless play, the forward tied the game with a goal in the 71st minute after Moar found him on a lead pass. The striker then rolled a far-post shot past Perrella.
Vying for his first goal of the season since the home opener, Kerr put on an impressive display of effort to score the game-winning tally. Hertzog, who found himself setting up a scoring chance rather than receiving, sent Chevaughn Walsh a high pass, which was headed off the right post. As McGuire fell on his back, the ball trickled to the left post and Kerr slid in to push the ball through the legs of defender Hugh Roberts into the net.
Kerr figured in on all three goals and his game-winner moved him into a tie with Mike Apple for seventh on the Hounds’ all-time goals list.
Pittsburgh scored three goals in a game for the third time this season and remains undefeated when tallying multiple goals (5-0-2). The Hounds improved to 4-5-3 at home and have not lost at Highmark Stadium in their last three matches.
Pittsburgh looks to extend its winning streak to four when it faces FC Cincinnati at 4 p.m. on Sept. 2 at Nippert Stadium. The match will be broadcasted on Pittsburgh’s CW and there will be a viewing party at Claddagh Irish Pub. For more information on the Hounds’ next match, visit www.riverhounds.com.
Lineups:
Riverhounds – Matt Perrella – Taylor Washington, Jamal Jack Tobi Adewole, Ritchie Duffie (Shannon Gomez 77’) – Kevin Kerr, Victor Souto, Stephen Okai, Romeo Parkes – Chevaughn Walsh (Kay Banjo 83’), Corey Hertzog
Subs not used: Hunter Gilstrap, Gale Agbossoumonde, Danny Earls, Kenroy Howell, Jack Thompson
Bethlehem Steel FC – Jake McGuire – Aaron Jones, Hugh Roberts, Auston Trusty, Matthew Real – James Chambers, Maurice Edu (Anthony Fontana 45’), Adam Najem, Santi Moar (Yosef Samuel 86’), Chris Nanco (Josh Heard 76’) – Cory Burke
Subs not used: Tomas Romero, Matt Mahoney, Charlie Reymann, Brenden Aaronson
Scoring Summary:
PGH – Corey Hertzog 10’ (Kevin Kerr)
PGH – Jamal Jack 19’ (Kevin Kerr)
BST – Cory Burke 42’ (penalty)
BST – Cory Burke 71’ (Santi Moar)
PGH – Kevin Kerr 75’
Misconduct Summary:
BST – Santi Moar 20’ (caution)
PGH – Tobi Adewole 33’ (caution)
PGH – Jamal Jack 44’ (caution)
PGH – Corey Hertzog 45’ (caution)
PGH – Chevaughn Walsh 45+1’ (caution)
BST – Anthony Fontana 89’ (caution)
BST – Matthew Real 89’ (caution)
Cleveland Brothers “Blue Collar Player of the Game”
Quote Sheet:
Head coach Dave Brandt
On the pace of the game…
“I think we can handle ourselves in a variety of situations like that. It did open up. Sometimes that was good for us, sometimes I was not so happy it was open like that, obviously since they ran at us some.”
On playing after the team’s four yellow cards in the first half…
“We tried to tone it down, but you can’t go silent and go to sleep either. It was a tricky second half to handle.”
On the starting 11…
“I think the group that has started the past couple games is clicking well together. They need to remember how serious we need to be about defending, and that’s not meant to be any kind of a jab – it’s just critically important. I thought we were good in the offensive end tonight.”
Defender Jamal Jack
On defending Steel FC forward Cory Burke…
“I’m ready for the battle any time – whoever. Anyone that comes my way, I’m ready for the challenge.”
On leading younger defenders…
“From my experience, I give to the younger guys around me. I tell them, ‘let’s go, let’s try not to make any silly mistakes.’”
On his goal…
“All eyes were on the goal. [My last goal] was a year ago in El Salvador. It’s been a long time.”
Midfielder Kevin Kerr
On his goal…
“I kind of expected it to bounce off the post. I just gambled and some nights they drop for you. Tonight was a good night.”
On playing with a 2-0 lead…
“I thought at that point at 2-0 if we get one more this game’s over. And the second I thought that we gave away a crazy PK and made a game of it. Games swing on those moments and it was a crazy goal to give away.”
On the team’s momentum with the current lineup…
“We’ve been playing for a little while now. Harrisburg was a massive step forward. Everything kind of clicked in Harrisburg. I feel like we finish games real strong.”
