The Riverhounds kick off the 2017 season against the defending USL champion New York Red Bulls II at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Highmark Stadium. Pittsburgh will look to build off of the successes of its 3-1-2 preseason record.
A new era
Although head coach Dave Brandt joined the Hounds midway through their 2016 campaign, he now has the benefit of a full offseason to project his philosophy throughout the team. He wasted no time implementing his ideas, as the Hounds battled frigid January temperatures to become one of the first professional teams to begin training camp this year. Furthermore, 16 newcomers fill Pittsburgh’s roster this season, which gives the team a fresh look in addition to its new coaching system.
Avenging a close defeat
Brandt coached his first game with the Black and Gold on May 28, 2016 – the team’s most recent match against the Red Bulls II. The team battled neck-and-neck with the 2016 USL champions, but an eighth minute tally ultimately provided New York with a 1-0 victory at Red Bull Arena. Corey Hertzog, the Hounds leading goal scorer in 2016, paced the team with three shots during the match. The forward, and Brandt, return this season and look to knock off the defending champions in the season opener rematch.
A shooter’s stroke
Hertzog carried the momentum from his 13-goal 2016 campaign into Pittsburgh’s preseason, leading the team with four tallies. Now as the regular season approaches, the forward will look to keep his scoring hot streak alive in the opener against the Red Bulls II.
Four players, who played in the previous match against the Red Bulls II, return with the Hounds for Saturday’s game. Mike Green, Kevin Kerr and Hertzog each played 90 minutes whereas Stephen Okai totaled 82 minutes in Pittsburgh’s 1-0 defeat.
The Pittsburgh backline will have its hands full with an explosive Red Bulls II offense on Saturday. Last year, New York led the USL with 61 goals, scoring at least four times in seven matches. For the Hounds to come out on top, they will need to limit the scoring opportunities of the USL Eastern Conference foe.
