Alex Dixon has always been a pain to defend.
But this time around, the Riverhounds won’t need to deploy their defense to cover the meteoric forward formerly with Hartford Athletic. Dixon is sporting black and gold for the 2021 season.
The Riverhounds lengthen their stride as they meet a familiar foe at Dillion Stadium for Hartford’s home opener. But this northeastern trek is especially dear for Dixon, who is coming off two seasons spent in Connecticut.
“My wife is still there for now, so I’m excited to see her at the game,” Dixon said. “Hartford was a good city with great people, but I’m glad to be here in Pittsburgh.”
Rounding out Hartford’s inaugural 2019 season, Dixon contributed five goals and had a team-high four assists in 27 matches. Moving into the 2020 season, the electric forward netted a team-leading six goals in 15 games while piloting Hartford into its first-ever playoff appearance.
But with roles reversed, the Hounds prepare to utilize Dixon’s agility, stamina and scoring touch to their advantage.
During September of the shortened 2020 season, the Hounds wasted no time dominating Hartford in a 5-0 win at Highmark Stadium. That victory signified the Hounds’ USL Championship playoff berth was secure for the third straight season. But as Pittsburgh geared up for their final contest of the previous season, the black-and-gold was taken aback.
The Riverhounds dropped a 1-0 decision to Hartford, with much thanks to Dixon’s offensive contribution. Now with the seasoned veteran swapping jerseys, Pittsburgh hopes to reconcile the loss heading into Saturday’s game.
“I mean it’s good that I have a little insight into the individual players that held on from last year, so I think I can help the team out in that sense,” Dixon said. “Knowing the little movements and ideas that they try to do gives us a tactical approach to this game.”
Dixon’s history runs even deeper, though.
A young and budding soccer star fresh out of University of North Carolina, the Tar Heels alumnus joined the Rochester Rhinos in his first USL stint after playing for the Houston Dynamo in MLS. There, Dixon met the now-familiar face of Bob Lilley.
Dixon was an integral player in Bob Lilley’s Rhinos run in 2014-15. During that time, the Rhinos won the USL Cup, and Dixon secured two game-winning goals against the Riverhounds. Now with Lilley as the Hounds’ head coach and Dixon as a principal forward, their chemistry in Pittsburgh has been built upon years of experience.
“This has been a period of readjustment since it’s been so long since I have played for him,” Dixon said. “But I’ve been enjoying it, because he’s super thorough and detail-oriented, and I’m always excited to meet his demands.”
Rivalry is brewing and anticipation is building for the Riverhounds to suit up for Hartford’s home opener, but the end is nowhere near. The teams revisit this matchup three additional times, including the end to the regular season on Oct. 30 at Highmark Stadium.
“We just want to get a good result. Three points is the main agenda,” Dixon said, “so that’s what we’re going to do.”
