Corey Hertzog charged the net from the left corner outside of the 18-yard box.
Volleying the ball by one defender, the forward then tiptoed along the end line past another foe. The goalkeeper charged the striker as he approached within yards of the net, but once again Hertzog flipped the ball past another obstacle.
The striker then gathered his balance, blasting a shot into the far corner of the net. The tally was the Riverhounds’ (0-0-1) first of the 2017 campaign, coming in a 3-3 draw against the New York Red Bulls II (0-0-1) on Saturday at Highmark Stadium. At the time (9th minute), Hertzog’s score equalized the match at 1-1.
“I thought Corey’s [goal] was unbelievable,” said head coach Dave Brandt. “I thought it was a great effort and then for whatever it’s worth the photo moment – he picked up the ball boy and celebrated with the ball boy as well.”
Hertzog has recently coached the ball boy, a member of the Riverhounds Development Academy, and he sealed an agreement with him prior to the match.
“I coach him every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, so he told me he was going to be there,” Hertzog said. “I told him if I score down there, I’ll pick you up.”
Teaming with Hertzog on the attack, Kevin Kerr registered Pittsburgh’s second tally of the match. After receiving a feed from Marshall Hollingsworth at the top of the 18-yard box, Kerr blasted a shot into the bottom-right corner past New York goalkeeper Rafael Diaz.
The captain’s goal evened the score at 2-2 in the 39th minute.
Having both Hertzog and Kerr on top is a new look for the Hounds offense. Kerr, who played mostly at midfield in 2016, brings an added veteran presence to the frontline. The duo combined for 17 goals last year
Hertzog added the final goal of the match – an equalizer that clinched the 3-3 draw. After the Reading, Pennsylvania native was taken down inside the penalty area, he lined up a penalty kick that was blocked away by Diaz. However, the forward stuck with the play, gathered the rebound and launched the ball into the net.
“I thought me and Kevin played well together – one would go, one would check and just look for each other,” Hertzog said. “I think it is a good partnership.”
