One-third of the way through the season, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds sit in fifth place in the USL Eastern Conference. A large part of this success is because of a resilient defense that has only allowed 11 goals up to this point; the lowest tally through 11 games in the USL era for the Hounds.
This all despite a defense that has seen 10 different players register time in the back four. Out of these 10, three constants have remained: Taylor Washington, who has started 10 of 11 games; Jamal Jack, who has started 10 of 11 games; and goalkeeper Trey Mitchell, who has started nine of 11 games.
At this point last season, the Hounds had conceded 19 goals. Part of this improvement can be credited to Mitchell, whose four clean sheets leads the Eastern Conference.
“In preseason that was the talk, that we were going to focus on getting clean sheets,” Mitchell said.
Through the first five preseason matches, the Hounds earned three wins and two draws, allowing only three goals. Concerns arose in their sixth and final preseason match, as they conceded five goals in a loss to their Eastern Conference opponent Rochester.
It was after this game Hounds assistant coach Dan Visser and the rest of the coaching staff “did not feel 100 percent confident in what we had going on in the back line.”
The home opener, though drawing with reigning league champion New York Red Bulls II, saw much of the same with the Hounds conceding three goals. A point where Visser says conceding goals “became a massive emphasis.”
For the Hounds, the response was equally as massive as the defense has allowed only eight goals in 10 games since.
“We know that if we don’t allow a goal, we’re not going to lose,” Mitchell said in praise of the back four. “Our backline has been amazing. They’re making my job really easy.”
One player making his presence known is Washington, who is in his first season with Pittsburgh. He is currently third on the team in minutes after spending last year 290 miles away with Bethlehem Steel FC.
“I think [Mitchell] is a positive influence on the field,” Washington said. “He’s come up with some big saves.”
Washington has adapted to the team well, playing where he is needed. At Boston University he was moved around between left back, left wing back and left wing. The natural left back has played at both left and right back in the last four games for the Hounds.
“I was able to take my experience from school and add it to my pro game,” he said. “Anything I can do to help the team, that’s what I care about most.”
Injuries to starters also played a role in the number of defenders played this campaign. Rich Balchan, who started six games at right back, most notably was lost for the season following an Achilles injury. Gale Agbossoumonde, Ryan Adeleye, Shane Campbell and Ritchie Duffie all have spent time on the injury report as well.
“We’re a deep team,” Washington said. “We know that whoever comes in is going to do their job.”
Both Washington and Mitchell commended the players brought in on loan to help the defensive effort, particularly Joe Greenspan and Lalas Abubakar.
Greenspan joined Pittsburgh from Minnesota United FC, making eight starts and being named to the USL Team of the Week on two separate occasions.
“Joe was massive here,” Washington said.
Minnesota has since reacquired Greenspan, but another defender, Abubakar, remains with the club. The Ghana native joins the Black and Gold on loan from Columbus Crew SC. He has played in two games since coming to Pittsburgh.
“Thankfully we have Lalas on loan from Columbus,” Mitchell said. “He’s a very athletic center back and very strong.”
Aside from Abubakar, Visser believes the Hounds are not short of options in players capable of stepping up and filling open positions to keep the stability on defense.
One player is Agbossoumonde. The former Fort Lauderdale Striker, in his first year in Pittsburgh, has experience in the MLS, the NASL as well as the USL. After joining the Hounds late into the preseason, he is currently being worked back to full fitness.
“We’ve continued to work with Gale,” Visser said. “He’s a very capable player and has done well for other teams in the past.”
Another option is George Washington University graduate Tobi Adewole, who enters his first year in professional soccer.
“[Adewole] is a rookie but we think he is someone who is very capable,” Visser said.
Adewole finished his career at George Washington with 61 starts in 64 total appearances, scoring five goals and recording five assists.
With these options available, defensive chemistry may be a topic of concern for a defense that has been playing near a franchise best so far this season. Abubakar and Agbossoumonde have only four matches played between them so far this season, while Adewole has yet to make an appearance.
“In a perfect world, you’re starting the same back four, plus a keeper, just so they become really comfortable with each other,” Visser said.
Moving forward, building future defensive chemistry is a challenge that the Hounds are prepared to face head on.
Washington said each defender trusts one another, no matter who receives the starting nod.
“The Riverhounds this year are a team built on Dave’s system and we’re buying into it,” Washington said. “We just need to continue to stay focused and the results will come. We just need to have faith in it.”
