Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC defeated Hartford Athletic this past Saturday, 4-2, while on the road in Connecticut. The standings-boosting victory helped propel the Hounds into the sixth position in the USL Championship Eastern Conference. More impressively in the win for Pittsburgh was the contribution from multiple players across the roster, including some who made statement performances in last Saturday’s match.
Pittsburgh midfielders Anthony Velarde and Noah Franke were both collecting their fifth start of the season when they were in the lineup against Hartford. Both players were looking to make a difference with the opportunity presented to them.
“It was good,” Franke said. “It was good to get the start and get a couple more minutes under my belt. Just for touches, experiences and getting touches on the ball. It was a good confidence boost and gave some of the guys who play longer a little bit of a break.”
Velarde made a big difference for the Hounds on the scoreboard as well. He first collected an assist on a Steevan Dos Santos goal in the 13th minute of play, following this up with a goal of his own in the 37th minute. Humbly not wanting to focus on his own performance, Velarde looked at the performance from the team perspective instead.
“I think it was a good turnaround from the match with Charlotte,” Velarde said. “I think we let ourselves down and I think especially let myself down. So, I think it is really important to put the work in training and come to that game knowing [Hartford] could create chances.”
After this past weekend’s victory, the Hounds will be refocusing their efforts into this weekend’s home match against Memphis 901 FC. This will be the first official match between the two clubs after the initial game was cancelled in Memphis due to inclement weather. Memphis entered the USL Championship as an expansion club for the 2019 season.
“I think we know three points are on the line,” Velarde said. “I think we are climbing up the table. We know we want to get the win. We knew we were beating them at their home, and it was unfortunate [the weather delay] was happening.”
Both players reiterated their focus on trying to collect three points while not thinking of the past abandoned match between the two teams. They did not think either team had an advantage over the other when it came to the prior experience of playing each other in the suspended match.
“We know what they are capable of and they know what we are capable of,” Franke said. “I think we will be just fine.”
The Riverhounds will take on Memphis 901 FC at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
