Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (9-3-8) takes on the Swope Park Rangers (3-11-6) at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The two clubs met earlier this season on March 23, with the match finishing in a 2-2 draw.
The Season So Far
With just three wins, Swope Park sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The club’s last win was a 4-3 result over Hartford Athletic on July 17, but it has dropped its two most recent contests by a combined score of 6-0.
The Rangers have been plagued by their play away from home all season. With an 0-7-2 record on the road, the club faces a tough task this weekend against a Riverhounds team that excels at home.
Players to Watch
Without a doubt, Swope Park’s most dangerous offensive weapon has been the 21-year-old midfielder Felipe Hernandez. Through 18 appearances, Hernandez has notched a club-leading eight goals, and also has two assists. The midfielder is also second on the team in shots (21), trailing only Ethan Vanacore-Decker, who has posted 22.
Strength: Passing
With an 82.6 success rate on passes, Swope Park has had success moving the ball up the field this year. The club has gathered a total of 17 assists this season.
Weakness: Goaltending
The Rangers haven’t been able to get consistent play out of any of their goalkeepers this season. So far, five keepers have manned the cage for the club, with Eric Dick, Adrián Zendejas and John Pulskamp seeing the majority of action.
