With a 5-0 win over Hartford Athletic this past Saturday at Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC clinched its third straight postseason appearance under head coach Bob Lilley. This is the first time in club history the Hounds have made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.
“I’m happy we won and that we clinched a playoff spot,” Lilley said after Saturday’s match. “But we aren’t done yet. Hartford is a team we’re going to see again in a few weeks, and maybe even in the playoffs. We still want to finish off the regular season strong and earn home playoff matches.”
This season features a unique playoff format. The top two teams from each group at season’s end will advance to the USL Championship playoffs to form a field of 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket, with group winners pairing up with group runners-up in the Round of 16.
Finishing atop Group F remains a top priority for the Hounds. But no matter where they finish in the group, they will play a team from Group E in the Round of 16.
The Hounds have played each of the top three teams in Group E this season. Pittsburgh defeated Group E’s first-place team, Louisville City FC, 3-1, in the inaugural match at Lynn Family Stadium. Indy Eleven, the team the Hounds would face if the current standings hold, narrowly etched out two 1-0 victories against the Hounds this year. Pittsburgh tied Saint Louis FC, 2-2, back on Aug. 22 at Highmark Stadium.
“We only have three games left and our next focus is Loudoun,” defender Ryan James said after the win against Hartford. “We’re taking one game at a time because these games are still very important. We want to earn the maximum points in each match.”
While hunting for the group title, the next stop for the Hounds is Loudoun United FC, when they travel to Segra Field on Saturday, Sept. 19. The match is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised on 22 The Point.
