Last October, a record 5,189 fans flooded the gates at Highmark Stadium for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s first-ever home playoff game at the venue. The Black and Gold fought hard against Bethlehem Steel FC, but ultimately lost in a penalty kick shootout.
This Saturday, the Hounds have a chance to write a different ending to a similar story, as they host Birmingham Legion FC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
“It’s always a thought, but we’re not focused on last year’s game,” Tobi Adewole said. “We’re focused on the game at hand. We’re just ready to get the ‘w’ and move on to the next round.”
Pittsburgh met Birmingham in its last game of the regular season on Oct. 26, beating Legion FC 1-0. The Hounds also grabbed a 4-1 win over the club on June 29 at Highmark Stadium.
Even with that familiarity, Riverhounds SC is approaching Saturday’s match with a blank slate.
“It’s a new game, it’s the playoffs, it’s one game,” Jordan Dover said on the team’s mentality. “Anything can happen and we have to take it very seriously. We know they’re going to put out a good side and a good performance, and they got a big win on the road Wednesday, so we just have to be ready for them.”
Highmark Stadium has become one of the toughest venues for opposing teams to play at in the entire USL Championship. The Hounds’ 10-0-7 record at home played a major role in the team’s ability to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Now, the Black and Gold need to find a way to carry their regular season success into postseason play.
With the amount of postseason experience that the team’s roster holds, Dover noted that while the pressure is certainly on, the club is comfortable heading into Saturday’s match.
“I think we have a good balance,” Dover said. “We have players on the team that have won it in Rochester in 2015. We also have guys who are here that felt that bitter feeling in their mouth after that loss in the first round. A lot of us don’t want to lose, and a lot of us know what it takes to win so we’re really excited.”
Kickoff for the Hounds’ playoff opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday. Though the moment will be big and the lights will be bright, nearly nine months of preparation has the team ready for the stage.
The club may come out of the gate with some nerves, but once the ball gets rolling Dover knows his team will settle down and put together a solid outing.
“You just kind of have to weather that first storm,” Dover said. “It’s going to be high intensity, but I think if we get past that first 10-15 minutes and keep our heads about us, we’ll be in a great position to win the game.”
Adewole agreed with his backline counterpart, and carries a high level of confidence heading into Saturday.
“It’s been intense,” Adewole said. “The boys are ready for the start of playoffs. We know what we have to do, it’s not going to be a repeat of last year and we’re ready to go.”
