Match Recaps

(March 7, 2026) — The USL Championship title defense for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds got off to a bumpy start, as the team fell to a 2-1 defeat on the road against their longest-running rival, the Charleston Battery, tonight at Patriots Point Soccer Complex in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Former Hounds defender Sean Suber scored in his first match against his old club, and Wilmer Cabrera also found the net for the Battery (1-0-0), the league’s top-scoring team a season ago. The Hounds (0-1-0) pulled back into the match on an own goal by the Battery’s Nathan Messer.

Hounds goalkeeper Nico Campuzano made four saves in his team debut. The Battery’s first goal was the first given up by the Hounds in 677 minutes of play, dating back to the 2025 regular season, and the Hounds have won just two of their past 11 season openers.

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First half

Campuzano was outstanding early with a pair of highlight reel saves in the opening 11 minutes, the first to stop Joey Akpunonu’s shot through traffic with little time to react, and the second a diving stop to deny Cabrera’s chance off a corner kick.

The Hounds worked into the match after the first half hour, and Charles Ahl put a header on target to force one of three saves by Luis Zamudio — himself a former Hounds player on loan in 2023.

The breakthrough for the Battery came in stoppage time, as Suber elevated in front of goal to cleanly win the header from a Jeremy Kelly corner kick and open the scoring.

Second half

Campuzano denied Cabrera again just three minutes after halftime, when he came off his line and kept his frame wide to block away the shot from the left side of goal.

The third time was the charm for Cabrera in the 52nd minute, however. A pass from Messer on the left side found Cabrera with room at the top of the box, and Cabrera struck a clean shot between defenders on his second touch of the ball.

The Hounds forced their way back into the match in the 62nd minute when Danny Griffin found Ahl making a diagonal run into the Battery box. Ahl turned the ball back across the front of goal with a first touch off his left foot, and with Albert Dikwa crashing toward the back post, Messer misplayed the ball and rolled it behind Zamudio for the own goal.

Both teams continued to try and create, and Campuzano made another strong stop to deny Maalique Foster, but nothing compared to the chances in the three minutes of stoppage time.

The Hounds had a golden chance to tie the match when Sam Bassett lofted a ball into the box that Brigham Larsen headed back across the penalty spot. Trevor Amann arrived late to strike the ball, which deflected off the leg of defender Graham Smith before being saved over the bar by a diving Zamudio.

The Battery nearly made it 3-1 countering off the ensuing Hounds corner kick, but Bassett showed exceptional hustle to track back and deny Foster with a slide after Campuzano had slipped and been caught out of position on the wet grass.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Nico Campuzano made his Hounds debut a memorable one, making an early diving stop and coming up with a pair of saves at close range 1-on-1 with attackers. The 2025 league leader in saves had four in the opener to go with four clearances.

What’s next?

The Hounds continue their road-heavy early schedule next Saturday, March 14, when they travel to Leesburg, Va. to face Loudoun United FC in a 3 p.m. kickoff. The match will be the season opener for Loudoun, which is coming off its first-ever playoff appearance a season ago.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Nico Campuzano; Guillaume Vacter, Victor Souza (Illal Osumanu 70’), Beto Ydrach; Junior Etou, Sam Bassett, Bradley Sample (Trevor Amann 62’), Perrin Barnes (Max Viera 62’); Danny Griffin (Jackson Walti 80’), Charles Ahl (Brigham Larsen 80’); Albert Dikwa

Charleston Battery lineup (4-2-3-1) — Luis Zamudio; Nathan Messer, Graham Smith, Sean Suber, Douglas Martinez (Langston Blackstock 57’); Joey Akpunonu, Emilio Ycaza; Jeremy Kelly (Medgy Alexandre 85’), Laurent Kissiedou (Colton Swan 67’), Wilmer Cabrera (Maalique Foster 67’); Miguel Berry (Kirill Pakhomov 67’)

Scoring summary

CHS — Sean Suber 45+1’ (Jeremy Kelly)
CHS — Wilmer Cabrera 52’ (Nathan Messer)
PIT — Nathan Messer 62’ (own goal)

Discipline summary

CHS — Douglas Martinez 43’ (caution – reckless foul)
CHS — Graham Smith 80’ (caution – tactical foul)

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 28, 2026) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds now turn their eyes to the regular season after wrapping up their 2026 preseason with a 2-0 victory over the University of Pittsburgh this afternoon at Highmark Stadium.

Danny Griffin and Eliot Goldthorp scored in rapid succession to start the second half, and former Pitt goalkeeper Nico Campuzano played the full 90 minutes to record the clean sheet for the Hounds (6-1-0).

The best early chances were limited to set pieces, with Beto Ydrach flashing a header just over the crossbar from a 15th-minute corner kick. On the half-hour mark, Goldthorp sprung Junior Etou to the goal line with a clever backheel, but no Hounds were able to get on the end of a ball chipped by Etou toward the middle of the 6-yard box.

Pitt’s defensive resistance was finally broken down in the 50th minute with a fortuitous bounce. Etou again worked the left side and went for goal, and his effort struck the upright. The rebound came directly to Griffin standing near the penalty spot, and the Hounds’ captain tucked the ball home for his first goal of the preseason.

Less than a minute later, the Hounds were on the board again after Ydrach played the ball forward to Charles Ahl. Ahl sent a pass across goal from the right side, and Goldthorp made the back post run to touch home his second goal this preseason.

Just as they did the night before against West Virginia University, the Hounds allowed most of their players to go the full 90 minutes — only two substitutions were used — as they prepare to begin league play in just seven days.

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What’s next?

The Hounds begin their USL Championship title defense by renewing the league’s longest-running rivalry, as they travel to South Carolina’s Lowcountry to face the Charleston Battery on Saturday, March 7 at 6 p.m.

Scoring summary

PIT — Danny Griffin 50’
PIT — Eliot Goldthorp 50’ (Charles Ahl)

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 27, 2026) — Jorge Garcia and Jackson Walti each found the net to send the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to another preseason victory, 2-1 over West Virginia University tonight at Highmark Stadium.

It was the first goal of preseason for both players, as the Hounds (5-1-0) improved to 2-0 against college opposition on the exhibition schedule. Harry Hogben scored the lone goal for the Mountaineers.

The Hounds needed only four minutes to get on the board after Trevor Amann found Garcia darting toward the box on his left. Garcia drove a hard shot that bounced off the goalkeeper’s outstretched glove and into the net.

The lead was doubled in the 31st minute when Walti made a foray forward from his holding midfield role. Owen Mikoy’s long ball over the top from the center circle hit Walti running clear behind the defense, and the former Pitt midfielder placed the ball home against his old school’s rival.

Garcia nearly potted a second goal two minutes later with a free kick from 22 yards, but a touch by the keeper’s glove pushed the ball off the crossbar and kept it out.

West Virginia got on the board with the final kick of the first half. Hogben worked his way to the 18 with a give-and-go passing sequence, and the new Mountaineers player hit a well-placed shot into the top of the net.

The second half saw fewer chances, though Amann had an effort miss barely wide and Aldi Flowers-Gamboa forced a strong save after a long run down the left flank. West Virginia had two opportunities to level the score in the final five minutes, but an off-balance shot from in the box sailed high, and a late effort from the right side of the box buzzed wide of the goal.

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What’s next?

The Hounds complete their preseason schedule with one more college opponent when they face Pitt tomorrow. That match, originally a road contest, was moved to Highmark Stadium and now will be an 11 a.m. kickoff.

Scoring summary

PIT — Jorge Garcia 4’ (Trevor Amann)
PIT — Jackson Walti 31’ (Owen Mikoy)
WVU — Harry Hogben 45+1’

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 21, 2026) — A long-range free kick from Lexington SC’s Aaron Molloy brought the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ preseason win streak to an end with Lexington taking a 2-1 win this afternoon at Highmark Stadium.

Albert Dikwa opened the scoring for the Hounds (4-1-0), but their Western Conference opponents fired back with a pair of late goals, the first by Phillip Goodrum before Molloy’s 90th-minute winner.

The quality of the winning finish did nothing to detract from Dikwa’s goal — his second of the preseason — in the 17th minute. 

Dikwa was first to get to a long ball forward from goalkeeper Nico Campuzano, but the forward had little support with three defenders tracking back. Instead of cutting the ball backward, Dikwa went for goal, striking the ball on the bounce and lobbing it over the goalkeeper and under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

Lexington nearly got the goal back three minutes later. A ball played across from the left side got to Marcus Epps in a wide position on the right, and Epps struck the ball with plenty of power but squarely off the crossbar.

Campuzano came up big for the Hounds with a trio of second-half saves, the best being a diving stop to push behind a half-volley by Lexington’s Alfredo Midence in the 59th minute. But Lexington finally pulled even in the 87th minute from a set piece, as Molloy served a ball into the box that Goodrum was able to head inside the near post.

The match appeared headed toward a draw before Molloy surprised everyone by going for goal with a booming free kick roughly 50 yards from goal. The perfectly placed drive stayed under the bar to put the visitors ahead with only a short stoppage time to play.

The Hounds once again used the match to stretch out their players’ match fitness, as the starting group played 70 minutes before the team made wholesale substitutions for the final 20.

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What’s next?

The final week of preseason will be a full week of training for the Hounds before back-to-back matches on the weekend — a 7 p.m. Friday kickoff at home against West Virginia University and a 6 p.m. Saturday match against the University of Pittsburgh at Pitt’s Ambrose Urbanic Field.

Scoring summary

PIT — Albert Dikwa 17’ (Nico Campuzano)
LEX — Phillip Goodrum 87’ (Aaron Molloy)
LEX — Aaron Molloy 90’ 

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 18, 2026) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds received a game effort from their first collegiate opponent of the preseason, but a pair of goals by Trevor Amann was enough for the Hounds to score a 2-1 win over Duquesne University tonight at Highmark Stadium.

The victory maintains a perfect exhibition record for the Hounds (4-0-0) in their first preseason outing outdoors at their regular home ground. But it was not a flawless outing, with Cody Da finding the net for the Dukes’ goal.

Amann had the Hounds in front in the 19th minute after the Hounds won possession in the Duquesne half. Brigham Larsen slotted a pass down the right side leading Amann into the box, and the new Hounds forward scored with a low shot that got under the glove of the diving goalkeeper.

The Dukes continued to press and get numbers forward again the pros of the Hounds, and in the 35th minute, they were rewarded. Ashwin Menon received a ball coming across the field from the right side, and his low cross from the left got all the way across goal to Da, who finished at the back post.

The teams went to halftime tied, and the Hounds made fewer lineup changes than in previous preseason matches as head coach Rob Vincent aimed to begin stretching out his players to full-match fitness. The longer shift allowed Amann to get his second goal — and his team-leading third of the preseason — in the 54th minute when he rose to head in a cross from the right side served by the boot of one of the team’s trialists.

Larsen nearly had a third goal for the Hounds when Warren Agostoni got to the goal line and fed the ball across in the 67th minute, but he was denied by a point-blank kick save turning the ball around the post for a corner kick.

The Hounds rolled in a new wave of players, including Albert Dikwa, Danny Griffin and Beto Ydrach, for the final 20 minutes, and the action ended with another strong save in the Duquesne goal to deny Eliot Goldthorp’s effort from 18 yards on the final touch of the match.

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What’s next?

The Hounds will host Western Conference foe Lexington SC at noon Saturday, Feb. 21 at Highmark Stadium. The teams have yet to meet in a competitive match, but they did play a 0-0 preseason draw in Kentucky last season.

Scoring summary

PIT — Trevor Amann 19’ (Brigham Larsen)
DUQ — Cody Da 35’ (Ashwin Menon)
PIT — Trevor Amann 54’ (Trialist)

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (February. 13, 2026) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds continued their winning ways this preseason by coming out on top of a stern test from fellow USL Championship team Loudoun United FC, 2-1, this afternoon on the indoor field at the AHN Montour Sports Complex.

Trevor Amann netted his first goal of the preseason for the Hounds (3-0-0), and a second-half own goal turned out to be the final margin. Arquimides Ordóñez scored the lone goal for Loudoun, which was the first conceded by the Hounds this preseason.

The first stages of the contest featured both teams trying to possess but little in the way of chances, but the Hounds got themselves in front in the 24th minute. Loudoun turned the ball over deep in their own half of the field, allowing Jorge Garcia to dribble toward goal in the right side of the box. As the defense attempted to recover, Garcia played a low pass across goal for Amann, who calmly finished into the open part of the net.

Garcia nearly doubled the lead on the half-hour mark with a powerful long-range drive that forced a strong save by Loudoun goalkeeper Adam Beaudry. Amann had a chance for a second goal minutes before halftime, as well, but the teams went to the break at 1-0.

Four minutes into the second half, the match was level after Loudoun’s Jack Panayotou turned the corner along the goal line and into the right side of the box. Panayotou found Ordóñez arriving late to the front of goal, and the Guatemalan international scored with a rising shot under the crossbar.

The Hounds pulled ahead for good in the 66th minute when Eliot Goldthorp whipped a waist-high cross into the box from the left side. Albert Dikwa and Brigham Larsen both made runs to get on the end of the pass, but it was the leg of a Loudoun defender that turned the ball into the goal for a 2-1 Hounds lead.

Dikwa, who earlier was fouled on a breakaway opportunity, nearly added another goal when he got behind the defense and attempted to chip the goalkeeper, but his effort from just outside of the box bounced off the top of the crossbar and out of play.

One again, the Hounds utilized a large portion of their bench, with 16 of their 18 signed players appearing, along with seven players in camp as non-roster trialists.

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What’s next?

The Hounds will face their first college team of the preseason when Duquesne University makes the short trip across the Monongahela River for a 7 p.m. match Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Highmark Stadium.

Scoring summary

PIT — Trevor Amann 24’ (Jorge Garcia)
LDN — Arquimides Ordóñez 49’ (Jack Panayotou)
PIT — Own goal 66’

(Feb. 6, 2026) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds made it two wins from two preseason matches with a strong first performance on the road to defeat fellow USL Championship team Indy Eleven, 3-0, this afternoon at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind.

Albert Dikwa, Eliot Goldthorp and one of the team’s non-roster trialists provided the scoring, while the Hounds utilized multiple goalkeepers and rotated defenders while keeping their second straight clean sheet.

“We moved the ball well, particularly in the first half, and we got into their box a good number of times,” Riverhounds head coach Rob Vincent said. “We possessed the ball and broke some lines through the middle, so I think there were quite a few positives to take from it.”

Dikwa’s goal in the 17th minute — his first preseason strike since rejoining the club after two years with Rhode Island FC — was a headed finish after a scramble in front of goal. The Hounds worked the ball down the left before Goldthorp tried putting the ball back across goal. Brigham Larsen was able to get a head to the ball and keep it alive for Dikwa, who finished five yards from the net.

New signing Goldthorp was on the scoresheet three minutes late after he found himself one-on-one with a defender on the left. The attacking midfielder cut inside to his right foot, and he curled a finish inside the far post from just inside the top of the box.

After returning from halftime ahead 2-0, the Hounds got their last goal in the 48th minute. Bradley Sample picked out a pass that split a pair of defenders to find a teammate running, and the trialist got on the end of the pass and smashed a shot inside the near post.

Once again, the Hounds rotated much of their lineup between halves — only three players played more than 45 minutes — as the team continues to work toward its March 7 season opener.

“The second half was a little more even. I think (Indy’s) lineup was more of their starters, but we got the early goal and played evenly,” Vincent said. “We trained before we left yesterday, and I think the team adapted well (to traveling). We started quite quickly, so I don’t think there was any hangover from the travel.”

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What’s next?

The Hounds have the weekend off before returning to training ahead of their next preseason match on Friday, Feb. 13 against Loudoun United FC at the AHN Montour Sports Complex.

Scoring summary

PIT — Albert Dikwa 17’ (Brigham Larsen)
PIT — Eliot Goldthorp 20’
PIT — Trialist 48’ (Bradley Sample)

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (Feb. 2, 2026) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds kicked off their 2026 preseason schedule in winning fashion with a pair of second-half goals to defeat the Richmond Kickers out of USL League One, 2-0, this afternoon on the indoor field at the AHN Montour Sports Complex.

Brigham Larsen and one of the team’s non-roster trialists combined on the two goals, with Larsen netting the opening tally in the 72nd minute before picking up the assist on the second goal only six minutes later.

The first half saw Albert Dikwa leading the Hounds line for the first time since he departed Pittsburgh after his 2023 Golden Boot-winning season, while it provided a first look at new Hounds Victor Souza, Eliot Goldthorp and USL Academy signee Warren Agostoni. Chances were sparse both ways, as captain Danny Griffin and Agostoni both came close but missed wide from distance, while the Kickers forced one first-half save on the Hounds’ end.

An almost entirely new 11 took the field for the second half — in total, 22 players saw action for the Hounds — and newcomer Trevor Amann looked the most dangerous early with a headed chance that flashed just wide right of the post.

Larsen, the second-year pro, put the Hounds on the board with a strong run to the near post and being first to the ball on a low cross from one of the team’s trialists. The roles reversed for the second goal, when Larsen got down near the goal line on the right said and sent a low ball back across the front of goal to set up a finish off the underside of the crossbar.

The Kickers nearly ended the shutout bid with seven minutes to play, as an outward curling volley from outside the box struck the crossbar, which denied what would have been a spectacular finish.

The preseason contest was the first meeting of any sort between the Hounds and the Kickers since Richmond left the USL Championship after the 2018 season, and it gives the Hounds wins in four of their past five preseason home openers.

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What’s next?

The Hounds will face fellow USL Championship side Indy Eleven at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the Eleven’s Grand Park training venue.

Scoring summary

PIT — Brigham Larsen 72’ (Trialist)
PIT — Trialist 78’ (Brigham Larsen)

TULSA, Okla. (Nov. 22, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are the champions of the USL Championship, winning the first league title in their 26-year history by defeating FC Tulsa on penalties, 5-3, after playing to a 0-0 draw in the USL Championship Final this afternoon at ONEOK Field.

Goalkeeper Eric Dick was named Most Valuable Player of the final after making five saves in the match and making a save to deny Tulsa’s Stefan Lukic in the shootout. It was his 16th shutout of the season and 30th as a member of the Hounds, both team records.

Bertin Jacquesson, Robbie Mertz, Chase Boone, Sean Suber and Beto Ydrach all converted their penalties for the Hounds. The Hounds became the first team in Championship history to win the title without conceding a single goal in the playoffs, as they end the year on a streak of 632 minutes without allowing a goal, dating back to the regular season.

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First half

The match opened up more end-to-end than the Hounds’ earlier playoff matches, and Luke Biasi nearly put the Hounds on the board with a curling right-footed ball that struck the crossbar from 30 yards away.

In the 22nd minute, Charles Ahl sent Augi Williams toward goal on the right with a long ball over the top, and Williams forced a good diving stop by Tulsa goalkeeper Tyler Deric.

Tulsa had a number of chances of their own, outshooting the Hounds 17-6 on the day. Dick made his biggest first-half stop in the 40th minute, as he leaped to tip a close-range headed attempt by Kalil ElMedkhar over the bar.

Williams had one more golden chance to score a minute before halftime after Danny Griffin played the ball back into the box with an overhead kick. The Hounds’ striker kept himself onside, but Williams’ effort to strike the ball coming from over his should was lashed wide across the goal.

Second half

Tulsa turned up the heat after the break, creating problems with their forward pressure. A turnover in their own half in the 59th minute put the Hounds in danger, but Griffin made a late sliding intervention to deny a pass from ElMedkhar to prevent Tulsa top scorer Taylor Calheira from getting a chance in front.

In the 74th minute, the Hounds again scrambled defensively to clear danger. Travian Sousa curled a cross in from the left side that skimmed off the head of Lukic in front, but the ball stayed in play for Tulsa, allowing them to cycle the ball back to Giordano Colli for a shot just inside the box. Suber, Griffin and Bradley Sample all combined to slide in for the block, popping the ball into the air for Dick to collect.

Two minutes later, Tulsa again threatened from a corner kick, one of the few not corralled by Dick immediately. The ball popped around the box, but Ian couldn’t turn it on goal, as the defender lifted his effort over the bar.

Extra time and penalties

Tulsa got an early chance in the extra time period on a ball chipped forward for Lukic, but Dick again was quick off his line to palm the ball away. Tulsa tried lifting a second effort toward goal, but Dick caught the return ball easily to end the threat.

Neither team yielded much in the extra 30, though an early ball into the box by Jackson Walti caused nervous moments for Tulsa, as Deric bumped in to one of his defenders before corralling the loose ball under pressure from Jacquesson.

In penalties, the decisive moment came on the second kick, with the Hounds ahead 2-1 after kicking first. Lukic attempted to go low and to the right side with his shot, but the effort was too close to Dick, who dove low to make the stop.

Both teams were clinical the rest of the way, but the one save allowed Ydrach to end it with a shot right down the middle as Deric dove to his right.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Eric Dick posted his second straight five-save clean sheet, and he did one better than the Eastern Conference Final by adding the crucial penalty kick save on Stefan Lukic in the shootout.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Luke Biasi (Illal Osumanu 80’), Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach; Junior Etou, Bradley Sample (Jackson Walti 80’), Danny Griffin, Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz, Charles Ahl (Chase Boone 89’); Augi Williams (Bertin Jacquesson 106’)

FC Tulsa lineup (3-4-3) — Tyler Deric; Lamar Batista, Delentz Pierre, Ian; Travian Sousa (Abdoulaye Cissoko 91’), Giordano Colli, Jamie Webber (Trevor Amann 113’), Lucas Stauffer (Harvey St. Clair 91’); Kalin ElMedkhar (Stefan Lukic 70’), Taylor Calheira, Alex Dalou (Owen Damm 70’)

Scoring summary

None

Discipline summary

TUL — Alex Dalou 57’ (caution – persistent infringement)
TUL — Ian 69’ (caution – reckless foul)
TUL — Jamie Webber 74’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Danny Griffin 94’ (caution – tactical foul)

Penalty kick shootout summary

PIT (Goalkeeper: Dick) — Jacquesson, Mertz, Boone, Suber, Ydrach

TUL (Goalkeeper: Deric) — Calheira, Lukic (saved), Colli, Batista

PITTSBURGH (Nov. 15, 2025) — For the first time in the club’s 26-year history, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds will play in a league final after winning the USL Championship Eastern Conference Final, 1-0, over Rhode Island FC tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Pittsburgh native Robbie Mertz scored the only goal 10 minutes into the second half, sending the record-setting crowd of 6,745 into a frenzy. Goalkeeper Eric Dick matched a season high with five saves to record his 15th shutout in all competitions, a new Hounds single-season record.

The Hounds will travel to face FC Tulsa in the USL Championship Final on Saturday, Nov. 22 in a noon kickoff on CBS.

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First half

Rhode Island, which already had won two road playoff matches, created the match’s first chance when Noah Fuson received the ball on the right side and struck a firm drive that made Dick dive for a save at the near post. The ensuing corner say Hugo Bacharch turn another effort toward goal, but his header missed high.

The Hounds began to work their way forward in transition in the 30th minute, which forced former Hound Marc Ybarra to pull back on the jersey of Perrin Barnes and pick up a yellow card that would prove consequential later.

Danny Griffin had the Hounds’ best chance in the 36th minute after Mertz chipped a ball to send him into the box on goal. Griffin was first to the bouncing ball, but his effort was batted away by onrushing goalkeeper Koke Vegas.

Second half

Augi Williams nearly got the Hounds on the board in the 51st minute when Griffin played him into the right side of the box. Rather than crossing, he lashed a shot across goal from a tough angle that missed barely wide and had Vegas diving to try and reach it.

The breakthrough finally came in the 55th minute, when Griffin rose to meet a high ball from Luke Biasi at the top of the box. Griffin nodded it onward to Mertz on the right, and Mertz did the rest, cutting inside and then back to his right to shake Bacharach and create room to fire a shot under the crossbar.

Five minutes later, Rhode Island was reduced to 10 men when Ybarra was whistled for a reckless foul on Bradley Sample. But the visitors shook off the moment and continued to press forward for a tying goal.

Dick had his biggest moment of the match in the 74th minute when another ex-Hound, Albert Dikwa, sprung JJ Williams on a breakaway. Williams tried to shoot high, but Dick leaped to tip the ball over the bar and preserved the clean sheet.

Dick made one more save minutes later to deny a Hamady Diop free kick, but the Hounds defense was able to navigate the remainder of the match, including seven minutes of stoppage time, without allowing another shot on goal.

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Modelo Man of the Match

A special night deserves a special dual honor, as Robbie Mertz and Eric Dick share the accolade. Dick’s five saves, including a pair in the final 20 minutes, sealed the deal, while Mertz had the game-winning goal and team leading totals of six recoveries and 89.5 percent pass completion (34 of 38).

What’s next?

The Hounds will play for their first league championship at noon Saturday against FC Tulsa, which won the Western Conference Championship by defeating New Mexico United at home, 3-0. The Hounds and Tulsa did not meet in the regular season.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Luke Biasi, Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach (Illal Osumanu 84’); Junior Etou, Bradley Sample, Danny Griffin, Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz, Charles Ahl (Jackson Walti 79’); Augi Williams (Brigham Larsen 88’)

Rhode Island FC lineup (3-4-3) — Koke Vegas; Hamady Diop (Clay Holstad 88’), Karifa Yao (Maxi Rodriguez 82’), Frank Nodarse; Aldair Sanchez (Albert Dikwa 68’), Hugo Bacharach, Marc Ybarra (sent off 60’), Amos Shapiro-Thompson (Zach Herivaux 68’); Jojea Kwizera (Dwayne Atkinson 81’), JJ Williams, Noah Fuson

Scoring summary

PIT — Robbie Mertz 55’ (Danny Griffin)

Discipline summary

RI — Marc Ybarra 30’ (caution – tactical foul)
RI — JJ Williams 42’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Danny Griffin 59’ (caution – reckless foul)
RI — Marc Ybarra 60’ (caution – reckless foul)
RI — Marc Ybarra 60’ (sent off – second yellow card)
RI — Hugo Bacharach 72’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Junior Etou 75’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Perrin Barnes 90+7’ (caution – reckless foul)