Match Recaps

PITTSBURGH (June 28, 2025) — Bertin Jacquesson’s goal early in the match was the only tally of the night, and it gave the Pittsburgh Riverhounds a 1-0 win over Westchester SC in the USL Jägermeister Cup tonight at Highmark Stadium.

It was the first goal of the season for Jacquesson, who began the year late after a preseason injury, and Hounds goalkeeper Jacob Randolph made two saves for his second shutout of the season across all competitions.

Despite the win, the Hounds can no longer advance in the Jägermeister Cup with their 1-2-0 record after Hartford Athletic drew with Detroit City FC tonight. Westchester, a USL League One team, is also eliminated at 0-3-0.

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First half

The early stages were a feeling-out process between two team that had never faced each other, though an early header won by Westchester’s Sebastian Palma could have been dangerous but sailed over the bar.

In the 15th minute, the Hounds put together a good team move down the left side to get on the board. Robbie Mertz and Junior Etou combined on a series of give-and-go passes that sprung Etou toward the goal line on the left. Jacquesson made the near post run and turned Etou’s low pass into the net with his first touch.

Jacquesson nearly doubled the lead 10 minutes later after Mertz chipped a pass through on the right to a wide-open Bradley Sample. Sample picked out Jacquesson with his pass to the front of goal, but Westchester goalkeeper Dane Jacomen — a Pittsburgh native and former Hounds Academy player — hurried across his goal to make an close-range stop.

Second half

One of Westchester’s best chances came minutes after the break, when former Hounds striker J.C. Obregón teed up a bouncing ball on his right foot but fired the shot from inside the box over the goal.

Etou nearly created a second goal in the 55th minute, but his curling pass from the left was too long for Mertz to reach, and Jacomen arrived to the ball just before Jacquesson.

The Hounds searched for an insurance goal, but Jacomen denied them in the 86th minute with a lunging stop to his right to deny Augi Williams in a 1-on-1 situation, before recovering to deny Charles Ahl with a spectacular save diving back the other direction to tip the ball wide.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Bertin Jacquesson got into the scoring column and was active leading the line. He finished with four total shots, won six of his team-leading 12 duels and had a pair of successful dribbles before coming off in the 68th minute.

What’s next? 

With three wins from four June matches, the Hounds turn back to USL Championship play for the return of an old Highmark Stadium tradition — the Independence Day game. The Hounds (5-6-2) will host Western Conference leaders New Mexico United (8-4-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 4 with fans invited to stay in the stadium for City of Pittsburgh fireworks after the match.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Jacob Randolph; Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach, Max Broughton; Junior Etou (Luke Biasi 84’), Danny Griffin, Bradley Sample (Jackson Walti 68’), Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz (Jason Bouregy 83’), Jorge Garcia (Charles Ahl 68’); Bertin Jacquesson (Augi Williams 68’)

Westchester SC (4-4-2) — Dane Jacomen; Josh Drack, Bobby Pierre, Sebastian Palma (Andrew Jean-Baptiste 64’), Stephen Payne (Noah Powder 46’); Dean Guezen (Bryan Vasquez 83’), Joel Johnson, Daniel Bouman (Ermin Mackic 77’), Prince Saydee (Mink Peeters 64’); Jonathan Bolanos, J.C. Obregón

Scoring summary

PIT — Bertin Jacquesson 15’ (Junior Etou)

Discipline summary

PIT — Sean Suber 48’ (caution – tactical foul)
WES — Mink Peeters 71’ (caution – tactical foul)
WES — Ermin Mackic 90+6’ (caution – reckless foul)

PITTSBURGH (June 21, 2025) — A pair of early goals gave the Pittsburgh Riverhounds the offense they needed to claim a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies tonight at hot, humid Highmark Stadium.

The scoring opened with an own goal by former Hounds defender Thomas Vancaeyezeele, and shortly afterward, Augi Williams headed the Hounds (5-6-2) into a two-goal lead.

Manuel Arteaga pulled a goal back for the Rowdies (2-9-2) five minutes before halftime, but the Hounds protected the lead to win their second straight home match.

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First half

The Hounds were in attacking mode from the start, and Luke Biasi had a good chance when he got around the left side and into the box, but his shot hit the side netting. Shortly afterward, Bertin Jacquesson picked out Robbie Mertz 15 yards from goal, but Mertz’s shot was too close to the goalkeeper and saved.

In the 15th minute, the Hounds went ahead from a corner kick served by Mertz. The ball zipped toward the back post, and Vancayezeele’s errant first touch put the ball into the net.

Five minutes later, Biasi was working the left side once again and lofted a cross to the back post. Williams drifted off the back of his defender to get free, and he headed the ball in from close range for his second goal of the year.

Beto Ydrach nearly added a third goal at the half-hour mark after a feed from Charles Ahl, but his close-range effort was denied by another of Rowdies goalkeeper Ethan Bandré’s five saves.

In the 40th minute, Arteaga got the Rowdies’ goal with a finish from the top of the box that was set up by some clever dribbling and a short pass from Ollie Bassett.

Second half

Hounds goalie Eric Dick had his biggest moment shortly after halftime, when he denied a blast on goal by Blake Bodily shooting from the left side of the box. Dick finished with two saves in the match.

Jacquesson responded with a good chance of his own in the right side of the box, but Bandré cut off the angle and saved the ball wide of the goal.

Jackson Walti nearly added the third goal when Mertz found him in space late in the match, but a defender’s boot was enough to deflect the chance high. Over the final 40 minutes of the match, the Hounds limited the Rowdies to two shots — one blocked and one off target.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Luke Biasi had an effective two-way effort in a 90-minutes shift on the left wing. He recorded the assist on Williams’ goal and created two chances, while adding three clearances and winning possession four times.

What’s next?

The Hounds stay at home but switch back to play in the USL Jägermeister Cup when they host League One side Westchester SC at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Guillaume Vacter, Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach (Junior Etou 76’); Luke Biasi, Jackson Walti, Charles Ahl (Danny Griffin 68’), Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz (Max Broughton 88’), Bertin Jacquesson (Jorge Garcia 68’); Augi Williams

Tampa Bay Rowdies lineup (4-4-2) — Ethan Bandré; Blake Bodily (Nick Moon 72’), Aaron Guillén, Laurence Wyke (Joey Skinner 72’), Robert Castellanos; Luis Álvarez, Thomas Vancaeyezeele (Danny Crisostomo 81’), Lewis Hilton, Ollie Bassett (Endri Mustali 90’); Woobens Pacius, Manuel Arteaga

Scoring summary

PIT — Thomas Vancaeyezeele 15’ (own goal)
PIT — Augi Williams 20’ (Luke Biasi)
TBR — Manuel Arteaga 40’ (Ollie Bassett)

Discipline summary

PIT — Sean Suber 52’ (caution – tactical foul)
TBR — Woobens Pacius 66’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Luke Biasi 90+4’ (caution – tactical foul)
TBR — Manuel Arteaga 90+7’ (caution – dissent)

(June 14, 2025) — A goal by Jack Blake moments before halftime was the difference in the match as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds fell to a 1-0 defeat against the Indy Eleven tonight at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.

The loss snaps a two-match win streak in league play for the Hounds (4-6-2) and prevented them from winning back-to-back road matches for the first time this year.

For Indy (3-3-5), it was their first home win against the Hounds in five tries at Carroll Stadium, having last won at home against Pittsburgh in 2020 at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Colts.

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First half

Both teams started out in a defensive posture, but Hounds goalkeeper Eric Dick had to make the match’s toughest save from a corner kick in the 17th minute.

Indy’s James Murphy curled a ball to the back post that the Hounds didn’t deal with, allowing Ben Ofiemu the first to try turning it toward goal before former Hounds defender Pat Hogan smacked an effort on net from inside the 6-yard box. Dick got low and stayed big to turn the shot away, and he would hold a soft shot by Aodhan Quinn moments later to alleviate the pressure.

The Hounds’ best chance of the half came when Robbie Mertz timed a backheel pass into the path of Augi Williams between defenders, but Hogan lunged in to block the shot behind for a corner kick.

Indy’s goal came two minutes into stoppage time on the counter, after the Hounds’ Perrin Barnes slipped trying to receive a long diagonal pass in the Indy half. The home team took possession and moved forward quickly, creating a 3-on-3 situation where Quinn fed Blake on his right. Blake took a touch inside in the box, and his shot took a deflection off Sean Suber and found the back of the net.

Second half

The Hounds had much more of the ball after the break — 62 percent compared to 49 percent in the first half — but their best chances came from broken plays.

In the 65th minute, Danny Griffin almost caught Indy napping as he raced around Hogan to get to a bouncing ball between the defender and goalie Hunter Sulte. Griffin was first to the ball, but Sulte was able to palm the ball wide of the goal, where Griffin recovered it first but had no angle to shoot.

Shortly afterward from a loose ball, Jackson Walti struck a hard shot toward goal on his first touch from the top of the box. His shot might have had the top corner picked out, but Quinn was in position, 7 yards from goal, to deflect the shot over the bar with his head.

Williams had one late chance when he received a cross from Junior Etou in the box in the 89th minute. The striker was able to settle the ball and snap a quick shot between the legs of Hogan, but the effort missed about a foot wide of the left post.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Sean Suber had a busy day defensively, and almost managed to get his body in the way fully to block Indy’s goal. For the match, the center back won 6 of 8 aerial duels and had team-highs with seven clearances and gaining possession six times.

What’s next?

After a stumble on the road, the Hounds will be at home for four straight matches and eight of their next 10. The long home spell begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 21, when they host the struggling Tampa Bay Rowdies (2-8-2), who got their second win of the season at home tonight against Miami FC.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Guillaume Vacter, Sean Suber, Illal Osumanu (Beto Ydrach 27’); Luke Biasi (Jorge Garcia 80’), Jackson Walti (Bertin Jacquesson 80’), Bradley Sample (Charles Ahl 46’), Perrin Barnes (Junior Etou 80’); Robbie Mertz, Danny Griffin; Augi Williams

Indy Eleven lineup (3-5-2) — Hunter Sulte; James Musa, Pat Hogan, Ben Ofeimu; Finn McRobb (Hayden White 69’), Aodhan Quinn (Elliot Collier 84’), James Murphy (Brem Soumaoro 77’), Cam Lindley, Bruno Rendón; Elvis Amoh (Edward Kizza 69’), Jack Blake (Maalique Foster 69’)

Scoring summary

IND — Jack Blake 45+2’ (Aodhan Quinn)

Discipline summary

None

PITTSBURGH (June 7, 2025) — Pittsburgh native Robbie Mertz capped a magical week with a goal and an assist to lead the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a 2-0 victory over Detroit City FC tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Mertz assisted the opening tally for the Hounds (4-5-2) by sending a cross to Perrin Barnes for his first professional goal. In the second half, Mertz thumped home a finish at the back post and performed a cradle rocking celebration in honor of the biggest moment of his week, the birth of his first son on Thursday.

The Hounds were exceptional defensively, holding Detroit (4-3-5) to one shot over 90 minutes in front of a white-clad crowd of 5,007.

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First half

The Hounds were on the front foot from the outset, and Mertz was at the center of the action. His curling free kick in the early stages forced Detroit goalkeeper Carlos Herrera to tip the ball over for a corner kick, and his fancy footwork in the 20th minute allowed him to find Jackson Walti for an open shot at the 18 that was saved.

In the 37th minute, Mertz got his head up on the left side and cut the ball onto his right foot, lifting a diagonal pass to the back post. Barnes timed his run perfectly, jumping inside of the defender and beating Herrera to head the ball powerfully into the net as he tumbled to the ground.

Second half

The Hounds didn’t rest on their one-goal lead, and Danny Griffin dragged a shot from inside the box just wide of the left post in the 54th minute.

In the 66th minute, Barnes worked the right side to find space for a cross as Griffin made a near-post run. Griffin was able to flick the ball onward across goal with his head, and Mertz was at the back post to put the ball home with a defender trying to hold him back.

Not only was it a huge goal, given the circumstances, it was Mertz’s 20th as a member of the Hounds. With 20 goals and 21 assists for his hometown team, he is just the third player to reach 20/20 for the club, joining David Flavius and Kevin Kerr.

Charles Ahl nearly had a third for the Hounds after getting free in the box, only to be denied by an excellent kick save by Herrera. Detroit had a good chance in the final minutes when Jordan Adebayo-Smith pounced on a turnover, but Guillaume Vacter and Walti recovered in time to knock Adebayo-Smith off balance as goalkeeper Eric Dick — who earned his 20th shutout with the Hounds — collected the ball with players colliding.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Robbie Mertz was supremely influential in the Hounds attack, even beyond his goal and assist. He finished with three chances created and seven total crosses, and he connected on 80 percent of his passes overall.

What’s next?

The Hounds go back on the road for their only away match of June, an Eastern Conference matchup with Indy Eleven at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 14. Indy (2-3-5) will be playing on 10 days rest after defeating Birmingham on Wednesday, 1-0.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-1-2) — Eric Dick; Guillaume Vacter, Sean Suber, Luke Biasi; Junior Etou (Illal Osumanu 69’), Jackson Walti, Bradley Sample (Bertin Jacquesson 69’), Perrin Barnes (Max Broughton 87’); Robbie Mertz (Charles Ahl 69’); Danny Griffin, Augi Williams (Aidan O’Toole 87’)

Detroit City FC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Carlos Herrera; Alex Villanueva (Haruki Yamazaki 76’), Darren Amoo-Mensah, Shane Wiedt, Michael Bryant; Jay Chapman, Marcello Polisi (Dominic Gasso 77’); Darren Smith (Connor Rutz 65’), Ben Morris (Jeciel Cedeño 46’), Rhys Williams; Sebastian Guenzatti (Jordan Adebayo-Smith 65’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Perrin Barnes 37’ (Robbie Mertz)
PIT — Robbie Mertz 66’ (Danny Griffin)

Discipline summary

DET — Michael Bryant 45+2’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Robbie Mertz 48’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Danny Griffin 84’ (caution – reckless foul)
DET — Dominic Gasso 85’ (caution – dissent)

PITTSBURGH (May 31, 2025) — A lone goal early in the match by Rhode Island FC’s Jojea Kwizera was the difference, sending the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a 1-0 defeat in the USL Jägermeister Cup tonight at Highmark Stadium.

It was the second straight one-goal loss in the USL’s in-season cup competition for the Hounds, who now cannot finish atop Group 4, while Rhode Island remains atop the six-team group with two wins.

The Hounds finished the match with 61 percent of possession and a 17-7 edge in shots, but Rhode Island was able to exact payback for the Hounds’ 1-0 win last week in the teams’ USL Championship match in Pawtucket.

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First half

Robbie Mertz nearly put the Hounds in front in the 17th minute with a diving header from a Perrin Barnes cross that somehow stayed out of the net. The ball struck the inside of the right post and passed behind Rhode Island goalkeeper Jackson Lee before rolling across goal and away from danger on the left side.

From that near miss, Rhode Island pulled ahead just two minutes later. Hounds defender Guillaume Vacter had his clearance attempt blocked, and the ball bounced to former Hounds Golden Boot winner Albert Dikwa for Rhode Island. Dikwa back heeled a pass into the path of Kwizera, who hit a low, curling finish into the right side of the net.

Chances were limited the rest of the half, but fouls were in plentiful supply in a game that was choppy at points. Each team finished the match called for 21 fouls, the most this season by the Hounds or by any Hounds opponent.

Second half

The Hounds began testing Lee in the Rhode Island goal more in the second half, beginning with an Augi Williams shot on goal barely two minutes after play restarted. Danny Griffin had the ball in the net in the 69th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Williams, who provided the pass for Griffin’s finish.

In the 71st minute, Williams got behind the Rhode Island defense on a clever pass by Jorge Garcia. Rhode Island’s Zach Herivaux pulled Williams down and was shown the yellow card, but the Hounds were only awarded a free kick just outside of the box, a decision that replays appeared to indicate was correct.

Mertz forced another strong save by Lee with an angled volley in the 84th minute, but the rebound bounced to where the defense could thump the ball out of play. Barnes also put a late effort on target with power from 30 yards out, but a tying goal was not in the cards.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Robbie Mertz was active all day in attack, and he was involved in many of the best attacking moments. He finished with four chances created, three shots and nine crosses, while connecting on 28 of 33 passes and winning 9 of 10 duels.

What’s next?

The Hounds move back into league play with another home match against Detroit City FC at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at Highmark Stadium. Detroit (4-2-5) also suffered a Jägermeister Cup setback today, falling 4-2 to Portland Hearts of Pine out of USL League One.

Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) —Jacob Randolph; Guillaume Vacter (Illal Osumanu 77’), Sean Suber, Luke Biasi; Junior Etou (Jorge Garcia 67’), Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin, Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz, Bertin Jacquesson (Bradley Sample 67’); Augi Williams

Rhode Island FC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Jackson Lee; Aldair Sanchez, Frank Nodarse, Grant Stonemason, Rio Hope-Gund; Amos Shapiro-Thompson (Karifa Yao 73’), Clay Holsted; Jojea Kwizera (Taimu Okiyoshi 84’), Maxi Rodriguez (Zach Herivaux 61’), Noah Fuson (Joe Brito 73’); Albert Dikwa

Scoring summary

RI — Jojea Kwizera 19’ (Albert Dikwa)

Discipline summary

RI — Maxi Rodriguez 6’ (caution – delaying restart)
PIT — Jackson Walti 37’ (caution – reckless foul)
RI — Clay Holstad 42’ (caution – reckless foul)
RI — Albert Dikwa 45+1’ (caution – persistent infringement)
PIT — Guillaume Vacter 64’ (caution – reckless foul)
RI — Zach Herivaux 71’ (caution – tactical foul)

(May 24, 2025) — Captain Danny Griffin scored late in the first half, and that was the only goal the Pittsburgh Riverhounds would need to come away with a 1-0 win on the road at Rhode Island FC this afternoon at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I.

Eric Dick matched his season high with five saves to record the shutout for the Hounds (3-5-2), who played the final match in a stretch of eight road contests in 10 games.

Rhode Island (3-4-3) outshot the Hounds 14-10 and had 60 percent of possession, but the Hounds have yet to allow a goal to the Ocean State club in three meetings, taking two wins and a draw.

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First half

Dick was tested early, making his first stop on a long-range attempt by Clay Holstad barely two minutes into the match. Holstad would try his luck again on a volley in the 17th minute, and while it was struck well, Dick was in good position to make the save and control the ball.

The Hounds threatened early, as well, as Robbie Mertz struck a good shot of his own from 20 yards out on the left side, and it forced a diving stop by Rhode Island goalie Koke Vegas to push the ball around the post.

Another chance from just inside the box fell from a free kick to Rhode Island’s Maxi Rodriguez, but the former Detroit star pulled his open volley attempt wide right of the goal.

Griffin’s decisive strike came in the 37th minute from a corner kick that Rhode Island was only able to clear to near the top corner of the box. That was where Griffin struck the ball with his first touch, and his bouncing shot found its way through traffic and inside the near post.

Second half

Chances kept coming immediately after the teams returned. Rhode Island’s Frank Nodarse was barely off target with a volley less than four minutes after play resumed.

A minute later, Bertin Jacquesson nearly doubled the Hounds lead. His off-balance shot from inside the box struck the base of the left post but caromed away from danger.

As the half progressed, the Hounds moved into a more defensive posture, but Dick needed to make one more critical save in the 86th minute. A long cross from the right side cleared everyone in the middle of the field and fell to Rhode Island’s Jojea Kwizera alone on the left side. Kwizera took a touch toward goal and fired from a sharp angle, but Dick was able to smother the chance and leave no rebound.

The Hounds nearly added an insurance goal in the 90th minute when Charles Ahl found space on the left side of the box and beat Vegas with his shot, but Grant Stoneman cleared Ahl’s shot off the goal line to keep it a one-goal game.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Eric Dick matched his season high with five saves, three of which came in the first 17 minutes as the Hounds settled into the match. It was the fifth clean sheet of the year for Dick and the fourth in USL Championship play.

What’s next?

The Hounds and Rhode Island are scheduled to square off for a second straight weekend. Next time around, however, it will be in a USL Jägermeister Cup match at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at Highmark Stadium.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Guillaume Vacter, Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach; Luke Biasi, Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin, Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz (Charles Ahl 76’), Bertin Jacquesson (Bradley Sample 76’); Augi Williams

Rhode Island FC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Koke Vegas; Aldair Sanchez (Amos Shapiro-Thompson 73’), Frank Nodarse (Karifa Yao 90+1’), Aimé Mabika (Rio Hope-Gund 82’), Grant Stoneman; Zach Herivaux (Taimu Okiyoshi 82’), Clay Holstad; Noah Fuson, Maxi Rodriguez, Jojea Kwizera; Albert Dikwa (Joe Brito 73’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Danny Griffin 37’

Discipline summary

PIT — Beto Ydrach 6’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Jackson Walti 29’ (caution – reckless foul)
RI — Aldair Sanchez 40’ (caution – tactical foul)
RI — Zach Herivaux 58’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Luke Biasi 83’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Danny Griffin 87’ (caution – delaying restart)
RI — Amos Shapiro-Thompson 90+2’ (caution – reckless foul)

CHESTER, Pa. (May 21, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to an end in the Round of 16 with the cross-state Philadelphia Union of MLS taking a 4-1 win tonight at rainy Subaru Park.

Bruno Damiani, Indiana Vassilev, Danley Jean Jacques and Jovan Lukic scored for the Union, who advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since reaching the final in 2018.

Jorge Garcia came off the bench and scored a brilliant curling goal after being in the match just 26 seconds for the Hounds, who lost for just the second time in their last five games against MLS teams.

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First half

The match began with controversy after Luke Biasi was called for a foul that was disputed by the Hounds in its own right. The ensuing free kick from Jesus Bueno was sent into the box, and referee Natalie Simon whistled a handling call on a redirected ball against the Hounds’ Guillaume Vacter. Damiani scored the penalty down the middle in the 14th minute.

The Hounds battled back and nearly pulled level in the 42nd minute when Danny Griffin carried the ball toward goal and hit a long-range drive that forced a diving save by Union goalie Andrew Rick. Bertin Jacquesson fired a follow-up attempt toward the net from a sharp angle, which Rick held.

The Union doubled the lead in stoppage time when Quinn Sullivan threaded a pass through to Vassilev, who lifted a shot over the arm of the Hounds’ Eric Dick.

Second half

The Union added to their lead in the 54th minute after breaking the Hounds midfield line for a 4-on-3 opportunity. Damiani slipped a pass to Jacques on the right side, and Jacques finished for a 3-0 lead.

Garcia entered the match for the Hounds in the 62nd minute, and in the 63rd, he was on the score sheet with a curling shot from the corner of the box that found the top right corner of the net. It was the second goal for first-year pro Garcia, who played his college soccer at nearby Villanova University.

Both teams exchanged chances with the game at 3-1, but the Union put the result away in the 86th minute when Lukic dribbled into the box and scored with a shot that took a deflection off the back of a Hounds defender.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Jackson Walti was a midfield workhorse against a talented Union group that likes to occupy the middle of the box. He finished winning the ball a team-high 10 times, won 5 of 9 duels and was responsible for a team-leading 13 entries into the final third.

What’s next?

With the cup run over, the Hounds turn their attention back to USL Championship play with a road match at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Rhode Island FC (3-3-3).

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Guillaume Vacter (Charles Ahl 73’), Sean Suber (Max Broughton 84’), Beto Ydrach; Junior Etou, Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin, Luke Biasi (Perrin Barnes 46’); Robbie Mertz (Aidan O’Toole 62’), Bertin Jacquesson (Jorge Garcia 62’); Augi Williams

Philadelphia Union lineup (4-2-3-1) — Andrew Rick; Frankie Westfield (Nathan Harriel 73’), Olwethu Makhanya, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo; Jesus Bueno, Danley Jean Jacques (Jovan Lukic 65’); Cavan Sullivan, Indiana Vassilev (Ben Bender 66’), Quinn Sullivan (Jeremy Rafanello 84’); Bruno Damiani (Mikael Uhre 66’)

Scoring summary

PHI — Bruno Damiani 14’ (penalty)
PHI — Indiana Vassilev 45+1’ (Quinn Sullivan)
PHI — Danley Jean Jacques 54’ (Bruno Damiani)
PIT — Jorge Garcia 63’ (Augi Williams)
PHI — Jovan Lukic 86’

Discipline summary

PIT — Luke Biasi 12’ (caution – reckless foul)
PHI — Jakob Glesnes 22’ (caution – tactical foul)
PHI — Danley Jean Jacques 65’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

(May 17, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds came up empty on a Western road trip after a Matt Mahoney goal was the difference in giving the Colorado Springs Switchbacks a 1-0 win tonight at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Mahoney scored in the 12th minute with a header set up by an Aidan Rocha free kick for the Switchbacks (2-3-5). It was the first goal allowed by the Hounds (2-5-2) after consecutive clean sheets last week.

The match was the second of four straight road matches for the Hounds and their sixth road game in the past eight overall.

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First half

The only goal came on the first good chance of the match for either team. Rocha teed up the free kick wide on the left side and hit a high ball all the way across goal. Mahoney got free with a fading run at the back post, and his header went back across goal and into the net.

The Hounds sprung to life after conceding, and had a dangerous moment of their own when Robbie Mertz crossed the ball from the left across goal. Perrin Barnes headed the ball back across the face of goal, but his return pass was just behind a pair of Hounds runners and the Switchbacks cleared.

Hounds goalie Eric Dick came up with a diving stop to parry away a shot by Zach Zandi late in the first half, and Switchbacks goalie Christian Herrera made his first save of the match minutes later when Danny Griffin turned a Mertz free kick on net with his head.

Second half

Another Mertz free kick provided the first chance of the second half, as his ball in from the right was met by Sean Suber’s head. Suber’s effort was wide of the goal and slightly too far for Griffin to get a boot to it and redirect it on frame.

Chaos ensued in the Switchbacks’ box in the 85th minute when Griffin redirected a ball high toward goal with his head. Herrera came off his line but got caught in no-man’s land, leading the Hounds to frantically try to find an open shooting line. The ball eventually came to Jason Bouregy at the top of the box, but Herrera was able to get a hand to the shot standing 15 yards from his goal.

A minute later, Jorge Garcia turned the corner along the goal line and picked out Mertz with a low pass across goal, but Mertz’s shot rose over the goal.

Neither team threatened often in the second half — the Switchbacks’ only shot on goal after the break was a mis-hit effort by Justin Dhillon that was saved by Dick — and total shots for the game finished at 9-6.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Robbie Mertz was active in the attack and did his part to generate scoring chances. He finished the match with a team-high six crosses, a chance created and a 10-for-11 passing rate in the final third, and he topped that off winning 4 of 6 duels.

What’s next?

The Hounds turn their attention back to the U.S. Open Cup with a cross-state Round of 16 battle Wednesday, May 21 against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Hounds and Union.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Guillaume Vacter, Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach (Jason Bouregy 78’); Luke Biasi (Junior Etou 58’), Jackson Walti, Bradley Sample (Jorge Garcia 46’), Perrin Barnes; Robbie Mertz, Danny Griffin; Augi Williams (Bertin Jacquesson 46’)

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Christian Herrera; Matt Real, Duke Lacroix, Garven Metusala, Matt Mahoney; Zach Zandi, Aidan Rocha; Yosuke Hanya (Jonas Fjeldberg 82’), Anthony Fontana (Marco Micaletto 89’), Herbert Endeley (Isaiah Foster 65’); Juan Tejada (Justin Dhillon 82’)

Scoring summary

COS — Matt Mahoney 12’ (Aidan Rocha)

Discipline summary

PIT — Luke Biasi 54’ (caution – tactical foul)

(May 10, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds came away with a point at one of the most challenging road venues in the USL Championship by holding Louisville City FC to a 0-0 draw tonight at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky.

Little separated the two teams, as Louisville (5-0-3), the last undefeated team in the Championship, held a 13-10 edge in shots and 57 percent of possession. Eric Dick made four saves for the Hounds (2-4-2) for his second straight shutout, while Damian Las made three in the Louisville goal.

It was the first time Louisville failed to win a home league game in 13 matches — one short of a league record for home wins — and the first time they were shut out in a home league game since July 12, 2023, which also came at the hands of the Hounds.

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First half

Riding the high of their midweek U.S. Open Cup win, the Hounds came out as the aggressors on the road. Perrin Barnes picked out Robbie Mertz making a late run to the top of the box, and Mertz’s shot forced a diving save from Las less than seven minutes into the contest.

Dick was called into action in the 20th minute to smother a turning shot by Taylor Davila that was well-placed but lacked the power to find the bottom corner.

The Hounds goalkeeper came up with an even bigger stop late in the half, as he dove to his left to deny a 25-yard drive by Jansen Wilson, who had the game-winner in the teams’ last meeting in 2024.

Just before halftime, Augi Williams was played through the defense on a lofted pass by Mertz, but Louisville defender Sean Totsch timed his desperation slide perfectly to block Williams’ attempt from behind as he looked to shoot around the charging Las.

Second half

Louisville continued to keep bodies in the way as Williams tried to work free, and former Hounds defender Arturo Ordóñez came up with a critical block in the 63rd minute after Danny Griffin slipped a pass to create space for Williams on the left side of the box.

Shortly afterward, Dick needed to make the save on an awkwardly hopping shot by Davila, and Barnes was in good position to ensure the rebound wasn’t collected by an attacker.

In the 79th minute, the Hounds had their best chance when Aidan O’Toole played Williams behind the defense again, this time down the right side from in the Hounds’ own half. Williams carried into the box, but Las came off his line and cut down the angle to make the save when Williams shot before the defense could close in.

Louisville had its own late chances, the best coming from a free kick in the 90th minute when Aiden McFadden rose to head the ball from the center of the box. The header was going wide of goal, but it looped high enough that players for both teams had a chance to keep it in play. Dick and Louisville’s Kyle Adams scrambled for the ball, and though Dick got a hand to it first, it was ruled the ball had crossed the line for a goal kick before anyone touched it.

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Modelo Man of the Match

Tough as it was to single out any member of the back line, the ball winning of Guillaume Vacter earns the honor is just his second pro start. The French center back won 9 of 11 duels, including 6 of 7 in the air, added seven clearances and added a scoring chance created for good measure.

What’s next?

The Hounds will fly west for only the second time this season when they visit the Colorado Springs Switchbacks at 9 p.m. next Saturday, May 17. The Switchbacks (1-3-4) are the reigning league champions but have scuffled to start 2025; they were set to face Las Vegas later tonight.

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Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-2-1) — Eric Dick; Guillaume Vacter, Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach; Luke Biasi (Junior Etou 73’), Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin, Perrin Barnes (Max Broughton 90+4’); Robbie Mertz (Bradley Sample 84’), Bertin Jacquesson (Aidan O’Toole 72’); Augi Williams

Louisville City FC lineup (3-4-3) — Damian Las; Kyle Adams, Josh Jones (Arturo Ordóñez 46’), Sean Totsch; Aiden McFadden, Carlos Moguel (Kevon Lambert 46’), Taylor Davila, Manny Perez (Amadou Dia 73’); Ray Serrano, Adrien Pérez (Phillip Goodrum 46’), Jansen Wilson (Evan Davila 81’)

Scoring summary

None

Discipline summary

LOU — Manny Perez 15’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Danny Griffin 63’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Jackson Walti 89’ (caution – tactical foul)