Match Recaps

(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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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)

PITTSBURGH (May 3, 2025) — A pair of second-half goals sent the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to their first home loss in 10 months, and North Carolina FC left Highmark Stadium with a 2-0 win Saturday night.

North Carolina (3-3-2) got goals from former Riverhound Louis Pérez and Pedro Dolabella, which came six minutes apart in the second half.

It was the first time the Hounds (2-4-1) were beaten at home since a 1-0 loss to Monterey Bay FC on July 6, 2024, ending an unbeaten span of 11 home matches.

---

First half

North Carolina had the game’s first chance when an early through ball to Dolabella nearly split the Hounds defense, but Illal Osumanu and Beto Ydrach both tracked back to recover and prevent a shot on goal.

The Hounds’ first crack at goal came after 17 minutes from a Danny Griffin cross on the left side that found Perrin Barnes alone beyond the back post, but his effort rose over the bar.

Barnes came up with a big block a few minutes later to deny Triston Hodge a point-blank chance from a corner kick, one of the visitors’ best chances of the half.

The Hounds ended with a late flurry that began after a Rafa Mentzingen pass back to goalkeeper Jake McGuire was misplayed and almost resulted in an own goal, instead going wide for a corner kick. Augi Williams got a soft attempt on goal from the ensuing corner, and Jackson Walti found Griffin for a header that went high in the waning moments.

Second half

North Carolina likely could have been ahead on the hour mark after a high, curling cross found Dolabella in space in front of goal, but the striker’s touch volleyed the shot high.

In the 66th minute, Pérez had his big moment after the Hounds only headed a long throw-in by Mikey Maldonado a few yards beyond the penalty area. The lefty struck a perfectly placed half-volley into the bottom corner of the net for his first goal against his former team.

Less than a minute after the restart, Griffin got free in the left side of the box and picked out Junior Etou in the middle of the box with a cross, but Etou’s shot on his first touch carried over the goal.

In the 72nd minute, Maldonado sent another high cross into the box toward Dolabella. This time, the tall NC striker found the net, heading the ball back across goal and into the top corner of the net.

---

Modelo Man of the Match

Jackson Walti put in another hardworking 90-minute effort, winning possession a team-leading six times. He also connected on 35 of 44 passes, won 4 of 7 duels and had a chance created.

What’s next?

The Hounds have a big showdown in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 when they host MLS team New York City FC on Wednesday, May 7 at Highmark Stadium. NYCFC plays an MLS contest tomorrow afternoon against FC Cincinnati.

---

Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-1-2) — Eric Dick; Illal Osumanu, Beto Ydrach, Sean Suber; Junior Etou, Jackson Walti, Bradley Sample, Perrin Barnes; Danny Griffin; Aidan O’Toole, Augi Williams

North Carolina FC lineup (3-4-3) — Jake McGuire; Triston Hodge, Bryce Washington, Finn Sundstrom; Jaden Servant, Mikey Maldonado, Raheem Somersall, Rafa Mentzingen; Louis Pérez, Evan Conway, Pedro Dolabella

Scoring summary 

NC — Louis Pérez 66’
NC — Pedro Dolabella 72’ (Mikey Maldonado)

Discipline summary

PIT — Beto Ydrach 90’ (caution – tactical foul)

(April 19, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds battled back to tie the match, but they couldn’t hold on after being reduced to 10 men and fell 2-1 to a late goal on the road against Loudoun United FC this afternoon at Segra Field in Leesburg, Va.

Wesley Leggett scored in the first half for league-leading Loudoun (6-1-0), but Jorge Garcia came off the bench to answer for the Hounds (2-3-1) with a brilliant strike for his first professional goal.

But Luke Biasi was shown a red card for the Hounds in the 75th minute, and Abdellatif Aboukoura struck for Loudoun’s winning goal six minutes later against the shorthanded Hounds.

---

First half

The first half stood in stark contrast to a back-and-forth second half, as chances were scarce for both teams.

The Hounds had more of the ball — 60 percent in the half, including 73 percent in the opening 15 minutes — but it was Loudoun that struck first, somewhat against the run of play.

After clearing a Hounds corner kick, the hosts worked the ball down the left side to Zach Ryan, who struck a cross to the back post from the goal line. The pass was perfectly placed for Leggett to rise and head the ball into the net, scoring on Loudoun’s first shot of the game in the 33rd minute.

Second half

Loudoun applied more pressure to being the second half, and Florian Valot forced an early save from Hounds goalkeeper Eric Dick with a quickly taken shot in the box. The hosts took the first five shots of the second half, though Valot’s was the lone effort on goal, and the Hounds went to their bench to shake things up at the hour mark.

Garcia was one of the players to enter the match, and in the 71st minute, he made his mark in a big way. Biasi passed from the left flank to Garcia near the top of the box, and the first-year pro out of Villanova took a first touch to open toward goal before striking a powerful, curling shot that rippled the top right corner of the net.

But moments later, the Hounds were reduced to 10 players after Biasi was issued a red card after being the last defender and catching Loudoun substitute Ben Mines with a boot high near the head.

In the 81st minute, Loudoun made their numerical advantage pay off when Aboukoura, the USL Championship’s leading scorer on the young season, found room to shoot from 20 yards away, placing a shot off the inside of the right post to score his sixth of the season.

---

Modelo Man of the Match

Sean Suber was a stalwart in the middle of the defense, winning all nine duels he contested and posting a team-high four clearances. He also won three free kicks and connected on 59 of his team-high 72 passes, capably marshaling the back line even after going down a man.

What’s next?

The Hounds will get their first taste of the new USL Jägermeister Cup in rivalry fashion, as they go on the road to face Detroit City FC at 4 p.m. next Saturday, April 26. Detroit is off to a 4-2-1 start in the league, and it will be the first Jägermeister Cup match for both teams.

---

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-1-4-1) — Eric Dick; Luke Biasi (sent off 75’), Sean Suber, Illal Osumanu (Beto Ydrach 62’), Perrin Barnes (Aidan O’Toole 88’); Jackson Walti; Robbie Mertz (Pablo Linzoain 88’), Danny Griffin, Bradley Sample (Max Broughton 79’), Jason Bouregy (Jorge Garcia 62’); Augi Williams

Loudoun United FC lineup (5-3-2) — Hugo Fauroux; Kwame Awuah, Jacob Erlandson (Moses Nyeman 64’), Yanis Leerman, Pedro Santos (Ethan Pendleton 90+1’), Keegan Tingey; Abdellatif Aboukoura (Joshua Erlandson 90+1’), Tommy McCabe, Florian Valot; Zach Ryan (Riley Bidois 64’), Wesley Leggett (Ben Mines 68’)

Scoring summary

LDN — Wesley Leggett 33’ (Zach Ryan)
PIT — Jorge Garcia 71’ (Luke Biasi)
LDN — Abdellatif Aboukoura 81’ (Ben Mines)

Discipline summary

PIT — Luke Biasi 56’ (caution – tactical foul)
LDN — Wesley Leggett 68’ (caution – dissent)
PIT — Luke Biasi 75’ (sent off – serious foul play)
LDN — Kwame Awuah 78’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
PIT — Augi Williams 78’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
LDN — Pedro Santos 88’ (caution – reckless foul)
LDN — Riley Bidois 89’ (caution – reckless foul)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 15, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds captain Danny Griffin headed in the only goal of the match in the first half, delivering a 1-0 win over Columbus Crew 2 in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tonight at Lower.com Field.

Goalkeeper Jacob Randolph made three saves, all in the second half, to earn his second career shutout in his first start of the season. The win was also the 23rd coaching win in the Open Cup for Bob Lilley, which moves him into the top five all-time among coaches in the Cup’s “Modern Era” (since 1995).

The Hounds advance to the Round of 32, which will be played on May 6-7. Pairings for the next round, which will feature 16 Third Round winners and 16 MLS teams entering the competition, will be announced at 9:15 a.m. this Thursday, live on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s Morning Footy.

---

First half

The Hounds came out on the front foot against the lower-division side, despite seven changes to the starting lineup from Saturday’s loss at Charleston.

Two of the new starters, Jason Bouregy and Jorge Garcia, connected for an early chance down the left side, but Garcia’s left-footed shot couldn’t find the target.

The Hounds won two early corner kicks, but it was their third in the 28th minute that yielded the lone goal. Garcia curled the kick from the right side to the near corner of the goal box, where both Griffin and Max Broughton rose for the ball. Griffin won the header, and his redirection caromed off the hands off goalkeeper Luke Pruter and into the side of the net.

The goal was Griffin’s second in the Open Cup in his career, and both of them have come in 1-0 road wins. He had the lone strike when the Hounds beat the New England Revolution of MLS in 2023, and this time he did the job against Columbus’ reserve side out of MLS Next Pro.

Second half

Crew 2 came out with renewed energy after being limited to just three touches in the Hounds box and no shots in the first 45 minutes.

Randolph came up big in the 60th minute, when he not only made a point-blank stop on substitute Anthony Alaouieh, he also recovered to punch the ball clear after the save popped it high into the air.

Junior Etou, who entered the match as a second-half substitute, had a chance to double the Hounds lead when he broke behind the defense in the 77th minute, but Pruter was up to the task and made a save diving to his right.

Randolph took another turn to make a save moments later, when he made a diving stop on a chance by Brent Adu-Gyamfi. The rebound went in the direction of Crew 2’s Chase Adams, but he couldn’t turn the second effort on net, and Randolph was able to corral the ball.

The Hounds didn’t allow a shot on goal in the final 10 minutes, and Augi Williams had one last chance at an insurance goal, but his stoppage time effort on a counter-attack was stopped by Pruter, and the Crew 2 defense recovered to clear before Robbie Mertz could stab home the rebound.

---

Modelo Man of the Match

Jackson Walti, playing his second 90-minute shift in four days, was a workhorse in the midfield. He claimed possession 10 times, winning 6 of 11 duels and 4 of 5 tackles while connecting on an impressive 52 of 56 passes (92.9 percent).

What’s next?

The Hounds get back to league play and continue their April on the road with a trip to face East-leading Loudoun United FC (5-1-0) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19 in Leesburg, Va. Loudoun also played tonight in the Open Cup, falling 2-1 on the road to Louisville City FC.

---

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Jacob Randolph; Max Broughton (Illal Osumanu 86’), Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach, Perrin Barnes; Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin; Jason Bouregy (Junior Etou 66’, Pablo Linzoain 90+4’), Jorge Garcia (Robbie Mertz 66’), Aidan O’Toole (Luke Biasi 66’); Augi Williams

Columbus Crew 2 lineup (5-3-2) — Luke Pruter; Tristan Brown, Christopher Rogers, Keesean Ferdinand, Malcom Palacios (Brent Adu-Gyamfi 46’), Quinton Elliot; Nicolas Rincon, Ibrahima Sy, Owen Presthus; Cristian Ortiz (Anthony Alaouieh 46’), Chase Adams

Scoring summary

PIT — Danny Griffin 28’ (Jorge Garcia)

Discipline summary

PIT — Jorge Garcia 7’ (caution – reckless foul)
CLB — Tristan Brown 48’ (caution – tactical foul)
CLB — Anthony Alaouieh 77’ (caution – delaying restart)

(April 12, 2025) — A first-half lead slipped away from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, as goals by Aaron Molloy and Cal Jennings gave the Charleston Battery a 2-1 win tonight at Patriots Point Soccer Complex in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Bradley Sample opened the scoring for the Hounds (2-2-1) shortly before halftime, but the Battery (3-2-0) came back with goals in the 67th and 80th minute to snap the Hounds’ two-match winning streak.

Eric Dick made a season-high six saves for the Hounds, who trailed in possession for the first time all season with only 37.2 percent of the ball

---

First half

The game opened up with much of the play locked in the middle of the field, but Augi Williams was able to get the only shot on goal in the first 20 minutes with some clever footwork in the box, forcing a save from former Hounds goalkeeper Luis Zamudio in the Battery net.

Dick came up with his biggest stop of the first half in the 32nd minute, when Jennings broke into the box on a counter attack. The striker’s initial shot was saved by Dick diving to his right, and the goalkeeper recovered across the face of goal quickly to force MD Myers to shoot wide on the follow-up attempt.

The Hounds opened the scoring right on the 40-minute mark, when the Battery were unable to fully clear a Robbie Mertz free kick. The ball fell to Sample at the top of the box, and the midfielder placed a left-footed shot through traffic and into the right side of the net for his first of the season.

The half ended with Battery receiving a penalty kick after Dick was ruled to have tripped Jennings while sliding to collect a loose ball wide of the goal. Any controversy over the call was forgotten moments later after Jennings, the Battery’s top scorer, fired the spot kick well over the goal.

Second half

The Battery’s possession forced the Hounds to do lots of defending in the second half, and eventually the home side broke through.

Juan Torres forced a low pass forward to Myers, who laid a pass back to Molloy standing 25 yards from goal. The Irish midfielder took two touches to his right before teeing up a shot that sailed its way into the top right side of the net to tie the match.

Dick came up with another big save minutes later, diving to stop a free kick by Torres and scrambling the rebound out of play while on the ground. But in the 80th minute, Torres slipped another pass through to Jennings running into the right side of the penalty area, and the striker finished with a shot across the goal and inside the back post.

---

Modelo Man of the Match

Despite having his two-match shutout streak broken, Eric Dick kept the Hounds in tonight’s match with six saves, more than doubling his total of five from the first four matches. It tied his second-highest saves total as a member of the Hounds, trailing only his eight-save performance on Aug. 3 last season in a win at Sacramento.

What’s next?

The Hounds have a quick turnaround to get ready for the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. They will face Columbus Crew 2 out of MLS Next Pro at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.

---

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Eric Dick; Junior Etou, Sean Suber, Illal Osumanu (Pablo Linzoain 81’), Luke Biasi; Jackson Walti, Beto Ydrach (Jorge Garcia 81’); Robbie Mertz (Jason Bouregy 81’), Danny Griffin, Bradley Sample (Aidan O’Toole 66’); Augi Williams (Max Broughton 66’)

Charleston Battery lineup (4-2-3-1) — Luis Zamudio; Nate Dossantos, Joey Akpunonu, Leland Archer, Nanan Houssou;, Aaron Molloy, Chris Allan; Emilio Ycaza (John Klein 66’), MD Myers (Jackson Conway 90+1’), Juan Torres (Mark Segbers 90+1’); Cal Jennings (Langston Blackstock 84’)

Scoring summary 

PIT — Bradley Sample 40’
CHS — Aaron Molloy 67’ (MD Myers)
CHS — Cal Jennings 80’ (Juan Torres)

Discipline summary

CHS — Juan Torres 21’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Augi Williams 56’ (caution – persistent infringement)
CHS — Leland Archer 60’ (caution – reckless foul)

PITTSBURGH (March 29, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds made it two wins in two home matches with a goal on each side of halftime, defeating the Birmingham Legion, 2-0, tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Robbie Mertz and Danny Griffin scored for the Hounds (2-1-1), goalkeeper Eric Dick made a pair of saves for his second straight shutout, and the Hounds remained unbeaten in six matches at home against the Legion (0-2-2).

The win was the 100th Hounds win at Highmark Stadium, which opened in 2013. The team holds a 100-49-55 record at their South Shore home.

---

First half

As with the team’s previous three matches, the Hounds came out controlling the ball, holding 60.6 percent of possession in the first 45.

From the first corner of the match, defender Luke Biasi nearly got his first goal with a flicked header that missed just wide across the face of goal. Mertz created a chance with his work rate shortly afterward, winning the ball along the goal line and creating a shooting angle that forced a save by Birmingham’s Matt Van Oekel.

In the 25th minute, Mertz set up Jackson Walti with a delicate pass to a wide area of the box, and Walti struck a shot that cracked the underside of the crossbar but stayed out of the goal.

Mertz got the Hounds on the board by following the play after Bradley Sample’s shot from 18 yards was blocked. The rebound came to Mertz on the left side, and he hit a composed shot into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Second half

The Hounds continued to look for a second goal, but sat in a more defensive posture, allowing the Legion to have a nearly identical possession edge with 60.8 percent of the ball.

Augi Williams had the ball in the net in the 67th minute after being played through between defenders, but the offside flag was raised to negate the goal.

The flag stayed down three minutes later, however, as Beto Ydrach slipped a rolling pass between the Legion center backs. Griffin ran on to the ball and slid to put it into the net past an onrushing Van Oekel, giving the Hounds’ captain his second goal in as many games.

Dick made his only two saves of the match in the final 15 minutes, and Hounds Academy player Pablo Linzoain, a Fox Chapel High School student, entered the match as a late substitute for the 18-year-old’s third career match as an amateur player at the pro level.

---

Modelo Man of the Match

Robbie Mertz netted the game’s opening goal by pouncing on a rebound, the most notable of many times he was in the right place. He had a team highs of eight total crosses, five touches in the Legion box and two chances created, and he rounded out the performance by winning the ball seven times, two off the team lead.

What’s next?

The Hounds have a week off before heading to the Lowcountry to face the Charleston Battery on Saturday, April 12. The team will also find out its opponent in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup next week after Second Round games conclude Wednesday.

---

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Eric Dick; Junior Etou (Max Broughton 74’), Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach, Luke Biasi; Jackson Walti, Bradley Sample (Illal Osumanu 64’); Robbie Mertz (Pablo Linzoain 89’), Danny Griffin, Aidan O’Toole (Jason Bouregy 64’); Augi Williams (Brigham Larsen 89’)

Birmingham Legion FC lineup (4-1-4-1) — Matt Van Oekel; Moses Mensah (Tyler Pasher 82’), Ethan Kos (Ramiz Hamouda 46’), Jake Rufe, Santiago Suarez; Enzo Martinez; Tabort Etaka Preston (Danny Trejo 74’), Roman Torres, Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Dawson McCartney; Ronaldo Damus

Scoring summary

PIT — Robbie Mertz 36’
PIT — Danny Griffin 70’ (Beto Ydrach)

Discipline summary

PIT — Aidan O’Toole 15’ (caution – reckless foul)
BHM — Ronaldo Damus 72’ (caution – reckless foul)

PITTSBURGH (March 22, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds captain Danny Griffin made it a memorable home opener for the team when his late, headed goal gave the Hounds a 1-0 win over Hartford Athletic tonight at Highmark Stadium.

The goal came on a special night for the Hounds organization, as Kenardo Forbes, the club’s all-time leader in appearances and assists and a holder of multiple USL Championship records, was honored before the match after retiring as a player earlier this month.

The win is the third time the Hounds have won their home opener in the past seven seasons, with all three of those wins coming against Hartford.

---

First half

Hartford had one of their best chances of the match in the opening minute, as Mamadou Dieng pounced on a turnover and drove toward goal, but his shot from the top of the box sailed high.

The Hounds had a good early chance, as well, and it was a signal of things to come. Junior Etou broke down the left flank to cross to the penalty spot, where Griffin rose to head the ball cleanly but wide.

Late in the half, the Hounds nearly broke through on the counter after Eric Dick blocked away a low cross by Michee Ngalina. The Hounds went quickly the other direction, and Beto Ydrach rose for a headed shot that forced a leaping save by Hartford goalie Antony Siaha.

Second half

The Hounds continued to have more of the ball after the break, rolling up 62 percent of the ball for the match. Etou continued to test down the left side, working to the goal line for much of the match but cutting inside in the 67th minute to fire a right-footed shot saved by Siaha.

The goal finally came in the 75th minute after the Hounds worked the ball from the right side back across to the left and Etou. He curled a cross toward the goal, and Griffin got free on a central run and headed the ball into the left side of the net for his first of the season.

Danny's got hops! ⬆️ Your @PALottery Play of the Game from last night goes to Danny's game-winning goal! 💥
#PITvHFD #Grittsburgh pic.twitter.com/BEsmIj6GSR

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) March 23, 2025

As the game rolled into stoppage time, the Hounds had to defend well in their box, including a late free kick where Hartford even threw Siaha forward. But the Hounds finished the job, limiting Hartford to one shot on goal for goalkeeper Dick’s first clean sheet of the season.

---

Modelo Man of the Match

Danny Griffin’s game winner made him the obvious choice, but the captain was involved in other ways, connecting on 21 of 26 passes, contesting a team-high 15 duels for the ball — winning six — and finishing second on the team by recovering possession four times. 

What’s next?

The Hounds will try to keep the mojo going at home when they host Birmingham Legion FC at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at Highmark Stadium. Birmingham (0-1-2) was on the road this week, as well, battling out a 2-2 draw at Detroit City FC.

---

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Eric Dick; Junior Etou (Max Broughton 85’), Sean Suber, Illal Osumanu, Luke Biasi; Jackson Walti, Beto Ydrach; Robbie Mertz (Bradley Sample 85’), Danny Griffin, Aidan O’Toole (Jason Bouregy 62’); Augi Williams (Brigham Larsen 89’)

Hartford Athletic (4-2-3-1) — Antony Siaha; Thomas Presthus, Jordan Scarlett, Joe Farrell, Sebastian Anderson; Marlon Hairston, Beverly Makangila; Michee Ngalina, Jonathan Jiménez (Junior Moreira 78’), Deshane Beckford (Adewale Obalola 78’); Mamadou Dieng

Scoring summary

PIT — Danny Griffin 75’ (Junior Etou)

Discipline summary

PIT — Illal Osumanu 31’ (caution – tactical foul)