Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
PITTSBURGH (September 9, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (6-15-5) head to North Carolina on a three-match unbeaten streak to face the Charlotte Independence (13-7-6) at Ramblewood Stadium.
Click below to read our full game preview.
Fans can watch a live stream of Saturday’s game via the United Soccer League’s Match Center. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
ORLANDO, Fl. (September 3, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (6-15-5) shutout Orlando City B (8-10-8) on their way to a 2-0 victory at the Titan Soccer Complex.
The Hounds kept their playoff dream alive for another day thanks to Chevaughn Walsh scoring his first career goal and a late tally by Corey Hertzog.
Walsh had a few looks at goal early in the match, but none proved to be more important than his shot in the 23rdminute. Kevin Kerr worked his way into the box and played a sliding pass between two defenders to a trailing Walsh. The Jamaican forward would then put a shot on that would be enough to get through the outstretched hand of Mark Ridgers and into the corner of the net. The goal, Walsh’s first as a Hound and in his pro career, came on his first professional start as well.
The early lead can definitely be attributed an increased offensive presence with the Hounds out shooting the opposition 5-2 in the first half.
The halftime break provided both teams a chance to regroup as both clubs came out of the gate with chances on net. First, for the Hounds, Walsh again got inside the box in the 50th minute and nearly doubled the lead, but was turned away by a locked in Ridgers. Shortly after Orlando had a near chance as Craig Nitti curled a free kick from outside the penalty area into the side netting.
An equalizer looked promising when Orlando was awarded a corner late in stoppage time. The ensuing scramble for the ball provided Corey Hertzog with a golden breakaway chance which the Hounds’ leading scorer put away without a doubt to give the Pittsburgh side a sure victory.
The shutout was the first for Zack Steffen as a Hound and also the first clean sheet for the team since July 4th when they drew 0-0 with the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Pittsburgh continues on the road with a trip to Charlotte to face the Independence (12-7-6) next Saturday, September 10, at 7 p.m.
Line-ups:
Riverhounds: Zack Steffen – Marshall Hollingsworth, Ryan Adeleye, Sergio Campbell, Zak Boggs (Mike Green 71’) – Stephen Okai (Willie Hunt 88’), Lebo Moloto (Drew Russell 90’+), Kevin Kerr (c), Nick Thompson (Jack Thompson 45’) – Corey Hertzog – Chevaughn Walsh (Alejandro Aguilar 71’)
Subs not used: Hunter Gilstrap, Jordan Murrell
Orlando City B: Mark Ridgers – Conor Donovan, Kyle McFadden, Craig Nitti, Zach Hayden –Harrison Heath (Antonio Matarazzo 45’), Lewis Neal (c) (Johnny Mendoza 39’), Andrew Ribiero – Richie Laryea (Marius Obekop 75’), Hadji Barry, Michael Cox
Subs not used: Mason Stajduhar, Tyler Turner, Devron Garcia, Keegan Smith
Scoring Summary:
PGH – Chevaughn Walsh 23’ (Kevin Kerr)
PGH – Corey Hertzog 90’+ (Kevin Kerr)
Misconduct Summary:
ORL – Andrew Ribiero 16’ (caution)
ORL – Harrison Heath 45’ (caution)
ORL – Kyle McFadden 74’ (caution)
PGH – Ryan Adeleye 81’ (caution)
Quote Sheet
Coach Brandt
On the team’s overall performance…
I think a really good win on the road for us. Thought the guys did a really good job with the game plan, stayed tight defensively, Chevy [Walsh] scored a great first goal, and then obviously Corey put it away late.
On offensive pressure…
Well I think that’s the way games go often, you score a goal and the other team goes on the front foot a bit. Clearly we wanted to use the space behind them when we could. I thought we got forward well a number of times, we could have a lot more, I thought especially the second part of the first half there was a lot of space behind them that we weren’t using. I actually thought that piece was better in the second half.
Thoughts on defense…
The back four play, along with Zack Steffen, has been steadily improving and it was important tonight to obviously keep the zero, which they did.
Chevaughn Walsh
On scoring his first goal…
It’s a great feeling. I’ve been working hard and I think it finally paid off.
On playing at the pro level…
I’ve always been comfortable, we were under a situation [last week] against Harrisburg we had to get them to open up, and it was good. I am getting more and more comfortable being around professional minded players.
PITTSBURGH (September 2, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5-15-5) fly south to face Orlando City B (8-9-8) to play the role of spoiler and gain three points.
Click below to read our full game preview.
Fans can watch a live stream of Saturday’s game via the United Soccer League’s Match Center. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
In the midst of a two-match unbeaten streak and three-game road trip, the Hounds (5-15-5) open the final month of the season in Orlando later this week to face Orlando City B (8-9-8). Their road trip then comes to a close in Charlotte against the Independence (12-7-6) the following week, as the Hounds will look to avenge losses at home earlier this season to both clubs.
FC Cincinnati (12-6-7) makes a midweek stop at Highmark Stadium for their first of two matches in Pittsburgh this month on September 14, before the Hounds travel to Bethlehem for the second time this year to face Steel FC (6-11-9) for their penultimate match of the season later that week.
The season comes to close with the Hounds’ second match against Cincinnati in as many weeks on September 24. Fans are encouraged to follow all the action live by visiting the USL Match Center on gamedays.
This month will see the conclusion of World Nights at Highmark Stadium with “Americas Night” on September 14. The Hounds have partnered with Steel City World Cup (SCWC) to build community, celebrate culture, and promote the World Cup. World Nights will include cultural activities and the opportunity to come down on the field after the game.
With the conclusion of World Nights later this month, next up will be the event grand finale, the Steel City World Cup on October 16 at Highmark Stadium – a co-ed World Cup style soccer tournament and cultural festival. For more information on the Steel City World Cup, click the link.
Also expected to make a stop will be the Mobile Vet Center (MVC) prior to kickoff at 5:30 p.m. The MVC is an RV Style vehicle that provides services to veterans in the community including: counseling, education on VA benefits and enrollment in VA health care, and referral assistance with claims and more. There will also be various Hounds sponsors in attendance offering services as well to veterans and active duty military. Game tickets for military and veterans will be available for $5 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com using the code “FIVE” or at the gate the day of the match.
The Hounds will look to end the 2016 season with a bang, celebrating the Pittsburgh Bicentennial all night at Highmark Stadium on September 24. More details will be available in the following weeks, but there will be plenty of fun to be had, as fans will have a plethora of opportunities to win Pittsburgh-related items by just attending the match against FC Cincinnati. A special giveaway will also be in store to the first select number of fans entering once the gates open at 5 p.m., as well as halftime entertainment.
Tickets for the both home dates this month can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, while more information on the upcoming theme nights at Highmark Stadium can be found by visiting www.riverhounds.com.
The Chevron High School Soccer Series at Highmark Stadium kicks off this month, starting on September 6. Running throughout October, soccer teams from the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic League (WPIAL) will face off against each other weekly at the home of the Riverhounds, providing a unique opportunity for high school players to play where the pros play. A finalized schedule is expected to be released sometime early in September.
For the full schedule and to purchase tickets, visit the link here.
New to Highmark Stadium will be the WODLIFE River Games in early October. Set to run October 8-9, this CrossFit event will be the first of this kind of scale to hit the Steel City. Further information on how to register can be found by visiting the link here.
The Riverhounds would like to welcome our new partners for 2016-17, Purolator, Ivivva, and Bootay Bevington & Nichols, LLC.
Registration for the Riverhounds 2016-17 Winter Technical Training Academy remains open for both the Academy and Academy East.
The Academy Technical Training is a 15-week skills training program held at Cool Springs Sports Complex at Bethel Park and is open to all players, regardless of club affiliation, and includes an intense training curriculum focused upon high-level technique development by a staff of professional soccer players. Training kicks off November 12.
Academy East Technical Training opens on November 7 at Shallenberger Recreational Center in Scottdale, Pennsylvania and will allow young athletes to be immersed in a competitive 14-week program that includes technical soccer training, accompanied by speed and strength conditioning. Like the Academy, all players are welcome regardless of club affiliation.
To guarantee your spot in the Academy program, e-mail Academy Director Scott Gibson at sgibson@https://www.riverhounds.com. For Academy East, e-mail Academy East Director Sterling Flunder at sflunder@https://www.riverhounds.com.
The Riverhounds Goalkeeper Academy fall registration is open – more information can be found here. Using modern methods and approaches, the Academy develops goalkeepers with the technical, tactical, and psychological components necessary to succeed in today’s game.
The Academy accommodates the needs of young goalkeepers of all skill levels from beginner to college and professional prospects and the high intensity training environment is designed to push every participant to the next level. Training kicks off on September 2 for U-8 to U-13 Boys and Girls, while U-14 to U-18 Boys and Girls start on September 10.
To register, e-mail program director and Hounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap at hgilstrap@https://www.riverhounds.com.
Celebrating our four-goal offensive display against Wilmington Hammerheads FC this past month, the Riverhounds are pleased to announce the “4-Goal Explosion” ticket deal for our match against FC Cincinnati on September 14. Fans will have the choice of $4 tickets to take in the match with the Steel Army faithful in the supporter’s section or in standing room only, while all reserved seating facing the Monongahela River and beautiful city skyline will be $4 off. To take advantage of this fantastic offer, use the code “FOUR” when purchasing your tickets atTicketmaster.com.
For questions or more information, please contact our head of ticketing, Mike Warren, at mwarren@highmarkstadium.com.
PITTSBURGH (August 31, 2016) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder Danny Earls has been suspended eight games by the USL for his red card offense in last weekend’s match against the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Per the League official Discipline Report, “[Earls] was suspended for three matches for the initial challenge on the Harrisburg player, and then the USL Disciplinary Committee added five games for the altercation with the referee.”
The suspension will cover the remaining five matches of the 2016 regular season and the first three matches of the 2017 season. Should the Hounds qualify for the 2016 postseason, Earls will begin serving his additional three matches during the playoffs.
“Danny is a passionate player, and a player who bleeds for this club,” said head coach Dave Brandt. “Those are good things to be sure. Though in this case, he let his fiercely competitive nature get the better of him and crossed a line he knows he shouldn’t have crossed. Though we’ll miss Danny on the field, we accept the penalty and know that it is something that he will both learn from and not let happen again.”
Earls said he apologizes for his actions.
“First and foremost, I apologize to the club, the coaching staff, and my teammates for letting them down on Saturday,” Earls said. “I always do my best to play with my heart on my sleeve and what happened on Saturday doesn’t show heart. It was a moment of frustration that I will learn from and try to never let happen again. My apologies also to the referee and his staff. It’s a tough job to ref any game and it doesn’t need to be made any harder than it already is.
“Lastly, I hope I have the fans support in this. I have always given everything I have in order for this club to succeed and I will continue to do so in the coming months. I look forward to putting the Hounds shirt on again very soon and representing this club.”
The club and Earls will not seek to appeal the League’s suspension.
PITTSBURGH (August 30, 2016) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds forward Corey Hertzog and defender Sergio Campbellwere both named to the USL Team of the Week for the first time this season, as each played a crucial role in helping the Hounds to an unbeaten week of play against Wilmington Hammerheads FC and the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Hertzog’s recent goal surge continued with two more against Wilmington in a 4-1 win this past Wednesday, giving him six tallies in his past seven matches. The Hounds forward’s 11 goals on the season rank him tied for fourth in the USL and he’s the eighth player in club history to have recorded double-digit goals in a single season.
For Campbell, his late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against the Harrisburg City Islanders helped the Hounds secure a point on the road for the first time since July 30. The goal marked Campbell’s first in a Hounds uniform as well.
Outside of scoring, both played the full 90 minutes against Wilmington and Harrisburg. Campbell’s play at center back helped the Hounds defense to allow only a goal each in both their matches – the first time since May 28 that Pittsburgh has allowed one goal or less in back-to-back games this season. Hertzog, on the offensive end, generated seven shots, including five on goal, and his minutes played this season (2,050) are second only to defender Willie Hunt (2,102).
The dual weekly honors for the Hounds also marked the first time since June of last season the club has had two players named to Team of the Week – Danny Earls and Rob Vincent.
For further information on this week’s Team of the Week, click here.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (August 27, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5-15-5) battled the Harrisburg City Islanders (7-14-5) to a 1-1 draw at FNB Field in the finale of the Keystone Derby Cup presented by the Pennsylvania Lottery and K&L Gates.
The Hounds bid for a second-straight Keystone Derby Cup title fell short with the result, as Harrisburg’s 2-1 defeat of Pittsburgh at Highmark Stadium this past July proved to be the deciding factor in the season series – the clubs also played to a draw on July 4.
Potting the lone tally for the Hounds was Sergio Campbell in the 70th minute, while Craig Foster opened the match’s scoring only minutes earlier in the 65th minute. Competition was even throughout with Pittsburgh holding a shots and shots on goal advantage of 11-to-8 and 6-to-5, respectively.
The Hounds got out to a fast start, with Corey Hertzog, playing near his hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, creating two chances early. First, in the eighth minute, Hertzog had a go from distance to force goalkeeper Keasel Broome to make a diving save to his right and give the Hounds their first corner of the match. Then in the 21st minute, midfielder Lebo Moloto fed Hertzog, who entered the match having scored six goals in his past six matches, a useful ball for a one-on-one opportunity against Broome. The Hounds forward, at an angle, was able to push his shot past the City Islanders keeper, but Hertzog’s bid for the far-post on his right just missed keeping the score knotted at zero.
Hertzog continued his strong play into the early stages of the second half, creating a stellar opportunity in the 54thminute. Finding space just inside the right side of the box, Hertzog uncorked a rocket of a shot, forcing Broome to fully extend for a tough save.
Unable to cash in on opportunities in the offensive end, the Hounds saw the City Islanders breakthrough with the match’s first tally in the 65th minute. With only three shots up until the goal, Harrisburg’s Cardel Benbow facilitated the opening tally by getting behind defender Mike Green and flicking a cross over the head of goalkeeper Zack Steffen to Foster for the finish.
The lead would last momentarily, as the Hounds received a free kick from 40 yards out. Danny Earls, for the second-straight week, sent a beauty of a ball in the box off a set piece, this time seeing Campbell redirect for the goal right in front of Broome. For Earls, it was his third helper on the season, while Campbell nabbed his first career goal as a Hound.
Much like the lead for Harrisburg though, Pittsburgh’s momentum came to a halt after a red card was issued to Earls at midfield for a hard sliding challenge in the 74th minute. Down a man for the remainder of the match, the Hounds would push for a go-ahead tally and force the Derby Cup to be decided by tiebreakers, but the effort was to no avail.
Despite just missing out on the in-state prize, the Hounds earned points in back-to-back matches for the first time since April 30 – back-to-back draws in dates at Louisville City FC and Charleston Battery – and have accumulated seven points in their last four matches.
Pittsburgh will continue its three-game road trip with a visit to Orlando City B (8-8-8) next Saturday, September 3, at 7 p.m.
Line-ups:
Riverhounds: Zack Steffen – Marshall Hollingsworth, Willie Hunt, Sergio Campbell, Mike Green – Danny Earls, Lebo Moloto (Stephen Okai 89’), Kevin Kerr, Drew Russell (Cristian Martinez 59’) – Corey Hertzog – Nick Thompson (Chevaughn Walsh 66’)
Subs not used: Hunter Gilstrap, Zak Boggs, Jack Thompson, Ryan Adeleye
Harrisburg City Islanders: Keasel Broome – James Thomas, Liam Doyle, Dante Leverock, Shawn McLaws – Cardel Benbow, Bobby Warshaw, Dabo Mouhamed (Brett Jankouskas 86’), Matthew Bolduc (Cameron Vickers 68’), Jose Barril – Craig Foster (Garret Pettis 80’)
Subs not used: Nick Noble, Shane Johnson, Joshua Hughes, Paul Wilson.
Scoring Summary:
HAR – Craig Foster 65’ (Cardel Benbow)
PGH – Sergio Campbell 70’ (Danny Earls)
Misconduct Summary:
PGH – Danny Earls 74’ (red card)
HAR – Liam Doyle 80’ (caution)
PGH – Chevaughn Walsh 85’ (caution)
Quote Sheet
Coach Brandt
On the draw…
I think everybody is bitterly disappointed. Not to bring the cup back. Disappointed not to get three points. I thought it was a good, gutty performance. It was our third game in eight days. I thought the boys played really well.
On tonight’s performance…
Just stressing now that the guys know what is going on. Asking for more quality. Just outright, pure quality. I thought there was more today. We narrowly missed several chances, and that’s a quality issue too. We know that. Goals change games. We could’ve done very, very well tonight. We will just have to keep working. I do think there was a quality there tonight that we haven’t always had.
Thoughts on defense…
It is the second straight, very good game for us played. Our whole team really. [Harrisburg] has some very dangerous attacking play, and they got us once. I thought it was a very good performance.
Kevin Kerr
Overall thoughts…
We came down there with one goal. We know it hasn’t been the greatest season. We thought we could at least finish on a high, and keep this cup. Because it means so much to the fans. They were awesome all night long. They deserved it, they absolutely deserved it. It is a bit of a disappointment that we couldn’t get the job done.
On the first half play…
All during the first half, I thought that [Harrisburg] clammed up. Creating chances, and giving away very few chances. We came in during half time relatively pleased. We knew we needed two goals. Time was ticking. We went into this thinking “Let’s us at least this game.” Get the three points, and have all the fans come down onto the field. It’s a tough one. The performance was there.
On the intensity of the match…
We know what it is about. We know that we are not going to make playoffs this year. Every game we go out wanting to prove something to ourselves, and we also want to give back to the fans that still stand by us. They are the ones that came down tonight. You could just see it on the field. During my time in football, you are going to have a good season, and you are going to have a bad season. But the one thing as a team that you never want to be called out on, is your effort. Maybe we have this year, maybe we have deservedly. It is something they we desperately wanted to put right, and we wanted to put that right tonight. We really want to finish this season on a high, and try to carry that through to next year.
PITTSBURGH (August 26, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5-15-4) head to Harrisburg to face the City Islanders (7-14-4) in the third and final leg of the Keystone Derby Cup presented by the Pennsylvania Lottery and K&L Gates.
Click below to read our full game preview.
Fans can watch a live stream of Saturday’s game via the United Soccer League’s Match Center. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
PITTSBURGH (August 24, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy Girls (RDA) have officially been invited to join the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) of US Club Soccer for the 2017 season. Expected to be announced formally by the ECNL tomorrow, the RDA Girls join the highest level of play for youth female soccer players in the United States.
“This is a very proud moment for our Club, but beyond that, it is a positive step for soccer in our area,” said Academy and Youth Development Director, Jason Kutney. “We have strived to help stimulate opportunities through the MLS-USL Academy Initiative on the boy’s side and now, ECNL on the girl’s side. Our goal remains the same – we aim to contribute to soccer in a meaningful way. Female players will have an unparalleled opportunity to compete against the best in the country and we are extremely pleased to help bring this to Pittsburgh.”
A milestone achievement in the advancement of the RDA competitive team platform, the Academy Girls will join an elite league of competition featuring only 84 clubs nationwide that showcases female players in front of an enormous audience of college coaches across the country in highly exclusive events. Of the now four clubs in Pennsylvania, only the RDA is located in the western part of the Keystone State – the other three are in Downingtown, Richboro and Westown, respectively.
Competition in the ECNL for the RDA Girls will start fully in fall of 2017, but the Academy may be involved in select events throughout the current 2016-17 year.
For further information on the ECNL, visit the League site at Eliteclubsnationalleague.com.
In addition, the Riverhounds would also like to mention registration for the Winter Technical Training Academy remains open. The 15-week program, set to open on November 12 offers technical training for boys and girls ages 3-17 years, regardless of club affiliation, and includes an intense training curriculum focused upon high-level technical development by a staff of professional soccer players and academy coaches.
For more information on how to register for the program, visit www.riverhounds.com, or contact Academy Director, Scott Gibson, directly at sgibson@https://www.riverhounds.com.
PITTSBURGH (August 24, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5-15-4) exploded for three goals in the first half, cruising to a 4-1 victory over Wilmington Hammerheads FC (6-11-7) at Highmark Stadium.
Corey Hertzog kept hot, tallying two goals, one in each of the halves, while Willie Hunt and Nick Thompson scored less than four minutes apart to close out the first half in the 40th and 44th minute, respectively. Wilmington’s lone tally came by way of Ashani Fairclough in the 72nd minute.
The victory clinched a season sweep of Wilmington, which saw the Hounds outscore the Hammerheads to the tune of 8-to-2, while also extending a now four-match unbeaten streak dating back to August of 2015. Pittsburgh has now won back-to-back home games for the first time since July 4 of 2015 as well, and the three first half goals were a new season high – trumping two-goal efforts in the first 45 against Montreal in June and Wilmington in July.
The Hounds got on the board quickly in the sixth minute, as Cristian Martinez fed Hertzog a pretty feed at the top of the box. The Hounds forward then unleashed an absolute rocket to beat a diving Eric Ati from 20 yards out.
Sustained bouts of possession for Pittsburgh followed, with the club eventually breaking through in the 40th minute off a corner. Lining up from the right, Danny Earls fired a beauty of a ball in to find a rising Hunt at the back post for the header on goal. For Earls, the helper marked his second on the season, both on corners, while Hunt tallied for the first time since scoring two goals against the New York Red Bulls in last year’s playoffs in September.
Thompson followed soon after with a gritty goal via a fortunate deflection. Battling for space off a long through-ball over top by Lebo Moloto, Thompson fought off midfielder Logan Miller to gain possession just within the box. With space, Thompson fired a shot on goal, deflecting off the leg of Miller, and just squeaking by an aggressive Ati. The goal added to a stellar performance for Thompson, who started up front alongside Kevin Kerr and Martinez, playing 69 minutes and finishing with four shots attempted to go along with his second goal of the season.
Wilmington came out with a spirited showing in the second half, outshooting the Hounds six-to-five, and eventually finding the back of the net thanks to some crisp passing by Kyle Parker to give Fairclough an open look on a header in close past goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
The match would conclude on an interesting sequence that gave the Hounds back-to-back penalty kicks in stoppage time. First, Moloto drew a foul in the box, allowing for Kerr to have the first crack at extending the Hounds lead to three. The captain fired a solid take on frame, but his shot rose, hitting directly off the crossbar. In the ensuing chaos for possession, Wilmington midfielder Zev Taublieb was whistled for a handball and issued a yellow card. Hertzog next stepped up to take the penalty, converting past Ati with ease and his second goal of the night.
With 11 goals on the season, only Rob Vincent (18) and Jose Angulo (13) have scored more for the Hounds in a single season than Hertzog since 2013. Hertzog also becomes only the eighth player in club history to have totaled 10 or more goals in a season, while his 26 points on the year have him third in the League scoring race – trailing only Chandler Hoffman (28) of Louisville and Jack McBean (32) of LA Galaxy II.
The Hounds now close out the week in Harrisburg against the City Islanders (7-14-4) in the third and final leg of the Keystone Derby Cup presented by K&L Gates and the Pennsylvania Lottery on Saturday, August 27 at 7 p.m.
Line-ups:
Riverhounds – Zack Steffen – Marshall Hollingsworth (Zak Boggs 86′), Willie Hunt, Sergio Campbell, Mike Green – Danny Earls, Corey Hertzog, Lebo Moloto – Kevin Kerr, Nick Thompson (Alejandro Aguilar 69′), Cristian Martinez (Drew Russell 69′)
Subs not used: Hunter Gilstrap, Jack Thompson, Nick Kolarac, Chevaughn Walsh
Wilmington Hammerheads FC – Eric Ati – Michael Mecham, Michael Binns, Bruno Perone, Ashani Fairclough – Logan Miller (Jeff Michaud 63′), Justin Moose (Kyle Parker 70′), Austin Martz (Qudus Lawal 81′), Stefan Defregger (Zev Taublieb 46′), Matthew Barnes Homer, Jermie Lynch (Tom Parratt 46′)
Subs not used: Ferrety Sousa, John Smits
Scoring Summary:
PGH – Corey Hertzog 6′ (Cristian Martinez)
PGH – Willie Hunt 40′ (Danny Earls)
PGH – Nick Thompson 44′ (Lebo Moloto)
WIL – Ashani Fairclough 72′ (Kyle Parker)
PGH – Corey Hertzog 90’+ (penalty)
Misconduct Summary:
WIL – Zev Taublieb 90’+ (caution)
Cleveland Brothers “Blue Collar Player of the Game” – Willie Hunt
Post-Game Quote Sheet
Dave Brandt
On Hunt’s play…
I thought Willie was fantastic tonight. Willie is the centerback, he is very good in the back. He is a little guy who can get up in the air. It was a great goal. I had both hands up in the air before it went in, because you could just see the angle was in. It was a great goal.
On Nick Thompson…
For sure. He had a bit of a layoff. But I knew what was there with him. He is not a natural striker, but right now that’s one place where he can help us. Nick can play anywhere up the middle, from back to front. Has probably played as little up top as anyone. But it shows what kind of athlete he is. He’s got a lot of abilities. He’s a big kid.
On the team’s recent play…
Obviously, we are coming off a disappointing 3-0 loss at Rochester. For a couple of weeks now it’s been an on one, off one, which is better than just being off, off, off. There were good spells of possession in Rochester. The score line is the only thing that matters. At the same time, we could’ve, should’ve been up 2-0 at Rochester. We didn’t, and goals change games. We need to be careful and consistent. I think the team has played well.
On playing with the lead…
We’re disappointed with even giving them the one, and give people cause for concern. That being said, whether it’s the back four, the front four, the front six, those are things that are coming. Do we want more consistency? Yes for sure. Our next chance at that is this Saturday, the game at Harrisburg.
Willie Hunt
On having a consistent back four…
It’s great creating bonds . It was tough in the beginning, we were switching players in and out to find the right fit, and we weren’t winning games so it was tough to get a rhythm. But as of late, I think we have been doing a lot better
On his goal…
Just go up, and put it on frame. The ball is in the air, I was behind the defender, so I have a little bit of an advantage going up and hanging up there. That’s one of my stronger assets, when the ball is in the air.
On the upcoming Keystone Derby Cup match…
Massive match. It’s our last game event. I was lucky enough to be part of last season’s game, when we won the cup. I think the fans would say that was the biggest game for us last year. I’m excited to go back up there and do it again.
Nick Thompson
On his comfort level…
For sure. I think the last few weeks, I’ve definitely started to feel more comfortable. Obviously after not playing for a number of years, to come back into things, train everyday, and play with the guys. I think after each game, I’ve gotten more and more comfortable.
I try to do whatever I can to help the team, and wherever coach wants to play me, that is where I’ll play. I’ve trained all over the place, a lot of guys have. I think a definite asset to this team, is to be able to be versatile.
On his goal…
It just kind of opened up in the middle of the field. Lebo put a good ball over top, one of the center backs was coming back to recover, I was trying to hold him off, and actually overran the ball for a second. Fortunately, it was still under my feet. At that point, I was just trying to put a shot on goal. We haven’t had a lot of those kinds of breaks this year. So it is nice to get one of those.
On the team’s recent consistent play…
I definitely think so [more consistent]. I think you can see that with our play. There has been more consistency and more cohesion within the group on the field. While we still haven’t gotten all the results we wanted, I think it is pretty clear over the last seven-eight games.
On the upcoming Keystone Derby match…
Not only is it the Keystone Derby Game, but for us to win back to back games this year, that would be something that would be a big pick me up for our group, and our team.
