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Hounds fall to Hartford, 1-0

PITTSBURGH (September 26, 2020) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (10-4-1) fell to Hartford Athletic (9-3-2), 1-0, tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Ever Guzman scored the match’s lone goal in the 36th minute. Despite the loss, the Hounds remain atop Group F, two points ahead of Hartford.

First Half
Robbie Mertz logged the first quality chance for the Hounds in the 9th minute. After pushing the pace down the right side, the Pittsburgh native used some fancy footwork to create space on the right side of the penalty area. He then launched a shot, which narrowly missed to the left of the frame.

The Hounds were on the attack once again in the 25th minute. Danny Griffin sent a ball to Jordan Dover along the right side of the penalty area. Dover sent a shot toward the top-left corner, but missed just wide.

In the 29th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to Hartford after a foul in the penalty area. The ensuing shot from Guzman was saved by goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, who ranged to his left to keep the match scoreless.

Guzman was back on the attack in the 36th minute, after receiving a long pass in the center of the penalty area. A chip shot over Vitiello gave Hartford a one-goal lead before the half.

Second Half
The Hounds had another good chance in the 51st minute, after Mertz sent a cross to Ropapa Mensah in the center of the 18-yard box. Mensah then aimed a header at the bottom-left corner, but missed to the left.

In the 71st minute, a red card was issued to Hartford goalkeeper Parfait Mandanda, leaving them a man down for the remainder of the match. The keeper had a collision with Steevan Dos Santos along the end line.

The Hounds nearly capitalized on an opportunity in the 83rd minute, after Ryan James sent a cross to Dos Santos on the right side of the penalty area. Dos Santos headed the ball just high of the mark.

Albert Dikwa created a chance in the eighth minute of stoppage time, the Hounds’ last of the match. His shot from the center of the penalty area narrowly missed to the left.

Hound of the Match, presented by EPIC
Ryan James posted a game-high three key passes and led the Hounds with two clearances.

Beyond the Box Score, presented by Beyond Self Storage
The Hounds’ shutout streak ended at 519 minutes.

What’s Next
Riverhounds SC will play its final match of the regular season against Philadelphia Union II (2-9-3) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Highmark Stadium. The match will be televised on 22 The Point.

Lineups:

Riverhounds SC – Danny Vitiello; Patrick Bunk-Andersen (Kenardo Forbes 67’) ,Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Skylar Thomas (Mark Forrest 85’); Ray Lee (Anthony Velarde 52′), Danny Griffin, Ryan James, Robbie Mertz, Jordan Dover (Dani Rovira 45’); Ropapa Mensah (Albert Dikwa 52′), Steevan Dos Santos

Subs not used: Tomás Gómez, Mark Lindstrom

Hartford Athletic – Parfait Mandanda (Michael Novotny 73’) ; Matheus Silva, Kevin Politz (Alejandro Lara 60′), Sam Strong; Tyreke Johnson, Aiden Mesias (Arthur Rogers 60’), Justin Haak, Danny Barrera (Gabriel Torres 75’), Iran Cohen; Ever Guzmán (Conor McGlynn 64’), Hugh Alexander Dixon

Subs not used: Nicky Downs, Markus Naglestad

Scoring Summary:
HFD- Ever Guzmán 36’

Misconduct Summary:
HFD- Matheus Silva 47’ (caution)
HFD- Kevin Politz 50’ (caution)
HFD- Danny Barrera 64’ (caution)
HFD- Parfait mandanda 71’ (ejection)
PIT- Steevan Dos Santos 72’ (caution)
HFD- Michael Novotny 89’ (caution)
HFD- Justin Haak 90+5’ (caution)

Head coach Bob Lilley

On the loss…

“I mean for me, I thought it was a poor performance. It started early on; a big key for us was to be able to find outlets and we didn’t do that very well. We just banged long balls that didn’t do a lot for us.”

On finishing the regular season strong…

“We can really only put this one behind us and get ready for Philadelphia. It’s disappointing to not have our best performance in such an important game, but you have to give credit to Hartford for executing their game plan better than we did.”

On how the Hounds will bounce back…

“I think we’re going to have to do some soul-searching this week to get back our hunger, to get back on top of things here. We didn’t start that well against Loudoun and we didn’t start that well tonight. So I think we also have to make sure we start games better moving forward.”

Midfielder Robbie Mertz

On what the Hounds need to improve upon…

“I think it’s an execution thing, from the players’ standpoint. I don’t think any of us were unaware of the circumstances tonight, and Hartford came out pressing unlike our last two matchups. We did have the chances tonight, but they didn’t go our way.”

On how the Hounds will approach the USL Championship Playoffs…

“We’re taking it game by game; we are trying to perform all the time. I don’t think it’s important to peak at any given time, and I know we certainly didn’t think about how many games we had won in a row. Not the position we wanted to be in, but we’re not going to let ourselves get too down on this loss.”

On how the Hounds will judge this loss…

“This loss hurts a lot because we could have clinched the division tonight. We knew what was at stake tonight, but it’s not like the chances weren’t there. If we don’t make certain mistakes, or if we capitalize on one of those chances, it’s a different game.”

Patrick Bunk-Andersen, Albert Dikwa providing boost for Hounds

After preseason this past winter and the announcement that a 16-game season would in fact be happening this summer, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC was eager to begin.

But while travel restrictions tightened in the United States in the midst of the pandemic, Hounds newcomers Patrick Bunk-Andersen and Albert Dikwa were sequestered into a forced quarantine in their respective home countries.

For three months, Bunk-Andersen was at home in Denmark after returning back after preseason. On the other hand, Dikwa would remain in his home country of Cameroon.

“It’s obviously super frustrating and tough mentally having to leave and not knowing when you get back,” Bunk-Andersen said. “But constantly having that chip on the shoulder knowing when I’ll be back I got to make sure that I’m there to make the team better, make my teammates better and of course just give everything I have. I enjoy doing that every single week.”

The Clemson University product trained on his own for a month before getting the opportunity to train on a full schedule with a second division team in Denmark, where a friend played.

The defender said he knew he would have to play catchup upon returning to Pittsburgh. Just more than a month ago, he did just that.

Bunk-Andersen received his first minutes of play against Hartford Athletic, in the first game of three against the team back on Aug. 28 at Dillon Stadium.

“It’s amazing,” Bunk-Andersen said. “I’ve said to some of the guys on Saturday when I got my start, I’ve been waiting all 2020 to do this with them.”

The 6-foot-2-inch teammate has played five games this season with two starts and has added to the depth of the team’s defenders.

With the Hounds clinching playoff berth and remaining No. 1 in Group F, the team is hoping to get through the last three games of the season and continue a strong run into playoffs.

“This is a club with high expectations every year,” Bunk Andersen said. “Since day one, it got me feeling that Bob [Lilley] as a coach is aiming for one thing only and that is getting as far as possible in the season.”

Meanwhile, Dikwa remained in Cameroon for the duration of quarantine and into the 2020 season, as VISA restrictions delayed the forward from traveling to Pittsburgh to play.

“It was kind of difficult because I like to help the team,” Dikwa said. “Some stuff you can’t control it, so you have to deal with it.”

The previous Saint Louis FC striker used his time in the offseason to train, and while at home, continually doing workouts to make sure he was ready for his return.

Just around a month ago, Dikwa received VISA clearance to travel to the United States and resume activity with the team.

“My role with the team is mostly stretching the game, defending, scoring goals,” Dikwa said. “Goals are kind of easy. With one of the best teams in the league, we have a lot of pressure that we have to do great and make anything.”

Dikwa has played four games and scored two goals on 10 shots for the Hounds thus far.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 161-pound player has since spent his time in training following head coach Lilley’s instruction and getting to know his teammates.

“I was kind of nervous though because I just knew two guys, Tomas [Gomez] and Tony [Walls],” Dikwa said. “And then my first day, I feel like I was already connecting with some of the players. Nice guys, nice people always willing to help me. Like I said, I’m grateful for it.”

Lilley said he is impressed with how quickly both Bunk-Andersen and Dikwa were able to mesh into the group, as well as getting their fitness up to speed very quickly.

Dikwa and Bunk-Andersen have also added to the team’s depth, Lilley said, allowing there to be healthy competition among teammates for starting spots and helping to push players forward.

“These are things you want to deal with as a coach to have more depth,” Lilley said. “They’ve done a good job for us.”

Goal Breakdown: Loudoun – 9/19

In Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s 1-0 win against Loudoun United FC on Saturday at Segra Field, forward Albert Dikwa made his first start with the club one to remember.

For the first 80 minutes of Saturday’s match, the teams were invested in a defensive battle. And two saves from goalkeeper Danny Vitiello helped keep Loudoun off the board during the game, despite a few quality chances.

In the 81st minute, the Hounds had their best scoring chance of the match. Danny Griffin sent a pass to Steevan Dos Santos outside the penalty area. From here Loudoun’s backline (red circles) collapsed on Dos Santos, leaving an open passing lane (yellow arrow) to the right of the penalty area.

Dos Santos exploited the error, sending a pass into the right side of the penalty area to Dikwa. Loudoun goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre then came off his line (blue arrow), challenging the young forward just outside the six-yard box. The Garoua, Cameroon native then pumped on the breaks and dribbled to his right (green arrow).

Lefebvre could only watch as Dikwa sent the ball into the bottom-left corner, giving the Hounds a 1-0 lead. Hounds fans know Dikwa is no stranger to late-game scoring chances. In his first match with the club back on Sept. 1 against Loudoun, he scored in the 88th minute, after Lefebvre came off his line to challenge him.

Dikwa will be back in action with the rest of the Hounds this Saturday, when they face Hartford Athletic at Highmark Stadium. The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and will be televised locally on 22 The Point.

Hounds defeat Loudoun, record fifth straight clean sheet

LEESBURG, Va. (September 19, 2020) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (10-3-1) defeated Loudoun United FC (1-9-3), 1-0, tonight at Segra Field.

First-place Riverhounds SC and Loudoun played a tight game. The first goal didn’t come until the 81st minute, when forward Albert Dikwa finished a pass from Steevan Dos Santos to get the Hounds on the board. After a few chances from Loudoun, the Pittsburgh defense stood tall and closed the game out to win 1-0 on the road. Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello recorded his fourth straight shutout for the Hounds, as well as the team’s fifth straight clean sheet overall.

“They were ready to play,” head coach Bob Lilley said. “We started a bit slow, and I thought the end of the first half we started to play our way into the game. It was a good test for us to come in at halftime and have to play better in the second half. It felt like a goal was coming. These are games we’ll play at playoff time and we’ll have to be resilient and figure it out. The guys did a good job working their way into the game and finding the goal. I think we closed the game out well.

“It’s good to put this one behind us. We have two home games left and we want to do a good job. Hopefully, we can get out to a better start against Hartford Athletic and take care of business next week.”

First Half
Loudoun had the first chances of the game, but it couldn’t finish any of them.

In the 16th minute, Kairou Amoustapha had a chance with a right-footed volley from the right side of the 18-yard box but sailed it well over the crossbar.

In the 21st minute, Loudoun had one of its best chances of the half. Massimo Ferrin had a shot inside the penalty area, but it was blocked away. The Hounds had a counterattack opportunity afterward, but it was shut down by the Loudoun defense.

The Hounds offense started slow, but in the 27th minute they had a spark with a Jordan Dover-to-Robbie Mertz connection. Dover lofted a ball over Loudoun’s backline onto the foot of Mertz, but his shot was saved by Loudoun goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre.

Loudoun ended the half with four shots to the Hounds’ three takes.

Second Half
The Hounds had the first chance of the second half with a cross from Dover to Dikwa on the left side of the field, but the ensuing header was wide right.

In the 59th minute, Ropapa Mensah dribbled to the end line and played the ball to the top of the six-yard box. Loudoun stayed calm and cleared the danger. A minute later, Dikwa had a great chance with a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty box, but Lefebvre made the save.

Loudoun had a great chance with a free kick in the 73rd minute. Substitute Christian Sorto took the shot and aimed near post, but Vitiello made the save.

The Hounds finally cracked onto the scoresheet in the 81st minute with the first and only goal of the game. Dos Santos slid a pass through the Loudoun defense to Dikwa. The striker then took a touch around the keeper and finished with his right foot from inside of the six-yard box. This goal was all the Hounds needed, as they went on to win their 10th match of the season.

Hound of the Match, presented by EPIC
In his first start of the season, Albert Dikwa scored the first and only goal of the game in the 81st minute off the pass from Steevan Dos Santos. This is Dikwa’s second goal of the season.

Beyond the Box Score, presented by Beyond Self Storage
The Hounds finish the regular season with a 6-2-0 road record and extend their winning streak to five games. Pittsburgh now will finish its regular season with two home matches.

What’s Next
Riverhounds SC will host Hartford Athletic (7-3-1) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Highmark Stadium. This will be their third meeting this season, and the match will be televised on 22 The Point. Pittsburgh is 2-0-0 against Hartford this campaign.

Lineups:

Riverhounds SC – Danny Vitiello; Ray Lee (Anthony Velarde 65’), Patrick Bunk-Andersen (Mark Lindstrom 87’), Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Skylar Thomas, Jordan Dover; Ryan James, Danny Griffin, Robbie Mertz (Tony Walls 89’); Albert Dikwa (Dani Rovira 87’), Ropapa Mensah (Steevan Dos Santos 65’)

Subs not used: Tomas Gomez, Mark Forrest

Loudoun United FC – Simon Lefebvre; Tyler Gabarra, Shane Wiedt, Timmy Mehl, Allexon Saravia; Peabo Doue (Gabriel Gómez 65’), Nelson Martinez, Kairou Amoustapha (Christian Sorto 58’); Josh Fawole (Alioune Ndour 58’), Michael Gamble, Massimo Ferrin (Brandon Williamson 65’)

Subs not used: Collin Miller, Diego Gomez, Erumuse Momoh

Scoring Summary:
PIT – Albert Dikwa 81’ (Steevan Dos Santos)

Misconduct Summary:
LDN – Josh Fawole 37’ (caution)
LDN – Allexon Saravia 45’+3 (caution)
PIT – Thomas Vancaeyezeele 51’ (caution)
PIT – Tony Walls 90’+2 (caution)
LDN – Allexon Saravia 90’+4 (caution, ejection)

Hounds focused on finishing regular season strong

With Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC set to face Loudoun United FC for the third time this season on Saturday, the already-clinched playoff team hopes to secure a win once again.

The team is currently on a club-record pace for goals scored per game (2.77), as well as goals allowed per game (0.62). The Hounds also lead the league with a 34 percent conversion rate and seven clean sheets.

Now, what do all of these statistics have in common?

The team boasts a mix of powerful alums and rookies who all bring different skillsets to the table.

Defender Ryan James, one veteran, is now in his second straight campaign with the Hounds and has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week in Week 10 and most recently, Week 12.

James was given the honor after scoring two goals and winning three of his four tackles in the 5-0 defeat of Hartford Athletic on Sept. 12.

“It’s nice to see him really stepping up since Kenardo [Forbes] has been out,” head coach Bob Lilley said. “He has played for me in the midfield before in Rochester. He’s a very versatile player.”

Lilley said James quickly formed relationships with teammates including Robbie Mertz, Danny Griffin and Anthony Velarde, those of which who have also stepped up.

“Ryan’s one of those players that shows up every day in practice and games,” Lilley said. “He definitely knows what he’s doing and is a big part for us.”

Other members of the Hounds who have been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week include Jordan Dover (Week 1), Mertz (Week 3, 7, 11), Kenardo Forbes (Week 4, 6), Griffin (Week 4) and Danny Vitiello (Week 9).

“I think a lot of guys have stepped up recently and some of that’s the team maturing overall,” Lilley said. “I just think our players are confident and you know we have quality players throughout the roster.”

With the Hounds 2-0-0 this season against Loudoun, they go into this match outscoring the foe, 5-0, with goals from five different players including Albert Dikwa, Steevan Dos Santos, Lukas Fernandes, Mark Forrest and Velarde.

The Fresno Pacific University product, Velarde, is also in his second campaign with the Hounds and has scored five goals this season.

“We’ve been training and driving and pushing and sweating,” Velarde said. “We’re doing everything we can to finally make the playoffs and we’ve made a statement out of it.”

With two assists and a pass success rate more than 80 percent, Velarde is yet another team player who can be seen making a difference on the field.

“I think we’re all super pumped,” Velarde said. “Everything is clicking. We’re confident. It’s a good thing for us and the club.”

RDA Weekend Recap – 9/16

After a big tournament weekend to return to play, the first “regular” weekend of Riverhounds Development Academy (RDA) competition last weekend placed teams in league action in both ECNL and Great Lakes Alliance matches.

The 2007 Boys provided one of the weekend’s highlights by launching their ECNL campaign successfully with a 3-1 win over the Western NY Flash at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, as the team rallied after conceding first to a Flash counter. Aidan Thomas headed home the tying goal, and J.J. Vozar added two more off corner kick plays, while the team’s back four of Garrett Chandler, Daniel Moya-Gibbons, Justin Walsh and Brayden Davin solidified in front of keeper Logan Joseph.

The 07 Regional League Girls side also put a point on the board Saturday on the strength of their defense. They went on the road to face the Flash and played a 0-0 draw — the fourth straight shutout for the team — thanks to the goalkeeping of Braidyn Recker and the defensive corps of Alessia Paladino, Ava Simpson, Aliah Evans and Lilly Hillegas.

The 2010 Girls also came away with two Pre-ECNL wins out of three on a Midwestern road swing. The side split 2-0 decisions Saturday against the Michigan Hawks, with Leesia Phetsomphou and Lucy Szakelyhidi scoring in the win, and an excellent Penny Walker strike paired with an own goal Sunday to give the Hounds a 2-0 win over Pacesetter SC (Ohio).

More than two dozen GLA crossover matches on the road in Ohio filled out the weekend’s schedule and yielded further good results.
The high-scoring 09 Boys added two more wins over Team Challenger FC by scores of 5-3 and 6-3. Warren Agostoni scored two in each match, while Cole Celedonia netted three and four other players addded goals on the weekend.

The RDA East also produced a pair of double winners in the 07 East Girls and the 08 East Boys.

Playing the first match of the weekend Friday night, the 08 East Boys topped Canton United, 3-2, after rallying from down two goals with strikes in the final 25 minutes by Matt Kolencik, Ian Natale and Rocco Hagan. Natale’s Friday goal was just an appetizer, as he posted a whopping six goals Sunday in a 10-2 win over Barca Academy Columbus.

For the 07 East Girls, it was a defensively sound weekend in a 1-0 win over Worthington United and a 2-0 victory over Club Ohio. Cali Dyche scored the lone goal in Saturday’s opener, and Carmella Simco netted the two Sunday goals.

For a full rundown of the weekend’s matches, be sure to keep checking the Live Results page.

Sunday, Sept. 13

In Pre-ECNL play in Sylvania, Ohio:

• The 10 Girls had their best outing yet as a unit, stringing together combinations of passes and communicating well in a 2-0 win over Pacesetter SC (Ohio). Penny Walker scored what her coaches called the “goal of the week” in the Hounds victory, while the other came via own goal.

• The 09 Girls played better than the scoreline indicated, but the team wasn’t able to finish and fell to Pacesetter SC, 5-0.

In Boys ECNL matches at Highmark Stadium:

• The 07 Boys fell behind early on a second-chance, counter attack goal, but that would be the only time the Western NY Flash beat goalkeeper Logan Joseph, and the Hounds rallied for a 3-1 win. The team was efficient on corner kicks, as Aidan Thomas headed home the tying goal, and JJ Vozar scored the next two from set pieces. Credit goes to the back four of Garrett Chandler, Daniel Moya-Gibbons, Justin Walsh and Brayden Davin for tightening up after the early goal.

• The 08 Boys had a difficult welcome to ECNL action and will need to elevate their level of play after a 4-0 loss to the WNY Flash.

In GLA matches in Ohio:

• The 07 East Girls found their touch moving the ball as the game progressed, and that led to a pair of Carmella Simco goals in a 2-0 win over Club Ohio.

• One of the matches of the day was contested by the 10 East Boys, who pulled out a back-and-forth 4-3 win over Pacesetter SC. Caleb Hart, Gaven Rummel and Nolan Ptaskiewicz each scored for the Hounds, who also scored on an own goal by the home team.

• The 09 East Boys weren’t as fortunate against Pacesetter. After an even first half, the home club scored three unanswered goals to send the RDA to a 5-2 defeat. Matthew Kolencik and Zander Gregg scored the Hounds’ goals.

• Ian Natale pulled off the rare double hat trick, and his six-goal outburst paced the 08 East Boys to a 10-2 win over Barca Academy Columbus (Ohio).

• It wasn’t the 07 East Boys’ day, and they came up on the wrong end of a 3-0 score against Barca Academy.

• The 08 East Girls also came up on the short end against Barca Academy, 2-1.

• Credit the 09 East Girls for not giving up and rallying to get a 3-3 draw after falling behind 1-0 and 3-1 to FC Evolution (Ohio).

• The 08 RDA II Boys spent most of the game in the opposition half in an emphatic 7-0 win over Ohio’s Worthington United. Mark Martella scored the hat trick, while Ethan Szakelyhidi, Milo Kent, Canaan Kerestesi and Brylon Woods also scored.

• The 09 Boys kept pouring in the goals, with Warren Agostoni and Cole Celedonia getting two each in a 6-3 win over Team Challenger (Ohio). Maddox Chiu and Christian Ovalle also scored for the Hounds.

Saturday, Sept. 12

In Pre-ECNL matches in Livonia, Mich.:

• The 10 Girls got a split on the road against a pair of Michigan Hawks sides. After falling in the opener to a very big and skilled side, 2-0, the team won their second match by an identical score. Leesia Phetsomphou and Lucy Szakelyhidi netted the goals in the Hounds’ victory.

In ECNL Regional League matches in Buffalo, N.Y.:

• The defensive excellence by the 07 Regional League Girls side continued with another clean sheet, the fourth in a row by goalkeeper Braidyn Recker, in a 0-0 draw with the Western NY Flash. Alessia Palladio, Ava Simpson, Aliah Evans and Lilly Hillegas have anchored the back line in their strong start to the season.

• The 08 Regional League Girls also had a strong game in possession and were able to create chances, but the Hounds were unable to finish while the Flash were, and the hosts took a 2-0 win.

In GLA matches in Ohio:

• The 07 RDA II Boys weren’t at their best in the first half, but the side turned it on and broke a halftime tie with four goals in the second half of a 5-3 win over Ohio Premier. Nathan Katari scored twice, while the rest of the scoring came from Jack Scarsella, Tyler Sidhom and an own goal by the hosts.

• The defense still needs to be tightened up for the 09 Boys, but they had enough firepower in attack to get a 5-3 win over Team Challenger (Ohio). Warren Agostoni scored a pair, and Cole Celedonia, Grayson Stuart and Cam Sullenger also had goals for the Hounds.

• The 08 RDA II Boys played with confidence while controlling possession and territory against Club Ohio. The one area lacking was the delivery into the penalty area, and as a result, the Hounds had to settle for a scoreless draw rather than a win.

• The 10 Boys played an even match with Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio), and Caydon Payne found the net in a 1-1 draw.

• The 07 East Boys tallied a deserved 3-0 win over Pacesetter SC (Ohio). Jack Smith, Bryson Luther and Colton Payne accounted for the goals.

• The 09 East Girls allowed Club Ohio to dictate play and force a fair amount of long ball in the first half. The Hounds did take a one-goal lead to the break, but better second-half play adjusting to the opponent allowed the RDA to pull away for a 5-0 win made by a Riley Leasher hat trick and two goals by Lauren Paugh.

• Cali Dyche’s strike was the difference for the 07 East Girls in a 1-0 win that was otherwise evenly matched with Worthington United (Ohio).

• Ella Van Norman scored, but the 08 East Girls were topped on the road by Ohio Premier, 4-1.

• Noah Jurcevich and Matthew Kolencik found the net, but the 09 East Boys were topped by Pro Soccer Club (Ohio), 5-3.

• The 08 East Boys were topped 6-1 by Ohio Premier, with Ian Natale netting the lone goal.

• A slow start doomed the 10 East Boys, but Maskim Miller found the net in a 3-1 loss to Columbus United (Ohio).

Friday, Sept. 11

• The 08 East Boys showed resilience after trailing by two goals, and the team came back in the final 25 minutes to snag a 3-2 win at Canton United (Ohio). Matt Kolencik, Ian Natale and Rocco Hagan scored to complete the RDA rally.

Ryan James named to USL Championship Team of the Week

PITTSBURGH (September 15, 2020) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC defender Ryan James has been named to USL Championship Team of the Week after posting two goals in the club’s 5-0 victory against Hartford Athletic this past Saturday at Highmark Stadium.

With help from James’ performance, the Hounds clinched playoff berth for the third consecutive season.

The Mississauga, Ontario, Canada native opened the scoring in the 13th minute via a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty box. He later followed that up with another right-footed goal in the 47th minute. On the defensive end, he won three of his four tackles.

This is the second time James has been named to Team of the Week this season.

In addition, forward Ropapa Mensah has been named to Team of the Week bench after recording a brace in the Hounds’ win against Hartford. Like James, the Accra, Ghana native scored in both the first and second half.

Riverhounds SC (9-3-1) will next play Loudoun United FC (1-7-3) at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Segra Field, and this showdown will be locally televised on 22 The Point. This will mark the club’s final road match of the regular season.

For more information on Team of the Week for Week 12, presented by Cleer Audio, visit uslchampionship.com.

HOUNDS NAMED TO TEAM OF THE WEEK:
Jordan Dover: Week 3 – July 14
Robbie Mertz: Week 3 – July 14
Kenardo Forbes: Week 4 – July 21
Danny Griffin: Week 4 – July 21
Kenardo Forbes: Week 6 – Aug. 4
Robbie Mertz: Week 7 – Aug. 11
Danny Vitiello: Week 9 – Aug. 25
*Ryan James: Week 10 – Sept. 1
Robbie Mertz: Week 11 – Sept. 8
Ryan James: Week 12 – Sept. 15

*Player of the Week

USL Championship sets playoff dates, Hounds first to secure postseason spot

PITTSBURGH (September 14, 2020) – Announced today by the USL Championship, the 2020 postseason will commence with the conference quarterfinals taking place from Oct. 8-11. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC became the first USL Championship team to clinch playoff berth after defeating Hartford Athletic, 5-0, this past Saturday at Highmark Stadium.

The 16-team bracket will remain in a regionalized single-elimination tournament, with the four group winners in each conference earning hosting rights for the Eastern and Western Conference quarterfinals. After completion of the conference quarterfinals, hosting rights will be determined by regular season record.

The Hounds, a member of Group F, will begin the postseason with a matchup against an opponent from Group E, which consists of Indy Eleven, Louisville City FC, Saint Louis FC and Sporting Kansas City II.

Following the recommendations of the league’s Competition Strategy Committee, teams will see no less than four days between games should they advance. In the case of a postponement, the rescheduled match would need to take place within 48 hours of the original kickoff.

Additionally, a four-day match window (Thursday-Sunday) will be employed for each of the first three rounds of the postseason.

Riverhounds SC (9-3-1) has three games remaining in its regular season. The club will next face Loudoun United FC (1-7-3) at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Segra Field. All remaining regular season matches will be locally televised on 22 The Point. To view the club’s entire broadcast schedule, visit https://www.riverhounds.com/broadcast-schedule.

Below is the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs schedule.

2020 USL Championship Playoffs Dates
Conference Quarterfinals – Oct. 8-11
Conference Semifinals – Oct. 15-18
Conference Finals – Oct. 22-25
USL Championship Final – TBD

Playoff-bound Hounds look forward to next challenges

With a 5-0 win over Hartford Athletic this past Saturday at Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC clinched its third straight postseason appearance under head coach Bob Lilley. This is the first time in club history the Hounds have made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.

“I’m happy we won and that we clinched a playoff spot,” Lilley said after Saturday’s match. “But we aren’t done yet. Hartford is a team we’re going to see again in a few weeks, and maybe even in the playoffs. We still want to finish off the regular season strong and earn home playoff matches.”

This season features a unique playoff format. The top two teams from each group at season’s end will advance to the USL Championship playoffs to form a field of 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket, with group winners pairing up with group runners-up in the Round of 16.

Finishing atop Group F remains a top priority for the Hounds. But no matter where they finish in the group, they will play a team from Group E in the Round of 16.

The Hounds have played each of the top three teams in Group E this season. Pittsburgh defeated Group E’s first-place team, Louisville City FC, 3-1, in the inaugural match at Lynn Family Stadium. Indy Eleven, the team the Hounds would face if the current standings hold, narrowly etched out two 1-0 victories against the Hounds this year. Pittsburgh tied Saint Louis FC, 2-2, back on Aug. 22 at Highmark Stadium.

“We only have three games left and our next focus is Loudoun,” defender Ryan James said after the win against Hartford. “We’re taking one game at a time because these games are still very important. We want to earn the maximum points in each match.”

While hunting for the group title, the next stop for the Hounds is Loudoun United FC, when they travel to Segra Field on Saturday, Sept. 19. The match is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised on 22 The Point.

Hounds clinch playoff berth with 5-0 win against Hartford

PITTSBURGH (September 12, 2020) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (9-3-1) defeated Hartford Athletic (6-3-1), 5-0, tonight at Highmark Stadium. The win clinches playoff berth for the Hounds, their third straight under head coach Bob Lilley.

This is the first time in club history the Hounds have made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.

Ryan James started the scoring in the 13th minute, and Ropapa Mensah added another tally in the 27th minute to give the Hounds an early two-goal lead. Anthony Velarde converted a penalty kick in the 42nd minute, giving the Hounds a 3-0 lead heading into the half. James scored his second goal in the 47th minute, and Mensah netted his second goal in the 61st minute.

Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello earned his third straight clean sheet, bringing his total to four shutouts on the season.

First Half
The Hounds started the first half strong after earning a corner kick in the 12th minute. Velarde sent the corner to Mensah on the right side of the six-yard box, but it was deflected out to James. The defender then sent a rocket into the bottom-left corner to give the Hounds an early 1-0 lead.

In the 27th minute, Ray Lee sent a long pass into the left side of the penalty area. After a collision between Hartford’s Arthur Rogers and Parfait Mandanda, Mensah tracked it down and sent the ball into the back of the net, giving the Hounds a two-goal lead.

The Hounds had another chance in the 40th minute, when they were awarded a penalty kick after a collision in the penalty area. Velarde sent the ensuing penalty kick past Mandanda into the bottom-right corner, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 3-0.

The Hounds prevented any quality chances from Hartford to take shape and didn’t allow a single shot in the first half.

Second Half
The opportunities continued to pile up for the Hounds to start the second half. James capitalized on a failed clear attempt by Hartford in the 47th minute and sent a shot into the bottom-right corner to notch his second goal of the match.

The Hounds were back on the attack in the 61st minute, after Robbie Mertz sent a pass to Mensah in the center of the penalty area. Mensah then chipped a shot over Mandanda to give the Hounds a five-goal lead.

Defense continued to be a strong point for the Hounds. They only allowed only one shot in the match and had 10 shots of their own.

Hound of the Match, presented by EPIC
Ryan James scored two goals against Hartford for the second time this season and added a game-high four tackles.

Beyond the Box Score, presented by Beyond Self Storage
The Hounds lead the USL Championship with seven clean sheets. They have also recorded four straight clean sheets.

What’s Next
Riverhounds SC will play its last road match of the season against Loudoun United FC (1-7-2) at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Segra Field. The match will be televised on 22 The Point.

Lineups:

Riverhounds SC – Danny Vitiello; Ray Lee, Patrick Bunk-Andersen, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Skylar Thomas (Mark Lindstrom 64′), Jordan Dover; Ryan James (Lukas Fernandes 86′), Danny Griffin, Robbie Mertz (Dani Rovira 78′); Anthony Velarde (Albert Dikwa 64′), Ropapa Mensah (Mark Forrest 86′)

Subs not used: Tomas Gomez, Hunter Ashworth

Hartford Athletic – Parfait Mandanda; Gabriel Torres, Matheus Silva, Kevin Politz (Alex Dixon 45’+1), Sam Strong (Nicky Downs 45′), Alejandro Lara; Tyreke Johnson (Idan Cohen 64′), Arthur Rogers, Justin Haak, Danny Barrera (Aiden Mesias 64′); Ever Guzmán (Markus Naglestad 75′)

Subs not used: Michael Novotny, Mads Jorgensen

Scoring Summary:
PIT – Ryan James 13′
PIT – Ropapa Mensah 27′
PIT – Anthony Velarde 42′ (penalty)
PIT – Ryan James 47′
PIT – Ropapa Mensah 61′ (Robbie Mertz)

Misconduct Summary:
HFD – Sam Strong 39′ (caution)
HFD – Gabriel Torres 81′ (caution)
HFD – Markus Naglestad 82′ (caution)
HFD – Justin Haak 83′ (caution)

Head coach Bob Lilley

On the win…

“I think we did well with our possessions and making the most out of them. I also thought we did well defensively, and I think our play offensively helped that. We pushed the pace on offense and didn’t give them a lot of good chances defensively.”

On clinching a playoff berth…

“I’m happy we won and that we clinched a playoff spot. But we aren’t done yet. Hartford is a team we’re going to see again in a few weeks, and maybe even in the playoffs. We still want to finish off the regular season strong and earn home playoff matches.”

On the playoffs…

“I think this year’s team has a chance to go far. We’ve gotten better and better as the season has gone along and we’ve learned a lot of hard lessons along the way. I feel like we’ve improved a lot in managing games.”

Defender Ryan James

On playing several positions…

“Well, I’m glad coach Lilley didn’t put me in goal or up top, but I’ve liked the challenge of playing several different positions. I like being versatile and doing whatever is best for the team.”

On the focus for the rest of the season…

“We only have three games left, and our next focus is Loudoun. We’re taking one game at a time, because these games are still very important. We want to earn the maximum points in each match.”

On the win…

“I think this was a good win for us, especially because we clinched a playoff spot. I thought we played pretty well defensively and limited their chances overall.”

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