Match Recaps

PITTSBURGH (June 6, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC had its two-match winning streak snapped by Austin Bold FC, 1-0, at Highmark Stadium.

Collin Fernandez scored the lone goal for Austin Bold FC (2-2-1) just 55 seconds into the match. Although the Hounds (2-3-1) had 74 percent of possession and outshot Austin, 10-4, they were only able to register one shot on target.

The Hounds held Austin without a shot in the second half, but the advantages in possession and territory never yielded a tying goal.

First Half

The visitors got on the board just 55 seconds into the game, after Collin Fernandez received a ball laid back to him by Sean Okoli and scored with a volley from outside of the box.

The Hounds tightened up afterward, only allowing two more shots in the first 45 minutes. The Hounds dominated possession with 76.3 percent in the half, but were not able to tally a shot on target.

Their best chance came in the 40th minute, when Danny Griffin sent a low cross into the center of the penalty box to Alex Dixon. Dixon tried to play the ball between defenders, but Austin was able to clear despite loud protests from the Hounds for a handling call.

Second Half

Neither team notched a shot for the first 25 minutes of the second half. The Hounds pressed harder in the attacking half, though, earning two corner kicks in the first six minutes of the half.

Tommy Williamson registered the first shot of the half for either team in the 70th minute, when his header from the center of the penalty box missed to the left. He later recorded the first Hounds shot on goal when he made a good individual move and shot from the top of the box, but Austin goalkeeper Elliot Panicco didn’t have to move far for the catch and save.

Another chance came when Anthony Velarde sent a free kick into the right side of the penalty box in the 77th minute, but the Hounds could not convert as the ball skimmed off a head and went across the face of goal.

Then, in the 81st minute, Jordan Dover sent in a cross to Russell Cicerone, whose header went high. The final chance came in the last minute of stoppage time, when Velarde got on the end of a ball lofted toward the net. However, Panicco came up with it after a collision between Velarde, a defender and himself, snuffing out the last opportunity.

Hounds Man of the Match

Tommy Williamson led the Hounds with three shots, including one on target. Though he didn’t net a goal, he provided a spark off the bench that was missing through the game’s first hour.

What’s Next

The Hounds play their first-ever match against Atlantic Division opponent Miami FC (5-2-0) at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Highmark Stadium. The match will be shown on 22 The Point and streamed on ESPN+. 

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-3) — Danny Vitiello; Preston Kilwien (Todd Wharton 65’), Shane Wiedt, Mekeil Williams; Dani Rovira (Anthony Velarde 65’), Kenardo Forbes, Danny Griffin, Jordan Dover; Louis Perez (Russell Cicerone 45’), Albert Dikwa (Tommy Williamson 65’), Alex Dixon

Austin Bold FC lineup (4-4-2) — Elliot Panicco; Nick Hinds, Gustavo Rissi, Fabien Garcia, Amobi Okugo (Jermaine Taylor 86′); Omar Gordon (JJ Johnson 77’), Collin Fernandez (Omar Ciss 77’), Xavi Baez, Emilio Ycaza, Ates Diouf (Stefano Pinho 67’); Sean Okoli (Aldo Quintanilla 77’)

Scoring Summary

ATX — Collin Fernandez 1’ (Sean Okoli)

Discipline Summary

PIT — Mekeil Williams 48’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

ATX — Amobi Okugo 75’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

ATX — JJ Johnson 87’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

LEESBURG, Va. (June 2, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC picked up its second consecutive win, holding off Loudoun United FC, 3-2, on Wednesday night at Segra Field.

Anthony Velarde’s first goal of the season and an own goal staked the Hounds to a 2-0 halftime lead. Jovanny Bolivar cut the margin in half for Loudoun (1-3-0), but Russell Cicerone converted a penalty kick to reestablish a two-goal lead for the Hounds (2-2-1).

Logan Panchot made it 3-2 in the 70th minute, setting up a frantic finish that saw both teams have chances barely miss in stoppage time.

First half

Things started well for the Hounds, and their early edge in possession and shots — the Hounds took the first seven shots of the match — paid off in the 18th minute.

Alex Dixon got behind the left side of the Loudoun defense, and his cross found a late-running Velarde, whose one-touch finish put the Hounds ahead. For Dixon, it was the second consecutive match with an assist.

In the 41st minute, Dixon again created a goal, this time sending the service into the box from the right side. The cross was directed toward the head of Kenardo Forbes, but it ended up striking Loudoun’s Wahab Ackwei and going into the defender’s own net.

Second half

Loudoun came out much stronger after the break, and Bolivar put the home team on the board in the 50th minute with a second-chance shot after the initial attempt at goal was blocked.

Dixon again helped create the next Hounds goal, as he got behind the Loudoun defense and was bowled over from behind by defender Micael DeShields, earning a penalty kick. Cicerone stepped up and placed a low shot into the corner of the net for his team-leading third goal of the season.

Panchot cut the lead to 3-2 with Loudoun’s second goal, a low, driven shot from outside the box that capped a good counter-attacking move.

From there, the Hounds did what they could to hold on, but they were put under heavy pressure late, as Loudoun finished the match with 60 percent of possession, though shots were even, 12-12. 

Danny Griffin nearly sealed the game with a shot that hit the crossbar in stoppage time, but a minute later, Preston Kilwien was able to clear a Loudoun chance off the Hounds’ goal line that would have tied the game.

Hounds Man of the Match

For the second game in a row, Alex Dixon was at the heart of the Hounds attack. Though he didn’t finish this one with a goal, his crosses set up Anthony Velarde and created the own goal that went the Hounds way, and he drew the foul that led to Russell Cicerone’s penalty kick goal.

What’s next

The Hounds return home this Sunday for a first-ever meeting with Western Conference opponent Austin Bold (1-1-1). The match will be shown on 22 The Point and streamed on ESPN+. Austin plays at home Thursday night against the El Paso Locomotive.

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-4-2) — Jake Leeker; Preston Kilwien, Shane Wiedt, Mekeil Williams, Jalen Robinson (Dani Rovira 59’); Danny Griffin, Kenardo Forbes, Todd Wharton (Louis Perez 83’), Anthony Velarde (Jordan Dover 59’); Alex Dixon (Jelani Peters 83’), Russell Cicerone (Josh Gatt 71’)

Loudoun United FC lineup (3-4-3) — Jermaine Fordah; Wahab Ackwei (Gaoussou Samake 45’), Tommy Mehl, Micael DeShields (Massimo Ferrin 89’); Robby Dambrot, Logan Panchot, Houssou Landru (Ted Ku-Dipietro 45’), Jeremy Garay (Darluis Paz 67’); Samson Sergi, Kairou Amoustapha (Jacob Greene 59’), Jovanny Bolivar 

Scoring Summary

PIT – Anthony Velarde 18’ (Alex Dixon)
PIT – Wahab Ackwei 41’ (own goal)
LDN – Jovanny Bolivar 50’
PIT – Russell Cicerone 58’ (penalty)
LDN – Logan Panchot 70’ (Jovanny Bolivar)

Discipline Summary

LDN – Houssou Landru 14’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
LDN – Timmy Mehl 20’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
LDN – Gaoussou Samake 46’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
PIT – Alex Dixon 51’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
LDN – Micael DeShields 57’ (caution – unsporting behavior)
PIT – Josh Gatt 71’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

(May 28, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC picked up its first win of the 2021 season by defeating New York Red Bulls II, 3-0, in cold, heavy rain at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, N.J. on Friday night.

Danny Griffin, Alex Dixon and Russell Cicerone scored for the Hounds (1-2-1), who also picked up their first shutout of the season behind a four-save performance by Danny Vitiello.

“We finished our chances. We had some good runs into he box that helped us get into a front position,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “The first goal, there was good movement that opened up space for Danny Griffin. We stretched them wider, and I think that was some of what we worked on this week, and we were able to execute it.”

The Hounds got the job done despite having just 38 percent of possession against a hard-pressing New York (1-3-2) team, but the offensive stats were largely even, including each team having four shots on goal and earning four corner kicks in the match.

The win is the 50th in all competitions for Lilley as the Hounds’ head coach, becoming the first in club history to hit that number, and the 301st win in his career.

“It does put us a little more at ease. We’re used to winning. The last two games could have turned out differently, and I don’t feel like this is the first game we showed up for. Some of the things you saw versus Hartford and versus Charlotte, we saw again today,” Lilley said.

First half

Neither team created much in the opening 10 minutes, but the Hounds began to establish a territorial edge that paid off in the 22nd minute.

Albert Dikwa sent a lofted cross into the box from the left side, and Griffin calmly passed the ball into the net with his first touch, a side-footed volley between a defender and the goalkeeper. The strike was Griffin’s third career goal and first of the season.

Only seven minutes later, Dixon doubled the lead with his first goal for the Riverhounds. Dani Rovira stuck with play as the Red Bulls tried to save the ball from going out for a corner. That turned out to be ill-advised, as Rovira intercepted the clearance attempt and found Dixon making a late run into the box.

Vitiello helped close the half with his biggest save of the match in the 35th minute. New York’s Omar Sowe received a cross-field pass alone on the right side, just 18 yards from goal, but Vitiello charged off his line to cut off the angle and make the one-on-one save.

Second half

The Hounds kept their momentum through halftime, and in the 50th minute had their third goal.

Dixon played the pivot man in a give-and-go, receiving the ball and sliding a no-look, backheel pass back to Cicerone. The clever touch had Cicerone alone with space to shoot, and he made no mistake driving home his second goal of the season.

The Hounds continued to look dangerous before grinding things out over the final 20 minutes.

The shutout survived by the slimmest of margins, as a bad turnover in the 80th minute gave New York’s Serge Ngoma a free run into the right side of the box. Ngoma whipped a dangerous ball across, but Mekeil Williams slid back to redirect the pass off the post before it could find a New York player across the face of the goal.

Hounds Man of the Match

It’s not often that a pass is the highlight of a three-goal game, but Alex Dixon’s no-look back heel to set up Russell Cicerone for the final goal sealed the deal. Dixon earlier picked up his first Riverhounds goal to make the game 2-0 when he placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net on his first touch.

What’s next

The Hounds have a short turnaround, as they travel to Leesburg, Va. to face Loudoun United on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Fortunately for the Hounds, Loudoun (0-2-0) has an even shorter rest period, as they play Saturday at New Mexico United.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC lineup (3-4-3) — Danny Vitiello; Jelani Peters, Shane Wiedt, Mekeil Williams; Dani Rovira (Todd Wharton 78’), Danny Griffin, Kenardo Forbes, Jordan Dover (Jalen Robinson 69’); Albert Dikwa (Preston Kilwien 69’), Alex Dixon (Anthony Velarde 86’), Russell Cicerone (Josh Gatt 86’)

New York Red Bulls II lineup (4-4-2) — Anthony Marcucci; Juan Castillo (Curtis Ofori 85’), Mandela Egbo, Emir Tombul, Joseph Zalinsky; Michael Knapp, Roald Mitchell, Jeremy Rafanello (Matthew Acosta 85’), Jake LaCava; Daniel Edelman (Austin Brummett 67’), Omar Sowe (Serge Ngoma 73’)

Scoring Summary

PIT — Danny Griffin 22’ (Albert Dikwa)

PIT — Alex Dixon 29’ (Dani Rovira)

PIT — Russell Cicerone 50’ (Alex Dixon)

Discipline Summary

NY — Joseph Zalinsky 13’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

NY — Daniel Edelman 61’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

PIT — Dani Rovira 75’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

NY — Emir Tombul 90+1’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

PIT — Preston Kilwien 90+2’ (caution – persistent infringement)

PITTSBURGH (May 22, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC was topped by the Charlotte Independence, 1-0, putting a damper on the home opener and first match at Highmark Stadium with fans in attendance since the end of the 2019 season.

Irvin Parra headed in the only goal of the game in the 34th minute for Charlotte (2-1-0). Clay Dimick assisted the goal by getting behind the Hounds (0-2-1) defense down the right flank and lofting a high cross to Parra running down the center of the field.

The Hounds outshot Charlotte, 21-8, and had 57 percent of possession in the match, a number aided by the Independence playing down a man after Christian Dean was sent off in the 66th minute.

“I felt like when we were up a man, we obviously pulled some of our center backs off the field — Jelani (Peters) came off and Preston (Kilwien) came off. We were trying to get Jordan (Dover) and (Alex) Dixon for a long time in around the edges, and I think we did it. Not enough — I think we tried to jam a little bit too much through the middle — but, at that point… I think we did pretty well,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “It’s hard. Even if a team only has eight or nine men at the end of the game, when they’re all in the box, there’s not a lot of space.”

Attendance at Highmark Stadium was a sellout total of 2,079, which was the maximum number of fans allowed under current Pennsylvania physical distancing guidelines.

“I’m appreciative that they were behind the guys, there was good energy in the building. I’m excited that as we get to the games in June, it looks like the restrictions are going to be lifted even more. That’s super exciting. We’re gonna need them,” Lilley said.

The coach continued: “I thought they were trying to suck the ball over the line, the Steel Army, and we were trying to get the ball over the line, but we missed just wide, they blocked a few. It’s just frustrating.”

First half

Hounds goalkeeper Danny Vitiello was the star of the early stages of the match, as he made all four of his saves within the first half hour of the game.

The highlight came in the 15th minute when he denied Charlotte’s Brandt Bronico and Jake Areman in quick succession, making a leaping stop on a breakaway and then going to ground to stop the second shot on the rebound.

Vitiello also denied a close-range header by Kevin Riascos, but he was finally beaten by Parra’s header in the 34th minute, which was Charlotte’s last shot on goal in the match.

Russell Cicerone nearly tied the match with two minutes left in the half, as he cut into the box on his left foot, but his low, hard shot was denied by goalkeeper Brandon Miller.

Second half

Chances began to pile up for the Hounds after the break, beginning with Kilwien heading a corner kick on goal in the 53rd minute, only to have Bronico head it off the line.

Charlotte then went down a man in the 66th minute after Dean picked up his second yellow card of the game for a high elbow.

The Hounds kept the pressure on, outshooting Charlotte after the break, 16-2, but they couldn’t break through the compact Independence defense.

The game ended with Miller making an outstanding fifth save for Charlotte, as he denied Albert Dikwa’s header at the back post on the end of a long, diagonal ball from Louis Perez.

Hounds Man of the Match

Danny Vitiello had it easier in the second half, but his four-save first half effort kept Charlotte from getting more than one goal before the Hounds could take control of play.

What’s next

The Hounds go on the road to face New York Red Bulls II on Friday, May 28, at 7 p.m. at MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, N.J. New York is 1-2-1 on the season and faces the Charleston Battery tomorrow.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC lineup (4-3-1-2) — Danny Vitiello; Preston Kilwien (Jordan Dover 68’), Jelani Peters (Ezra Armstrong 86’), Shane Wiedt, Mekeil Williams; Danny Griffin, Todd Wharton (Louis Perez 68’), Anthony Velarde (Tommy Williamson 68’); Alex Dixon; Russell Cicerone, Albert Dikwa

Charlotte Independence lineup (5-3-2) — Brandon Miller; Clay Dimick, Kevin Riascos, Hugh Roberts, Christian Dean (sent off 66’), Thomas de Villardi (Jordan Bender 63’); Brunallergene Etou, Brandt Bronico, Jake Areman; Marcelo Palomino (Enzo Martinez 86’), Irvin Parra (Noah Paravicini 69’)

Scoring Summary

CLT — Irvin Parra 34’ (Clay Dimick)

Discipline Summary

CLT — Christian Dean 12’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

PGH — Shane Wiedt 40’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

PGH — Todd Wharton 50’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

CLT — Christian Dean 66’ (sent off – second bookable offense)

CLT — Noah Paravicini 79’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

PGH — Ezra Armstrong 90’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

CLT — Brunallergene Etou 90’+5 (caution – unsporting behavior)

PGH — Louis Perez 90’+6 (caution – unsporting behavior)

(May 15, 2021) — Riverhounds SC conceded a late tying goal, but the Hounds came away with a 1-1 draw against Hartford Athletic after playing the final 10 minutes and stoppage time down a man at Dillon Stadium in Hartford, Conn.

Russell Cicerone scored in the 42nd minute to give the Hounds the lead, finishing calmly on the break after Tommy Williamson headed the ball to space beyond the Hartford defense. It was the first Hounds goal for 2021 signing Cicerone and the first professional assist for Williamson in his second pro match.

The Hounds were reduced to 10 men after captain Kenardo Forbes was sent off for his actions in a scuffle after the play. Luka Prpa tied the game for Hartford three minutes into stoppage time, heading in a free kick by Danny Barrera.

“I was happy with the first half, and I think we were pretty good,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “I don’t think we can blame it on refs, because in the second half, we didn’t play well enough. We didn’t put in the energy and let them play a lot in our end.”

It was the first time the Hounds (0-1-1) failed to win in three matches at Dillon Stadium, though the draw put the first blemish on the record of Hartford (2-0-1) this season.

First half

Things began brightly for the Hounds, who held a slight possession edge in the first 45 minutes and outshot Hartford in the first half, 9-6.

Alex Dixon, who played the past two seasons in Hartford, looked strong in his return working down the left flank. In the 14th minute, he nearly connected with Cicerone on a low pass across from the wing, and a minute later, a pass from Todd Wharton put him into space to fire a hard shot that was stopped by goalie Jeff Caldwell.

The Hounds continued to apply pressure down the wings, but it was a play straight up the middle that opened the scoring.

Defender Preston Kilwien thumped a high clearance forward from the Hounds half, and Williamson elevated over a Hartford defender 30 yards from goal to nod the ball forward. The header was directed perfectly to hit Cicerone in stride as he broke behind the Hartford defenders and finished with a shot into the top right corner of the net.

Second half

Hartford had a much stronger start to the second half, limiting the Hounds ability to work forward and holding them to one shot after the break. The final shot count for the match ended 10-8 in the Hounds favor, as chances were scarce each way.

The flashpoint moment of the match occurred in the 77th minute after Forbes was whistled for a foul on Younes Boudadi near the far sideline. A confrontation ensued with players from both teams, and Forbes was sent off for stepping on Boudadi after the Hartford player flailed to the ground in the altercation.

The Hounds scraped to try and see out the 1-0 win, but Hartford won a free kick near the right corner as stoppage time began, and Barrera sent a ball to the near post to which Prpa applied a slight header to redirect the ball into the net.

Hounds Man of the Match

Russell Cicerone not only notched the first Hounds goal of the season with a calm finish, but the forward was a threat throughout the match with his energy. He completed 75 percent of his passes in the attacking half of the field and drew four fouls, creating problems for Hartford for the duration of his 76-minute shift.

What’s next

The Hounds will play their first home match of 2021 when they host the Charlotte Independence on Saturday, May 22, at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium. Charlotte is coming off a 3-0 win last night over Charleston.

Riverhounds SC lineup (4-3-1-2) — Danny Vitiello; Preston Kilwien, Shane Wiedt, Mekeil Williams (Jelani Peters 76’), Jordan Dover; Todd Wharton (Louis Perez 90+3’), Kenardo Forbes, Danny Griffin; Russell Cicerone (Josh Gatt 76’); Alex Dixon (Dani Rovira 64’), Tommy Williamson (Albert Dikwa 64’)

Hartford Athletic lineup (4-3-3) — Jeff Caldwell; Gabriel Torres (Richie Schlentz 84’), Thomas Janjigian, Tulu, Alejandro Lara (Younes Boudadi 61’); Arthur Rogers (Luka Pipa 45’), Conor McGlynn, Danny Barrera; Bradford Jamieson IV, Juan Carlos Obregón Jr (Sebastian Elney 61’), Preston Tabort Etaka (Walmer Martinez 74’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Russell Cicerone 42’ (Tommy Williamson)

HFD — Luka Prpa 90+1’ (Danny Barrera)

Discipline summary

HFD — Alejandro Lara 18’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

HFD — Arthur Rogers 26’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

PIT — Danny Vitiello 53’ (caution – delaying restart)

PIT — Kenardo Forbes 78’ (sent off – violent conduct)

HFD — Connor McGlynn 90+3’ (caution – unsporting behavior)

(May 8, 2021) — Riverhounds SC was bested in its 2021 season opener, falling 3-0 to the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Former Riverhounds forward Steevan Dos Santos opened the scoring against his former club in the first half, and a penalty kick by Sebastián Guenzatti and a late tap-in by Jordan Adebayo-Smith extended the Rowdies’ lead.

The Rowdies (2-0-0) lead the Atlantic Division after handing the Hounds (0-1-0) their second loss in the past three season openers, both losses at Al Lang Stadium in 2019 and ’21.

First half

The Rowdies had more of the play in the first half, possessing the ball 67 percent of the time, but the chances were more even, as they produced just a 4-2 edge in shots.

Danny Vitiello made his first save of the season after just six minutes, easily scooping a low, bouncing shot from distance by Laurence Wyke.

Hounds newcomer Tommy Williamson came closest to scoring for the Hounds after winning a free kick 25 yards from goal in the 15th minute. Williamson took the free kick and put a dipping effort on goal, forcing Rowdies goalie Evan Louro to slide to his right and tip the shot over the crossbar.

Tampa Bay finally opened the scoring through Dos Santos in the 31st minute. Winger Leo Fernandes settled a pass on the left flank outside the corner of the box, and he sent a driven cross to the front of the net, where Dos Santos scored with a header by making the back-post run.

Second half

The half started brightly for the Hounds, as Jordan Dover’s cross from the right wing found Williamson in the middle, but his contested effort to head the ball on goal looped over the crossbar.

The Hounds continued to battle despite seeing less of the ball, and Alex Dixon nearly tied the match when he split two of the Rowdies defenders and circled charging goalkeeper Louro, only to have Tampa Bay’s Jordan Scarlett recover in time to block the shot away.

The Rowdies doubled the lead when Guenzatti slipped the ball into the box for Dos Santos. Vitiello came off his line and was penalized for tripping Dos Santos, and Guenzatti converted the penalty kick for the Rowdies in the 75th minute.

The scoring ended with a miscommunication between Vitiello and his back line, which allowed Adebayo-Smith to pass the ball into an open net in the 84th minute.

Hounds Man of the Match

Jordan Dover was solid in a difficult match, posting six tackles, three key passes and two on-target crosses, all of which were team highs.

What’s next

The Hounds go on the road for a second consecutive Saturday when they visit Hartford Athletic at 7 p.m. on May 15. Hartford is 2-0-0 on the season, trailing the Rowdies in the Atlantic Division on goal difference.

Riverhounds SC lineup (5-2-1-2) — Danny Vitiello; Dani Rovira (Todd Wharton 61’), Preston Kilwien, Shane Wiedt, Mekeil Williams, Jordan Dover; Kenardo Forbes, Danny Griffin; Alex Dixon (Josh Gatt 69’); Tommy Williamson (Louis Pérez 61’), Russell Cicerone (Anthony Velarde 61’)

Tampa Bay Rowdies lineup (3-4-3) — Evan Louro; Aaron Guillén, Forrest Lasso, Jordan Scarlett; Lewis Hilton, Conner Antley (Sebastian Dalgaard 70’), Leo Fernandes (Dayonn Harris 83’), Laurence Wyke; Zach Steinberger, Sebastián Guenzatti, Steevan Dos Santos (Jordan Adebayo-Smith 79’)

Scoring summary

TBR – Steevan Dos Santos 31’ (Leo Fernandes)

TBR – Sebastián Guenzatti 75’ (pen.)

TBR – Jordan Adebayo-Smith 84’

Discipline Summary

PIT – Danny Griffin 11’ (unsporting behavior)

PIT – Josh Gatt 76’ (unsporting behavior)

PITTSBURGH (May 1, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC brought its preseason to a high-scoring end, as the team rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit to defeat Philadelphia Union II, 4-2, at Highmark Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Alex Dixon scored twice, while Tommy Williamson and Albert Dikwa also found the net for the Hounds, who finish the exhibition schedule with a 3-1-2 record. Jack Jasinski and a non-rostered trialist scored the two first-half goals for Philadelphia.

With preseason completed, the Hounds will have a recovery tomorrow and return to training Monday in preparation for their 2021 USL Championship opener, which will be on the road at the reigning Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Rowdies. That match at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla., is a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, May 8.

First half

The Hounds began the match looking for goals, having scored just once in their past two preseason matches.

Jordan Dover had the first good look at goal in the 10th minute, after receiving a back-heeled pass from Williamson just inside the penalty area. Williamson seemed to want the ball returned to him in space, but Dover elected to shoot and missed to the right of goal.

Union II started the scoring in the 23rd minute, after the Hounds failed to track back on a second ball into the box after clearing an initial corner kick. Mani Diop sent the ball back toward the goal from the left flank, and the pass fell to the feet of a non-rostered player, who finished from close range.

Jack Jasinski doubled the Philadelphia lead in the 41st minute when the Hounds again struggled to deal with a cross from the left side, this one sent in by Anton Sorenson.

Dixon nearly scored with the final kick of the first half, but his shot from close range didn’t have enough power, and former Hounds goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia dove and scrambled to keep the ball out of the corner of the net.

Second half

Dixon got his first goal of the preseason just three minutes into the second half after Anthony Velarde sent a high, diagonal pass from midfield behind the Union defense. The new Hounds striker got a little touch on the bouncing ball as goalkeeper Mwembia charged off his line. Dixon flicked the ball over the goalkeeper to get around him and passed the ball into the unguarded net.

Williamson tied the match in the 57th minute with an excellent free kick that found the top right corner of the net from 20 yards away. It was Williamson’s first preseason goal since joining the Hounds on loan from the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS, and it was set up by an overlapping run by Dover, who was fouled as he cut toward the middle from the right side.

Dixon’s second goal put the Hounds ahead in the 65th minute, as he calmly finished with an open shot from the top of the box after being picked out with a long, low pass from Louis Perez in the left corner.

Dikwa, who came on as a late substitute, ends as the top scorer in preseason for the Hounds after netting his third goal in stoppage time. The striker received the ball about 40 yards from goal, and seeing the goalkeeper well off his goal line, ripped a long, looping shot that found the net.

All 22 Hounds players in uniform were used during the final preseason match, as head coach Bob Lilley will have one week to decide who will be the 18 to travel to Tampa Bay.

Riverhounds SC lineup — Danny Vitiello (Jake Leeker 45’, Chris Morrish 80’); Preston Kilwien (Dani Rovira 63’), Shane Wiedt (Jelani Peters 45’), Mekeil Williams (*Jalen Robinson 63’), Jordan Dover (Ezra Armstrong 75’); Kenardo Forbes (Todd Wharton 61’), Danny Griffin; Anthony Velarde (Louis Perez 61’), Russell Cicerone (Albert Dikwa 75’), Alex Dixon (Wyatt Borso 75’); Tommy Williamson (Josh Gatt 57’)

* — denotes trialist not under contract

Philadelphia Union II starting lineup — Anthony Mwembia; Anton Sorenson, Brandon Craig, Mani Diop, Nathan Harriel; Dante Huckaby, Jack Jasinski, Anthony Ramirez, Paxton Aaronson; non-roster trialist, Shanyder Boreglin

(Substitution info not available)

Scoring summary

PHI — non-roster trialist 23’ (Mani Diop)

PHI — Jack Jasinski 41’ (Anton Sorenson)

PIT — Alex Dixon 48’ (Anthony Velarde)

PIT — Tommy Williamson 57’

PIT — Alex Dixon 65’ (Louis Perez)

PIT — Albert Dikwa 90’+1

Discipline summary

PIT — caution, Anthony Velarde 36’ (dissent)

PIT — caution, Russell Cicerone 36’ (dissent)

PIT — caution, Louis Perez 88’ (unsporting behavior)

(April 24, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC battled to a draw in their penultimate match of the preseason, as they finished level with Indy Eleven, 1-1, on Saturday afternoon at Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.

Russell Cicerone tied the game for the Hounds with his first goal of the preseason in the 51st minute, just three minutes after Manuel Arteaga had put the home side in the lead. The Hounds’ preseason record moved to 2-1-2 with one exhibition match remaining.

“I think Indy has a good team, and it was a physical game, which was good for us to have,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “I think we can hang on to the ball a bit better, but the game was pretty even.”

The Hounds had the bulk of the chances in the first half, including a first-half goal disallowed, but the game got to the break scoreless.

“It was a pretty good first half, especially the first 30 minutes. I thought we were quite good and got chances from set pieces and corner kicks. We were dictating play but ran out of gas toward the end of the half,” Lilley said.

Arteaga’s goal caught the Hounds being a little lax in their marking early in the second half, as he smashed home a pass from Cammy Smith at close range.

Cicerone’s goal just three minutes later was created when Alex Dixon made a well-timed run to get behind the Indy defense and in position to deliver a good cross to Cicerone for the finish.

Goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, who entered the game after halftime, helped preserve the draw by saving a penalty kick taken by Indy’s Jordan Hamilton in the 57th minute. The Hounds continued to utilize their bench in the second half as they have all preseason, though the shifts got a bit longer for many of today’s starters.

“The last 10 minutes, you could tell we still need to get a bit fitter,” Lilley said. “We had a few more players play 90 minutes today, and some more who had been playing 55 or 60 played 70. Overall, I was happy with their effort.”

Indy Eleven is the only preseason opponent the Hounds will face again in the regular season, as the two teams are scheduled to meet Tuesday, June 15, for an 8 p.m. kickoff that will be televised nationally on ESPN Deportes.

The Hounds have one match remaining in their preseason; they will host Philadelphia Union II at noon on Saturday, May 1 at Highmark Stadium. That match will be closed to the public, but media will be able to attend.

Riverhounds starting lineup — Jake Leeker; Dani Rovira, Preston Kilwien, *Shane Wiedt, Mekeil Williams, Jordan Dover; Kenardo Forbes, Anthony Velarde, Alex Dixon; Russell Cicerone, Albert Dikwa

* — denotes trialist

Indy Eleven starting lineup — Jordan Farr; Neveal Hackshaw, A.J. Cochran, Jared Timmer, Rece Buckmaster; Cammy Smith, Nicky Law, Patrick Seagrist, Gershon Koffie; Manuel Arteaga, Jordan Hamilton

(Full substitution information not available)

Scoring summary

IND — Manuel Arteaga 48’ (Cammy Smith)

PIT — Russell Cicerone 51’ (Alex Dixon)

(April 17, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC came up on the short end of the scoreboard for the first time this preseason, as they were defeated 2-0 by USL Championship rivals Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky.

Oscar Jimenez scored two minutes into the match, and Corben Bone added the second goal in the 80th minute for Louisville, which was playing its final preseason match. The Hounds (2-1-1 preseason) outshot Louisville, 11-9, including a 6-4 edge in shots on goal.

“We were better than last week, and the possession was pretty even. I think we were pretty good, to be honest,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “The game was even, but they always look dangerous when they get their time on the ball. It was definitely better than (last Saturday at) Cincinnati, but we still let them in behind us more than I’d like.”

Along with the shooting advantage and winning more corner kicks by a 6-4 margin, the Hounds had a penalty kick stopped by Louisville goalkeeper Chris Hubbard that would have tied the match 1-1.

In total, the Hounds still utilized 20 different players, with only goalkeeper Danny Vitiello and midfielder Danny Griffin playing the full 90 minutes. The match was also the Hounds’ first preseason match played with fans in attendance, as Louisville City was able to welcome limited capacity to Lynn Family Stadium.

“There was a bit of a crowd, it’s a big field, and we’re continuing to work our fitness being only three weeks in (to preseason),” Lilley said. “We played 19 field players, and a lot of the starters went 60, 65 minutes. (Midfielder) Kenardo Forbes played the second half, so he got some time. The last two (preseason) games, we’re going to need to see more guys start to play 90 minutes to be ready to head down to Tampa.”

The Riverhounds go on the road one more time this preseason next Saturday, when they will face another USL Championship opponent, Indy Eleven, at 1 p.m. in Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. The team will finish its preseason slate Saturday, May 1, when they host Philadelphia Union II at noon at Highmark Stadium.

Riverhounds starting lineup — Danny Vitiello; Preston Kilwien, *Jelani Peters, *Rennico Clarke, Jordan Dover; Anthony Velarde, Todd Wharton, Danny Griffin, Louis Perez; Russell Cicerone, Josh Gatt

Louisville starting lineup — Chris Hubbard; Oscar Jimenez, Akil Watts, Sean Totsch, Wes Charpie, Jonathan Gomez, Tyler Gibson, Niall McCabe, Paolo DelPiccolo, Cameron Lancaster, Brian Ownby

* — denotes trialists

(Substitution information not available)

Scoring summary

LOU — Oscar Jimenez 2’

LOU — Corben Bone 80’

(April 10, 2021) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC faced their toughest preseason test yet and came away with a 2-1 road win over MLS club FC Cincinnati in rainy conditions at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford, Ohio.

Danny Griffin scored the game-winning goal with roughly 10 minutes to play, while Albert Dikwa tapped in at the back post for the Hounds’ first goal in a match that was played behind closed doors at the FCC training facility. Calvin Harris scored for FC Cincinnati, and the two teams were knotted 1-1 at the halftime break.

The step up in class was noticeable for the Hounds, who are now midway through their preseason schedule.

“There was a good speed to the game, and it was a big step up for us because of the pace of the game, the speed of the players an MLS team has and the way they’re pinging the ball around,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “They exposed us a number of times, and they were a bit wasteful with their chances. We battled well, but we have to be able to take care of the ball more.”

Dikwa’s goal, the striker’s second of the preseason, was set up on a ball across the front of goal from new Hounds forward Russell Cicerone, who was a Cincinnati player in 2018.

Another new Hounds player, defender Ezra Armstrong, assisted on the goal by Griffin, who was one of the only players to log a full 90 minutes in the match. The starters played into the second half, according to Lilley, who said most played between 55 and 75 minutes.

“We needed a game with the ball zipping around and an opponent who was fast and could hurt us,” Lilley said. “I’m somewhat pleased because we competed hard, made a lot of plays and found two pretty good goals while they could only get one. We were fortunate to get a win, but we knew it would be a game where we were severely tested. For this early in the preseason, we did a lot of good things.”

The Riverhounds go back on the road for their fourth preseason match, Saturday, April 17 at 3 p.m., against Louisville City FC. The game at Louisville’s Lynn Family Stadium will be the Hounds’ first preseason match played with fans in attendance and their first against a USL Championship opponent.

Riverhounds starting lineup — Danny Vitiello; Dani Rovira, *Jelani Peters, Mekeil Williams, *Shane Wiedt, Jordan Dover; Danny Griffin, Louis Perez; Russell Cicerone, Albert Dikwa, Alex Dixon

* — denotes trialists

(Substitution information not available)

Scoring summary (times not available)

CIN — Calvin Harris (Luciano Acosta)

PIT — Albert Dikwa (Russel Cicerone)

PIT — Danny Griffin (Ezra Armstrong)