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Kickin' it around the 'Burgh

Regiment now 3-0, RDA East removes cost barrier & Danny Earls’ awesome artwork

Kickin’ it around the ‘Burgh

June 4, 2018

This week’s headlines:

  • FORT PITT OFF TO A GREAT START
  • RACHAEL McKRIGER BRINGS STEEL CITY COVERAGE
  • RDA EAST REMOVES COST BARRIER FOR YOUNGEST PARTICIPANTS
  • DANNY EARLS’ AWESOME ARTWORK
  • THIS WEEK IN PGHSOCCER HISTORY

Photo credit – Tim McCoy – Fort Pitt Regiment

 

Fort Pitt Regiment off to a great start

This weekend Fort Pitt Regiment continued its winning ways to start the season — with a sweep of a home-and-home series against Greater Binghamton FC to remain unbeaten after three games.

On Friday, the boys from Pittsburgh traveled to Upstate New York and came away with a big 5-1 win. Then, the Regiment completed the sweep of GBFC, by winning its home opener played at Slippery Rock University, 6-0.

Former Riverhounds midfielder Nick Kolarac feels that unlike previous seasons — this year’s group has solid chemistry and has a lot of confidence under the direction of legendary coach John Kowalski.

“Playing with Fort Pitt has been great,” Kolarec, who excelled at West Allegheny then at St. Francis (PA), said. “We have a decent amount of returnees from last year’s squad, so coming into the preseason, everyone’s been on the same page.”

Another former Pittsburgh Riverhound, Marshall University and local product — Anthony Virgara scored three goals in the 6-0 romp. Virgara knocked in three of the five second half goals. Lucas Canineu‘s first half goal was all FPR would need as Scott Rissler and Robbie McKelvey combined for a clean sheet.

“It’s still early, but starting out with three wins is crucial,” Kolarac added. “Everyone is enjoying playing together and I think this group can do something special this year.”

This coming week will be a solid test for the 3-0-0 Regiment, as they travel to take on Cleveland next Sunday in a battle of two unbeaten squads in the NPSL’s East Conference.

“Cleveland won the NPSL championship a few years back, so we’ll go in as a group up for the challenge,” Kolarac said.

Steel City FC coverage

We are happy to now have contributions from Rachael McKriger on Pittsburgh Soccer Now — as she kicked things off by providing a report from the first two games of the season for Steel City FC.

Pittsburgh’s ladies team that competes in the WPSL, U.S. Soccer’s second division, as they came away with a split in action the past two Saturday’s at Ellis School in Shadyside.

Steel City FC come away with split to start season

Steel City ladies will hit the road this weekend for a two-game swing in Michigan. See below for game details.

RDA East removes cost barrier for youngest age group participants 

Riverhounds SC Development Academy’s RDA East team platform has announced the creation of its Community Champions program, a community-focused, cost-free annual program for athletes in the East’s satellite location of Connellsville, Pennsylvania.

Expected at the outset to assist up to 40 total boys and girls between the ages of 8-9, the Community Champions program will ask participating players and their parents to engage in quarterly community-giveback days. Joined by members of the Hounds staff to offer various services to support revitalization projects within Fayette, Westmoreland and Green counties, the participants, selected from the tryouts for the 2018-19 competitive season, will have their annual tuition covered by a local sponsoring corporation soon to be named, in return for these efforts to help better their respective communities.

“We are finalizing efforts with a corporation that is entrenched in these counties, which recognizes the teaching moment that is available to the young athletes in this program,” Sporting Director Jason Kutney said. “This is a meaningful step in reducing costs for soccer families and we are aggressively in search of a company in the Pittsburgh market to offer the same level of support for our main RDA site players.”

Danny Earls the Awesome Artist 

For four seasons, Danny Earls made his mark with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, serving as the team’s captain in 2014 and 2015 — and tough as nails central midfielder. The Irishman may no longer be playing, but he’s using his artistic talents to stay involved in the game.

Earls put together comic art for the program book for the International Friendly played between Ireland and the United States men’s teams in Dublin on Saturday in tribute to Irish international John O’Shea — in what would be the legend’s farewell match for the Irish National team.

Here’s the cover of the program booklet (as drawn by Earls)

This week in #PghSoccer

The Borussia Dortmund-Benfica match, and other international matches played at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in recent years aren’t the first of its kind.  Believe it or not, 90 years ago this week, Scottish club, Glasgow Rangers, called the “Greatest Soccer Outfit in the World” by the Pittsburgh Press, played at Pitt Stadium in 1928.

This week in #PghSoccer 

Saturday, June 9

6 p.m.  – Steel City FC at AAFC Lumberjills at Concordia University,

Sunday, June 10

1 p.m. – Steel City FC at Motor City FC at Stoney Creek High School

2 p.m. – Fort Pitt Regiment at Cleveland FC at John Carroll University

 

Related Topics

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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