FINAL: Riverhounds SC 7, Pitt 1

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

USL Championship Preseason / NCAA Spring Men’s Soccer 

FINAL: Riverhounds SC 7, Pitt 1

Match Summary

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC rolled to a businesslike victory, dismantling the University of Pittsburgh men’s soccer team, 7-1, at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Tuesday morning.

The Hounds scored twice in the first half, with Jelani Peters connecting on a header from a Kenardo Forbes corner kick and Dani Rovira delivered a pinpoint shot from the top of the box moments later.  Early in the second half, the match opened up with both sides making deep advances. ,

Former Deer Lakes High School standout Michael Sullivan scored Pitt’s lone goal to bring the score to 3-1 in the 57th minute.

Dani Rovira led the Hounds with a pair of goals,  Also scoring for the Hounds were Dane Kelly, Robby Dambrot, William Eyang and trialist Luis Argudo.

Post Match Interviews

Gameday Updates 

Post match meetings of the #PittsburghSoccer minds…@RiverhoundsSC @Pitt_MSOC pic.twitter.com/NmlcyClO0V

— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) March 1, 2022

FINAL — RIVERHOUNDS 7, PITT 1

Look for more reaction from Ambrose shortly!

89′ – GOAL – RIVERHOUNDS SC 7, Pitt 1

Eyang takes it away from Filip Mirvovic — and buries his chance.

88′ – GOAL – RIVERHOUNDS SC 6, Pitt 1

Hounds roll one in as the trialist on the field, Luis Argudo, finds the net off a Pitt turnover.

87′ – Eyang misses a chance just wide. Brilliant turn on the feed from Kelly, but he scuffed the shot and pulled it across the goal.

75′ – More subs after the Hounds goal. Jesse Williams, William Eyang and Luke Biasi are on.

65′ – Dixon thought he saw the near post open and took a curling shot. Save made, out for a corner.

62′ – Wyatt Borso comes into the game to replace Russell Cicerone.

Eben McIntyre with nice ball from left side behind right side of of Hounds back line to Valentin Noel, who played it to Michael Sullivan breaking into the left side of the box.

WPIAL Soccer standouts looking good.

56′ — GOAL – RIVERHOUNDS SC – Dani Rovira

Rovira gets a nice feed from newly entered Dane Kelly

46′ — Essentially same lineups in for both sides.

HALF – RIVERHOUNDS SC 2, PITT 0

• Pitt having a tough time trying to play their quick transition game.
• Some boys vs men match-ups (i.e. Jacquesson really struggling vs J. Peters)
• Hounds playing 3 CB’s Rovira/Forbes/Griffin CMF in control.
• Pitt GK Van Der Sar few nice saves

24′ – GOAL — RIVERHOUNDS SC – Dani Rovira from the top of the box.

15′ — GOAL — RIVERHOUNDS SC — Jelani Peters towers over everyone else to head in corner kick from Kenardo Forbes.

11′ — Alex Dixon with match’s first real chance. Nice save by Pitt’s GK Joe Van Der Sar

Hounds Starting XI:

Chase Vosvick, Toby Sims, Shane Wiedt, Arturo Ordonez, Jelani Peters, Alex Dixon, Kenardo Forbes, Danny Griffin, Dani Rovira, Russell Cicerone, Albert Dikwa

Perfect morning for some soccer…@RiverhoundsSC @Pitt_MSOC pic.twitter.com/E8QipWxXZt

— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) March 1, 2022

A bright and early Game Day to you all!

at @Pitt_MSOC
⏰ 10 a.m.
📍 Ambrose Urbanic Field
🎟️ FREE!

Join us at the top of the hill this morning! pic.twitter.com/kjH2cZbrsI

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) March 1, 2022

Preview 

The Riverhounds SC come into this scrimmage looking to fine tune things as they prepare for the regular season opener at Memphis in less than two weeks.  The club now has 22 players signed to its roster, so they may only be adding another player or two to the mix, as fans should expect to see a heavy rotation of all 22 players who are healthy to face Pitt.

Three current Hounds Shane Wiedt, Robby Dambrot and Arturo Ordonez played for Jay Vidovich at Pitt, as key contributors to the program’s turnaround and ascenion to become a national title contender. Pitt is coming off a fall regular season where it clinched a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Championship for the second consecutive season.

The Panthers, who finished 13-5-1 overall and 11-1 at home, earned a trip to the Elite Eight for the second-straight year. Pitt recently had two players drafted in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft — one of those was Ordonez — who spent time in preseason camp with Houston Dynamo, but opted to sign with the Riverhounds SC.

Pitt men’s soccer-Hounds pipeline cemented with recent signings

The Hounds have not lost a match in four preseason clashes.  They’re coming off a 1-1 draw against Louisville City FC, one of the clubs that many feel will be among the top contenders in the USL Championship this season.

PSN’s Mark Goodman was at the match, and provided this report.

New signings shine as Riverhounds draw Louisville 1-1

The Panthers open up what will likely be a busy spring slate.  The University has not released the remainder of its spring schedule, but they are also scheduled to participate in the Spring College Cup hosted by Wake Forest later in March and April.

Pitt men’s soccer to participate in Spring College Cup at Wake Forest

While there’s to be expected to have roster overhaul, coach Vidovich and his staff are expecting to see the return of at least a half dozen starters to the roster for the Fall 2022 campaign.

In December, we took a deeper look at what players are expected to return and some of the new recruits we already know about.

Expect an overhaul to Pitt men’s soccer roster in 2022

Riverhounds SC 2022 Roster (as of March 1, 2022):

• Goalkeepers (2) — Kevin Silva, Chase Vosvick
• Defenders (10) — Luke Biasi, Robby Dambrot, Nathan DosSantos, Jelani Peters, Dani Rovira, Shane Wiedt, Jesse Williams, Mekeil Williams, Arturo Ordonez, Toby Sims
• Midfielders (4) — Kenardo Forbes, Danny Griffin, Angelo Kelly-Rosales, Marc Ybarra
• Forwards/Wingers (6) — Wyatt Borso, Russell Cicerone, Albert Dikwa, Alex Dixon, William Eyang, Dane Kelly

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Here’s a look at the Hounds remaining preseason schedule:

Tuesday, March 1 — Preseason Match #5 at Pitt, 10 a.m., Ambrose Urbanic Field

Saturday, March 5 — Preseason Match #6 vs. WVU, 6 p.m., Highmark Stadium

USL Championship, Riverhounds SC release complete 2022 schedule