Post Match Reaction: Riverhounds raise first-ever official trophy with Players Shield clinching at Tampa Bay

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

It’s been a long time coming, but the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC earned some proper silverware on Saturday night with an emphatic 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

It was a match where Pittsburgh took command from the start, to earn the club’s first ever Players Shield.

Riverhounds clinch Players Shield by slamming door shut on Rowdies, 2-0

It was the first official trophy won by the Hounds and the first time the team has finished atop the Championship or its direct predecessor, the A-League. It is also only the third division/conference title in team history, joining the 2019 team that topped the Eastern Conference and the 2004 team that won the Atlantic Division of the third-tier USL Pro Soccer League.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now contributor Amadeo Eichberg was at Al Lang Stadium, capturing various images and was in the locker room for the presentation of the Shield, and to interview Riverhounds SC Head Coach, Bob Lilley after the match.

“It’s a big accomplishment for the guys. They worked hard all year, and I am proud of them,” Bob Lilley, Riverhounds SC Head Coach said after the match from the jubilant locker room.

“They stuck together.  It was not easy. We worked hard since the preseason and never lost sight of our goal. The group responded well.”

Quotes/Post Match Videos provided by La Mega Media’s Amadeo Eichberg 

#TBRvPIT Post Match Interviews / Video

HOUNDS HEAD COACH BOB LILLEY

PLAYERS SHIELD PRESENTATION

Enjoy this Pittsburgh…

Players Shield presentation in jubilant @RiverhoundsSC locker room#TBRvPIT@USLChampionship @Tuffy_Shall @OrdonezOsuna @KenardoF @jahmali_waite @robbiemertz14 @DannyGriffin04

Video Credit: @amadeo_eichberg pic.twitter.com/4ZtB21lq6S

— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) October 8, 2023

#TBRvPIT Social Media Updates & Reaction

THE
ROAD
TO
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
IS
COMING
THROUGH
PITTSBURGH!!!!!!!!!!
BOOM!!!!!👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊@RiverhoundsSC

— Tuffy Shallenberger (@Tuffy_Shall) October 8, 2023

This stats sheet needs to get signed by every member of the organization, framed, and displayed next to the Shield.#UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/ygnUtAcg5n

— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) October 8, 2023

It's not fashionable to credit the owner, but…

From going to the bankruptcy hearing where we watched Tuffy pull this club back from the brink to getting to see him hold some hardware is a nice arc.

Let that man have a night he won't remember.#UNLEASH https://t.co/xFEQWHZ4Jt

— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) October 8, 2023

Ive said it once and I’ll say it again, Pittsburgh is a soccer town.

First playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 21. Should easily be a sell out https://t.co/vmMh5B1QcH

— Dominic Campbell (@DOMISMONEY) October 8, 2023

🐐🐐 https://t.co/tK6z1lANPg

— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) October 8, 2023

The 2023 @USLChampionship Players’ Shield for the best regular season record is coming home to Pittsburgh!! THANK YOU to every single person who tuned into @KDKA+ and cheered on @RiverhoundsSC all season long! Time to celebrate! 🖤💛@MikesBeerBar pic.twitter.com/RYwRxloSm6

— Greg Pai (@GregPai1) October 8, 2023

What a season it has been so far…@RiverhoundsSC @HoundsAcademy @USLChampionship #gkunion pic.twitter.com/kGxzcPjlor

— HPG (@HPG_GK) October 8, 2023

More to come, but here are three takeaways as @RiverhoundsSC took the @USLChampionship Players' Shield with victory tonight at Al Lang Stadium.

🐶🏆⬇️https://t.co/KIMtJjiPR2

— Nicholas Murray (@NJEMurray) October 8, 2023

Congratulations to Pennsylvania's only current USL Championship side winning the shield https://t.co/CEyswrRRkE

— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow) October 8, 2023

Once more, for the people in the back:

FUTBOL IS LIFE.#UNLEASH #HOUNDTAHN pic.twitter.com/D1TqXEr0tu

— Matt Popchock (@PopchockSays) October 8, 2023

Riverhounds, top of the league!
Riverhounds! Riverhounds! Top of the league!#UNLEASH #HOUNDTAHN https://t.co/7s4jmomLmo

— Dr. Matthew Brown (@brownamatthew) October 8, 2023

I don't think the Riverhounds will have to worry about that finishing first and losing in the first playoff game thing, that we all think is a thing? Right?

Well-done to the Riverhounds and let's get a moral boosting win next week!

I still believe! COME ON YOU ROWDIES!!!

— Tampa Bay Rowdies UK (@RowdiesUK) October 8, 2023

CAMPEONES! #ReadyToShine pic.twitter.com/8vunHM5KhU

— Nicholas Murray (@NJEMurray) October 8, 2023

Congratulations to the Hounds on winning the Players’ Shield! #USL https://t.co/JExgGsTWjr

— Randy Waldrum (@CoachWaldrum) October 8, 2023

From the first to last whistle Pittsburgh executed its game plan flawlessly and earn a well deserved first ever @USLChampionship Players Shield.#TBRvPIT https://t.co/A7iyL9ouB6

— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) October 8, 2023

Money shot following Hounds second goal

Video credit: @amadeo_eichberg #TBRvPIT pic.twitter.com/NfceDgLBKU

— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) October 8, 2023

Me: Fernandes and Ordonez are the X-factors

PIT: intercepts a pass to Fernandes, counters into an Ordonez goal immediately

Bob Lilley good https://t.co/vGpiqG4bdT pic.twitter.com/iTHCu2aVQ1

— John Morrissey (@USLTactics) October 8, 2023

Dani Rovira is all smiles ahead of warm ups

Video: @amadeo_eichberg @RiverhoundsSC #TBRvPIT pic.twitter.com/ba4vcxnYa5

— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) October 7, 2023

We have Pittsburgh Soccer media presence at St. Pete as @amadeo_eichberg will be providing images and updates of @RiverhoundsSC v @TampaBayRowdies top of table match all night long.#TBRvPIT@USLChampionship pic.twitter.com/mNGHki8SDv

— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) October 7, 2023