Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer: We’re off and running with Riverhounds opening match week coverage

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will kick off a new season this week, when they travel to the Land of Enchantment to take on New Mexico United FC on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. ET kickoff).

To prepare for the season opener — we won’t be shy about providing extra content this week.

Matthew Baldwin met with Riverhounds President Jeff Garner last week, producing a five-part series on the State of the Riverhounds.   Garner, who is going into his second full year at the helm of the business side of the club, shared plenty with Baldwin covering an array of topics including Highmark Stadium expansion, building partnerships in the community, encouraging more cooperation between the club and its supporters, is there an ambition to reach a higher level (MLS?) and possibility of women’s professional team.

In addition, Rob Vincent, one-time club star and most recently Academy coach, joined me on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, to discuss his adjustment to becoming an assistant coach with the pro team along with his thoughts on the club heading into the 2024 campaign.

Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast: Back with the pro club, Rob Vincent adjusts to role as assistant coach

On paper, the Hounds had a fairly successful preseason, with one hiccup, a 2-0 loss to WVU.  Otherwise, they posted a 3-1-1 record, including a 2-0-1 record vs fellow USL Championship clubs.

In my interview with Vincent, a former Hounds and DC United midfielder, among the many topic we discussed included some candid discussion about the Hounds’ midfield, including his thoughts on veterans Kenardo Forbes, Robbie Mertz, Danny Griffin, Junior Etou, Dani Rovira along with the younger players who include Jackson Walti and Bradley Sample.

Look for much more to come this week, including another special, rapid-fire Season Preview/Predictions edition of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, with numerous members of the PSN team who will share their thoughts and predictions on the Riverhounds and USL Championship season ahead, plus we’ll preview the match-up as Bob Lilley begins his seventh season at the helm with a club that is the reigning Players Shield winners.

The Hounds will not be the only team in action this week, on Friday, March 8, at 6 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field, as Pitt men’s squad will resume its spring season, facing Vaughan SC, a club from Ontario, Canada.   All of the other DI college programs will not have any spring matches this coming week.

We also learned on Friday, that Pittsburgh’s NPSL Club, Steel City FC, will be facing NISA’s Michigan Stars, in the opening round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Thursday, March 21, at Ambrose Urbanic Field (7 p.m.).  Look for more to come as we look ahead to that match and, of course, we will have full coverage of that match from Ambrose.

Riverhounds SC March Schedule

9-Mar	Saturday	4:00 PM	at New Mexico
16-Mar	Saturday	7:00 PM	Orange County (Home Opener)
23-Mar	Saturday	4:00 PM	at Louisville