Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer: Stakes are getting higher

As the second full week of September is already in swing for Pittsburgh’s major soccer teams from the Riverhounds to the Division I college programs and even at the high school level, the stakes are only getting higher as competition heats up with matches that take on greater meaning.

The Riverhounds had an emphatic, 2-0 win against Rhode Island FC on Saturday night, pushing them back over the playoff line for the first time this season.  PSN’s Colton Coreschi was there to provide the match report and also caught reaction from Bob Lilley along with goal scorers Bertin Jacquesson and Bradley Sample.

While I wrote in my Takeaways and Player Grades piece the following morning that the Hounds are coming together at the right time, executing Lilleyball, they still have a challenging path ahead of them as they will attempt to stay over the playoff line with six matches remaining, while all of the teams around them have one or two more games to play and potentially build points.

Takeaways and Player Grades: Lilleyball shifting into high gear at best possible time for ‘more collective’ Riverhounds

That’s why this coming Saturday’s match at 3rd place Tampa Bay will be important for the Hounds to come away with points.  If the Hounds lose, then will be sitting idle the following week, they could see those teams surpass them in the standings.  Of course, there will be matches remaining with two of those squads they’re battling, Birmingham at home on September 28 and at Loudoun United FC on October 19.

In a way, it’s going to be fun to see how this unfolds and for us to cover.  We really haven’t seen the Hounds have to battle just to stay in the playoff race since 2017. That season, they fell apart in the last month in Dave Brandt’s first (and last) full campaign as Head Coach.

As far as the most exciting regular season finish for the Riverhounds where everything was on the line to the very last match, you have to go back to the 2015. That season, the Hounds were in a win-or-go home scenario, as they needed to win against Keystone Derby rival Harrisburg in the final match of the season, which they did, 2-1, in a nailbiter on City Island to conclude a memorable and exciting four-match Derby series.

As indicated in the lead, the stakes get higher for some of the college teams in Pittsburgh this week.

Both of Pitt’s teams will officially kick off ACC competition, as the men already did last weekend with an impressive 3-1 win at conference newcomer, SMU, while the women open up conference play on Saturday, when they host Louisville.

Pitt men will look to go 2-0 in ACC when they also host Louisville on Friday night.

In addition to both Pitt men and women’s program earning different national rankings, Tuesday was a very good day for Duquesne men’s soccer program.  Not only did they earn National Ranking (No. 22 in Top Drawer Soccer), but they also backed it up with a solid performance by weathering the storm and finding a late equalizer to play Notre Dame to a 1-1 draw at South Bend.

Special thanks to Dukes Head Coach Chase Brooks who took a few moments after the match to share his thoughts on the result and his team’s progress as they remain unbeaten (4-0-1).

Also beginning conference play will be Robert Morris’ men’s team as they host Northern Kentucky in the Horizon League opener at North Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.  RMU’s women’s team will get a bit of a break, as they’re not back in action until next week, when Horizon League play begins with a road trip to Michigan, as they’ll take on Oakland (September 19 – 5 p.m.)

Duquesne women are having a good start to the season (4-1-0), and Al Alvine’s squad will be on the road for two matches with regional foes this week, as they travel to St. Francis on Thursday, then to Youngstown St on Sunday before they kick off Atlantic 10 play next week.

Duquesne men will get a chance to rest and recover from the Notre Dame match, and will next play next Tuesday when the Cross-Tahn Derby renews in Moon Township, as the Dukes will face Robert Morris (Tuesday, September 17, 4 p.m.).  Look for a more extensive preview to come on this match early next week, as many of the players and coaches know each other all too well.

As far as the High School season — with section play now fully underway — the stakes are also high as it’s a short season and teams cannot afford to slip up too much.  Look for continued coverage of WPIAL soccer with regular posts with the schedules, occasional match previews and scoreboard — as things lead up to the end of the regular season in mid-October and the postseason.

PITTSBURGH SOCCER SCHEDULE (9/12/24 – 9/17/24)

Thursday, September 12, 2024

4 p.m.  — Duquesne (women) at St. Francis (PA) – Loretto PA

Friday, September 13, 2024 

7 p.m. — Pitt (men) vs Louisville – Ambrose Urbanic Field

Saturday, September 14, 2024 

4 p.m. — Robert Morris (men) vs Northern Kentucky – North Athletic Complex

7 p.m. — Pitt (women) vs Louisville – Ambrose Urbanic Field

7:30 p.m. — Riverhounds SC at Tampa Bay Rowdies – Al Lang Stadium

Sunday, September 15, 2024 

1 p.m. — Duquesne (women) at Youngstown St — Youngstown, OH

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 

4 p.m. — Duquesne (men) at Robert Morris (men) — North Athletic Complex