Match Preview and Scouting Report: Riverhounds to open eighth straight season on the road at North Carolina FC

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

Eager to get off to a good start this season — following a disastrous 0-3-0 start a year ago — the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will look to bag points in consecutive road matches starting with a trip to Cary, NC, as they’ll face North Carolina FC in the season opener on Saturday night.

“It’s exciting because it’s a new season,” Head Coach Bob Lilley told Pittsburgh Soccer Now this week.

“The team’s progressing, even though we’re making changes tactically and we’re bringing in new players, I think it’s an opportunity for all of us to grow, including the staff, and to challenge ourselves to be better.”

Believe it or not, this will be the eighth straight season — every one under Lilley — that the Hounds will begin the year with a road match. ** Bonus ** (You see full list of results/PSN match reports from each of Bob Lilley’s season openers below). 

The Hounds finally will be playing matches that matter after a preseason which a core group of 14 returning players worked with a new crop of mostly younger players in instituting a revamped style of play and tactics while many of the same core principles of a Bob Lilley-coached squad.

“The first game, everyone’s energy is high,” Danny Griffin, Riverhounds SC midfielder and team’s captain for the second year, said after training this week.

“Look back at last year, there’s tons we can take from that (poor start).  What we’ve hammered home this year, and we’re on the same level, that we want to get off to a good start. We’ve done that already in the preseason — and we want to continue that. We’re going to North Carolina for three points.”

The Hounds’ most decorated and experience player, veteran midfielder Kenardo Forbes, the USL Championship’s and the club’s all-time leader in appearances, assists and numerous other categories, also shared some wisdom about season openers.

“We have to be ready from the opening whistle.” Forbes stated.

“We have to be ready from the first whistle”@riverhoundssc veteran midfielder Kenardo Forbes talks to @johnkrysinsky about Saturday’s season opener vs @NorthCarolinaFC and making adjustments when everything is so new at start of season pic.twitter.com/OnybRLleXA

— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) March 7, 2025

“It’s pretty new.  Sometimes, you can’t go in with plan when everything’s so new.  First five, 10 minutes, analyze the game, then take it from there.”

Clearly, much of the conversation from Lilley and returning core players from last year’s Hounds squad has centered around getting off to a better start while building off the momentum that carried the club into the playoffs for the seventh straight campaign (Hounds finished 9-1-5 in their final 16 matches).

“We have a bit of unfinished business,” Eric Dick, Riverhounds goalkeeper and the reigning USL Championship Gold Glove winner.

“We made a really good run to the playoffs and you know that really bonded the group (last year), but I think obviously every year our goal is to win the championship. Hopefully, we’ll get off to a better start this year and then just grow on what we did last year and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

North Carolina also finished the season strong, winning six of its final nine to earn postseason soccer in their first year since returning to the USL Championship after three seasons in League One.

The Hounds are 7-9-9 in season openers all-time, with 17 of those 25 matches being played away from home.

In fact, after the Hounds opened each of their first four seasons on home turf, the team has only opened at home four times since 2003 — in ’06, ’15, ’16 and ’17.

Scouting Report: North Carolina FC

If you recall, the Hounds and NCFC were two clubs who survived and came out of the late season battle for the final two postseason spots in the Eastern Conference last year.

Thus, it proved to be fitting that the two clubs played to a pair of draws in their two head-to-head matches a season ago.

“North Carolina can open you up. They’re very quick in transition,” Lilley pointed out.

“(Evan) Conway and Oalex Anderson are two of the quicker forwards. They were a handful. I think the teams were pretty even.  The first match here, we had a lead, but in second half they pressed a bit more and found a goal. We just didn’t play well in the second half. We didn’t put them away when we had the chance.  I thought when we went to North Carolina, we played well. We had our chances.”

North Carolina boast continuity on their front line as Conway and Anderson both scored 12 goals a season ago — Conway getting one against the Hounds in the 1-1 draw at Highmark Stadium.

NCFC will look to use all of the field when on the ball and getting forward in Head Coach John Bradford’s 3-4-3 system — which gave the Hounds fits especially early in the match at WakeMed and in the second half at Highmark Stadium.

Add in playmakers such as Rafa Mentzingen and a pair of former Hounds, Ezra Armstrong and Louis Perez, all of whom had at least five assists last year, and North Carolina is a team capable of breaking opponents down.

They’ve also added Martinique international Patrick Burner and solidified the back line with longtime USL Championship stalwarts Triston Hodge and Conor Donovan. Another player to watch is Pedro Dolabella, who comes up as one of League One’s Player of the Year finalists while leading Union Omaha to the League title.

The trip to North Carolina has never been an easy one for the Hounds. The Hounds are 0-2-1 in three previous visits to Cary with losses in 2018 and ’19 before a 0-0 draw last season in sweltering, humid June conditions.

This year’s trip should be much more comfortable in that regard, with the forecast calling for temperatures near 60 degrees at kickoff time.

Hounds Watch: Personnel, Tactics and Intangibles

Having allowed just 28 goals last season (in 34 match campaign), the Hounds have all the pieces in place to remain one of the league’s top defensive units.  After all, Sean Suber, Illal Osumanu, Luke Biasi and Junior Etou are all returning on the back line in front of goalkeeper of the Year Eric Dick.  In addition, Pittsburgh added depth along the back line with the signing of 2024 Big East Defender of the Year, Beto Ydrach, a Puerto Rican international who excelled at both Akron and Central Florida, Max Broughton, who helped lead West Virginia to College Cup in 2023 and Perrin Barnes, who has reunited with Suber and current Hounds captain, Danny Griffin, as they were all teammates with Huntsville SC of MLS Next Pro in 2023.

Now the question is, can the Hounds score goals more consistently in 2025.

If Pittsburgh is going to become more dynamic in the attack, new acquisition Augi Williams will be a big part of that, along with Robbie Mertz staying in a higher, playmaking role.

Last season’s late-year splash, Bertin Jacquesson, will also play a key role after five goals in his first eight games in Pittsburgh, though he likely will be unavailable (listed as Questionable) this week as he rests a hamstring injury suffered in the preseason match against Loudoun.

In addition, the Hounds also list Barnes and Sample as questionable.

With an added focus on being better on the ball and with the Hounds having a strong core of midfielders who are returning to the squad — a big question heading into the season is — how will Lilley utilize many of these versatile players.  Griffin, who enters his sixth season in Pittsburgh with 150 appearances, may lend his talents higher up in the attack this season, especially as second-year Hound and former Pitt standout Jackson Walti grew into his role as a number six last season.

John K’s Riverhounds SC Projected Starting XI

Here’s the best projected lineup for Saturday’s opener.

Riverhounds Road Season Openers Under Bob Lilley with PSN Match Reports

2024

New Mexico 1, Pittsburgh 0 

Lackluster Riverhounds drop season opener to New Mexico, 1-0

2023

Pittsburgh 1, Birmingham 1

2022

Pittsburgh 3, Memphis 0 

2021

Tampa Bay 3, Pittsburgh 0

2020

Pittsburgh 3, Louisville City 1 

2019 

Tampa Bay 2, Pittsburgh 0 

2018 

Despite dazzling 2nd half chances, Hounds battle Nashville to scoreless draw

 

Match Info

Riverhounds (0-0-0) vs. North Carolina FC (0-0-0)
Date: Saturday, March 8
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, N.C.
Odds: Not available
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Streaming: ESPN+
Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on X/Twitter
Match hashtags: #NCvPIT and #Grittsburgh

 

Riverhounds 2025 Roster (as of 2/24/2025)

1. Danny Griffin MF (signed through 2025)
2. Kenardo Forbes MF (signed through 2025)
3. Robbie Mertz MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
4. Eric Dick GK (picked up 2025 contract option)
5. Jackson Walti  MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
6. Luke Biasi MF / D (picked up 2025 contract option)
7. Sean Suber D (picked up 2025 contract option)
8. Bradley Sample MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
9. Aidan O’Toole MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
10. Jacob Randolph GK (picked up 2025 contract option)
11. Junior Etou MF (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
12. Illal Osumanu D (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
13. Bertin Jacquesson F (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
14. Charles Ahl MF (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
15. Brigham Larsen F (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
16. Augustine ‘Augi’ Williams F (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
17. Max Broughton D (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
18. Pablo Linzoain  M, F (USL Academy Contract)
19. Perrin Barnes D (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
20. Beto Ydrach D (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
21. Jason Bouregy M (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
22. Jorge Garcia M (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
23. Ben Martino GK (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)