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Pittsburgh Riveters SC

FINAL: Riveters 3, FC Buffalo 0 (USL W-League)

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riveters SC
USL W-League – Great Forest Division 

FINAL: Riveters 3, FC Buffalo 0

Instant Match Summary

After a weather delay that pushed the match back a half hour, the Pittsburgh Riveters SC powered past FC Buffalo, 3-0, on the strength of the hot foot of forward Tanum Nelson, who delivered the club’s first-ever hat trick at Highmark Stadium on Sunday evening.

With the win, the Riveters (3-1-2, 11 points) jump ahead of both Steel City FC (8 points) and Cleveland Force (8 points) in the USL W League’s Great Forest Division standings.  Buffalo dropped to 1-2-1 overall.

“A lot of it was my teammates putting balls in dangerous areas,” Nelson said, deferring credit to her playmaking teammates.

‘Coming up with three points was the biggest focus of the day.

The Riveters didn’t waste any time getting forward.  In the 9th minute, Alexis Tylenda slipped a pass around the defense and into the right side of the box, and Nelson timed her run perfectly to be first to the ball, then admitted that she played the ball off her quad, then beat her opponent to the ball, giving her a chance to drive a well-placed shot top shelf and into the upper right corner.

In the 20th minute, Nelson doubled the lead by working the left side and getting on the end of a well-played through ball.

That defense splitting pass came off the foot of Olivia Damico, catching Nelson in stride, to finish with a soft touch around Buffalo goalkeeper Bella Simoncelli.

Four minutes before halftime, Nelson put the match out of reach by completing the historic hat trick.

Damico served a cross from the right that was played by a Buffalo defender but caromed to Nelson. The Riveters’ midfielder took a touch to control the ball and finished in front of jubilant fans in Paul Child Stand on the stadium’s East End.

Buffalo came out more intent on getting forward after the break. Chloe Japic tested Nelles with a shot in the opening minutes, and shortly afterword, Annamarie Williams made a critical blocked shot when she got across just in time to rebuff Buffalo’s Skylar Cornell’s shot from 12 yards.

Simoncelli shone in the Buffalo goal in the second half, making a series of excellent saves to deny Abi Hugh, Tylenda and Damico before the hour mark. The Buffalo goalie finished with seven saves.

The Riveters had another flurry of chances in the 76th minute, when Bella Vozar was denied by Simoncelli. The rebound came to Minah Syam, who turned the ball toward the open net, only to have Buffalo defender Erin Weir clear the ball off the goal line.

Despite a few more chances for the Riveters, neither team found the net in the second half. The Riveters have not allowed a goal at home through three matches at Highmark Stadium.

Look for a more detailed recap to follow, plus reaction from Riveters HC Scott Gibson and the Hat Trick hero, Nelson.

Match Day Updates

The Pittsburgh Riveters SC get set to start the second half of its schedule by facing FC Buffalo for a late Sunday afternoon kickoff.   Follow along with all of the action here on our Live Match Day thread as we’ll have updates from Highmark Stadium along with the instant match recap and reaction.

FINAL: RIVETERS 3, FC BUFFALO 0

The Rivs see it out with a solid defensive performance in the second half, including a few nice saves by Pauline Nelles.

70′ — FC Buffalo’s Ballie Colling makes a great run into edge of box and sends a hard, low shot but it’s stopped by Riveters keeper Pauline Nelles.

62′ – First two substitutions today, and one is a Riveters debut for Jayden!

  • IN: Sabrina Bryan, Jayden Sharpless
  • OUT: Kennedy Neighbors, Annamarie Williams

60′ – Chance for Damico off a Buffalo turnover! Her shot is saved by the GK — way off the line — and the rebound goes to Tylenda, who was ruled offside getting back from her pressing position.

55′ — FC Buffalo forward gifted a great pass in center of box — but makes the mistake of taking an extra touch instead of shooting a one-time shot — and Riveters defenders close in to block shot.

HALF — RIVETERS 3, FC BUFFALO 0

It’s been the Tanum Nelson clinical finishing show so far.  The Cornell forward has made the most of her chances. FCB has created a few chances and had their bouts of possession.

42′ — RIVETERS 3, FC BUFFALO 0

It’s the Tanum Nelson with the Hat Trick.

Service from the right side is deflected — and it’s comes to the very hot foot of Nelson — who buries her chance for the 3-0 lead.

36′ – Nearly a goal off the corner, as Damico gets on the end of it but is off-target with the chance.

24′ – GOAL — RIVETERS 2, FC BUFFALO 0

Tanum Nelson again!

This time she blows by pair of defenders on perfectly timed run. Transition goal after Buffalo controlled most possession

10′ — GOAL — RIVETERS 1, FC BUFFALO 0

Tanum Nelson gets loose on edge of box — then from close range hits one hard and top shelf!

4:31 p.m. — WEATHER DELAY — the match has been held up by hard rain and thunder/lightning in the area

4:13 p.m. — We also have our eyes on the weather…

4:03 p.m. — Here’s Riveters starters

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Match Preview

The Rivs enter this match in a three-way tie in USL W League’s Great Forest Division, most of the field behind them, including local Steel City FC, who played to a 2-2 draw with Erie on Saturday, hold one or two games in hand, meaning the Riveters need to make the most of each remaining opportunity as it officially hits the second half of the USL W League regular season.

Buffalo is one of those teams with multiple games in hand, having only played three matches thus far. Their results thus far have been a mixed bag: defeating Erie, suffering a home loss to Flower City and going on the road to be the first team to take points off Steel City in a 2-2 draw Tuesday. In fact, Buffalo nearly took all three points in their last match, but after leading the match with goals by Lindsay Lenhard and Gianna Tuzzolino, Steel City poached a point with a 90th-minute goal.

That recent result should have the Riveters on their guard, and through two home matches, the team has been solid on their home turf. Unbeaten with a 1-0-1 record at Highmark Stadium and still no goals conceded at home, the Riveters will strive to extend both of those streaks.

The offense has had no problem creating chances thus far. Olivia Damico has scored in back-to-back matches, and Alexis Tylenda has two goals and two assists in three matches since joining the team, but coach Scott Gibson would like to see the team be even more clinical with its opportunities and turn one- and two-goal games into threes and fours on the scoreboard.

The Riveters still will be without their captain, Tessa Dellarose, for Sunday’s match. Dellarose is finishing off her participation in The Soccer Tournament 7v7 event in North Carolina, where she and her US Women teammates are off to a winning start trying to defend their title and claim another $1 million prize. While that absence will force Gibson to have at least one replacement in the starting 11, Sunday’s match is the second in a stretch of three in seven days, so some rotation to keep legs fresh might also be in order.

Sunday’s match is the back half of the club’s “White Aht Weekend.”

Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer: Steel City Men beat Erie, 4-0, Women draw on Awards Day; It’s a Hounds and Riveters White ‘Aht’ weekend

 

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John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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