With home playoff match vs Hartford, Riverhounds will look to chip away postseason demons

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC have had their share of success on the field in eight seasons since the arrival of Head Coach Bob Lilley.

In fact, getting to the postseason has not been the problem.  Eight straight appearances have been impressive and should not be diminished as the longest run of playoff appearances in the club’s 25-plus year history.

Now, the Riverhounds enter the playoffs again ready to face Hartford Athletic on Saturday night (Highmark Stadium, 6:30 p.m. kickoff) without the man who helped steer the club to new heights, Bob Lilley.  The veteran Head Coach remains on administrative leave while club legend Rob Vincent has been at the helm as Acting Head Coach to get the team through the last three matches of the regular season and now the playoffs.

PSN’s Mark Goodman previews the match, which he aptly points out — that this match is all about the drama, as there are all kinds of interesting storylines revolving around this match.

Preview: The Epic Drama that is a rematch with Hartford Athletic

Yet, when it comes to the postseason, under the direction of Lilley and even in the early portion of the Highmark Stadium era, when Vincent excelled as a player, the club and its fan base have experienced its share of heartbreak.

In fact, a few years back, the club — looking to put a positive spin and showcase the club’s history — posted an article, citing the five most memorable playoff games in the franchise’s history.

Of those five, two came during the Highmark Stadium era, and only one of those was a win.

What’s the constant theme here?

Despite numerous successes that have included top-of-the-table finish in 2019 and winning the Players Shield (for best regular season points mark in the USL Championship) in 2023 along with a pair of two very different first-round wins against Birmingham Legion FC (in 2019 and 2023), the Hounds’ have been haunted by shortcomings in the postseason — where anything and everything can happen in knockout soccer.

It is now eight straight seasons the Hounds have qualified or the postseason — all (this late season detour aside) under Lilley’s direction.  The Hounds hold the second-longest playoff streak in the USL Championship (trailing only Louisville’s 11) and the currently the longest streak among Pittsburgh’s pro franchises.

Lilley, a USL Hall of Famer, has not missed the postseason in 22 seasons as a head coach at the pro level. His championship pedigree includes leading Vancouver Whitecaps to the USL First Division title in 2006 and leading the Rochester Rhinos to the USL Cup title in 2015.

Lilley’s remaining holdover from the Rochester 2015 title team was Forbes, who retired before the start of this season, but has been an assistant coach.  The two longest tenured Riverhounds who’ve been with the club through much of this run and have experienced the postseason heartbreaks are captain Danny Griffin and Upper St. Clair native Robbie Mertz.

When asked about playing at home and before the fans this coming week and what to expect the playoff atmosphere will be like, Mertz had to be reminded of the team’s 2023 loss to Detroit, as he’s clearly done his best to forget it even happened.

“It’s been a while since I played in a home playoff game,” Mertz said, then caught himself.

“Oh, year, (20)23.  I almost forget about that. It does feel like a long time ago. There will be nerves and a lot of energy. We all know Highmark will be electric next week. We’ll have to let that be as it is, but also temper it down once the game starts, so you can actually function out there.”

PAST PLAYOFF DISAPPOINTMENTS SINCE 2018  

Bethlehem Steal Win in First-Ever Pro Playoff match at Highmark

In 2018, the Hounds came up short, losing after playing to a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes and an extended penalty kick shootout against the Bethlehem Steel FC.

In fact, that Bethlehem Steel side were coached by none other than Brendan Burke, who leads Hartford Athletic into Highmark Stadium on Saturday night.

The consolation for Pittsburgh soccer fans was that it was the first of something.  t was a very exciting night for Pittsburgh soccer fans.  It was their first postseason match in Highmark Stadium history, and they showed that a soccer playoff match in Pittsburgh could pack the seats and provide a very lively atmosphere — even on a very wet, cold Fall night along the Monongahela River.

Bulldozing Birmingham turned into 7-goal party at Highmark, but a week later, battle-tested Louisville begins playoff dominance over Pittsburgh

The following season, the Hounds finally got their first postseason win in more than a decade, and the first at Highmark Stadium, when they absolutely bulldozed a Birmingham side on the strength of Neco Brett’s four goals.

Brett basks in record-breaking four-goal performance

It was another packed house at Highmark, with the newly reconstructed Paul Child Stand filling every seat.

Unfortunately, the Hounds, who finished with the best record in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference that season, couldn’t capitalize on all the momentum even with another full house at Highmark the following Saturday night, when they fell against an experienced and playoff-tested Louisville City club that wore them down, eventually winning, 2-1, in Extra Time.

Analysis & Player Grades: Hounds come up short against battle-tested Louisville City FC

The COVID-19 shortened season in 2020 only brought more late season disappointments, as Pittsburgh lost a late regular season match to Hartford, which cost them a shot at hosting at least a first-round playoff.  Instead, the Hounds had to go to Louisville, where they came out attacking, but were turned back for another playoff loss against the Purple and Gold.

FINAL: Louisville City FC 2, Riverhounds SC 0

Coming back in 2021, the Hounds couldn’t overtake Tampa Bay or Louisville, in the eight-team Atlantic Division, regular season format, and had to settle for starting the playoffs on the road.

Though that team was very confident heading into the playoffs, they were ravaged by a number of positive COVID-19 cases on the club and had to deal with the unthinkable — forfeiting a playoff match at Birmingham.   Ending the season in the harshest way — by making the playoffs but not being able to get on to the field.

Experiencing Ups and Downs of Thrilling Postseason Soccer

Despite its lowest postseason seeding since Bob Lilley took over in 2018, the fifth-seeded Hounds played two of the most memorable matches in club history in 2022 — both on the road and both decided on penalty kicks.

The Hounds completed a remarkable comeback win at Birmingham in the Quarterfinal round, trailing 1-0 heading into stoppage time, Edward Kizza, who seconds earlier came into the match for Kenardo Forbes, hit the equalizer which sent the match into extra time.  Then, trailing by a goal in Extra Time, Kizza did it again, providing the Hounds second equalizing tally which sent the contest to penalties.  They survived a marathon penalty kick shootout, with Kizza coming through with the clincher.

This was the most thrilling win in club’s postseason history.

It was also a match where Lilley showed plenty of confidence in going deeper to his bench and turning to younger players more than he had done at any other time in his tenure in Pittsburgh, setting the blueprint for how the Hounds’ would build its roster for the 2023 season which they would eventually win the Players Shield.

Young Hounds come through in epic playoff win

However, one week later, on the road in Louisville, Pittsburgh held a 2-0 lead in the 82nd minute — only to allow two goals in regulation — then would come up short in the penalty kick shootout.  This was the third time in four seasons the Hounds were eliminated by Louisville — and depending on your you view it — the cruelest loss of them all.

Detroit City stuns Players Shield winning Hounds at Highmark

It was one of those matches where the Hounds couldn’t capitalize on their chances, as the league’s Golden Boot winner, Albert Dikwa was held in check, and the more the match remained scoreless, the more No. 8 seed Detroit City grew into the match.

The visitors would get a sneaky goal from a young player who only appeared in seven pro matches prior to that playoff game.

After the whistle blew — Diwka — who was amazing the entire season — sat in the middle of the field quietly staring ahead in bewilderment for at least 15 minutes after the match ended.

Analysis: Riverhounds couldn’t exorcise postseason demons against Detroit City FC side that would not break

It was a harsh way for things to end for the Hounds after such a great season.

Old-Guard rival Charleston takes control early and slams the door shut on Hounds 2024 season

The Riverhounds battled hard to crawl out of the depths of the Eastern Conference standings in the last half of the 2024 season.  In fact, the Hounds lost only once in the last 15 league matches.

However, the Hounds finished in seventh place, which meant they had to start the playoffs on the road against a Charleston Battery team that posted the league’s second-best record (only behind Louisville City).

Post Match Reaction: Riverhounds season ends with 1-0 playoff loss at Charleston