Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Photo Gallery: Hounds triumph in USL Eastern Conference Final, 1-0

by
Mark Asher Goodman
November 18, 2025

One magical night in November, the cosmic tumblers spun into alignment for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. After a scoreless first half, native son Robbie Mertz finally found the back of the net for the Hounds, giving the team a 1-0 lead they would hold until the final whistle blew, sending the team to their first ever USL Cup.

Below you’ll find all the best photos from PSN’s crack photographers, Ed Thompson and Mark Asher Goodman to help you keep the memories alive for a long long while.

: Sparks fly. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: O. Say. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Welcome to the neighborhood, Rhode Island. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Steel Army tifo. ‘In the shadows we feast.’ Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Rhode Island keeper Koke Vegas was fantastic on the night. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Danny Griffin in the box. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Perrin Barnes running the point. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Augi Williams calling for the ball. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Mertz pondering during a breather. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Junior Etou on the ball. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Midfield header goes to RIFC. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Mertz uncorks a long pass. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Barnes looking for target. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Suber header, off. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Mertz walking off at the half searching. He would ‘find it’ in the second half. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Robbie Mertz celebrates his goal. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Augi and the team bask in the glory. Credit: Ed Thompson

: Sporting Director Dan Visser built this team. He has much to be proud of. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Griffin. Dribblin’. Credit: Ed Thompson

: The windup … Credit: Ed Thompson

: He scores! Mertz sends the team to the final. Credit: Ed Thompson

: Fight till the end. Credit: Ed Thompson

: One last shot for PGH. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Joy and hugs. Credit: Ed Thompson

: Smoke bombs smell like victory! Credit: Ed Thompson

: Celebrations. Credit: Ed Thompson

: Plant one on me, fella. Credit: Ed Thompson

: Trophy lift! Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Tuffy and Robbie at the pinnacle. Credit: Ed Thompson

: Everybody wants to give the EC trophy a smooch. Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Credit: Mark Asher Goodman

: Credit: Ed Thompson

Related Topicsfeatured photo gallery Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Mark Asher Goodman

Mark Asher Goodman is a writer for Pittsburgh Soccer Now, covering the Riverhounds, the Pitt Men's and Women's teams, and youth soccer. He also co-hosts a podcast on the Colorado Rapids called 'Holding the High Line with Rabbi and Red.' He has written in the past for the Washington Post, Denver Post, The Athletic, and American Soccer Analysis. When he's not reading, writing, watching, or coaching soccer, he is an actual rabbi. No, really. You can find him on twitter at @soccer_rabbi