Trevor Amann brace leads Riverhounds past Duquesne, 2-1

From Riverhounds SC report

Riverhounds took on its first collegiate opponent of the preseason when Duquesne provided a solid challenge, but a pair of goals by Trevor Amann was enough for the Hounds to score a 2-1 win over Duquesne University on Wednesday evening at Highmark Stadium.

The victory keeps the Hounds (4-0-0) unbeaten, as they ventured for their first preseason outing outdoors at their regular home ground.

Duquesne senior Cody Da found the equalizer Dukes’ goal.

Amann had the Hounds in front in the 19th minute after the Hounds won possession in the Duquesne half. Brigham Larsen slotted a pass down the right side leading Amann into the box, and the new Hounds forward scored with a low shot that got under the glove of the diving goalkeeper.

The Dukes continued to press and get numbers forward again the pros of the Hounds, and in the 35th minute, they were rewarded. Ashwin Menon received a ball coming across the field from the right side, and his low cross from the left got all the way across goal to Da, who finished at the back post.

The teams went to halftime tied, and the Hounds made fewer lineup changes than in previous preseason matches as head coach Rob Vincent aimed to begin stretching out his players to full-match fitness. The longer shift allowed Amann to get his second goal — and his team-leading third of the preseason — in the 54th minute when he rose to head in a cross from the right side served by the boot of one of the team’s trialists.

Larsen nearly had a third goal for the Hounds when Warren Agostoni got to the goal line and fed the ball across in the 67th minute, but he was denied by a point-blank kick save turning the ball around the post for a corner kick.

The Hounds rolled in a new wave of players, including Albert Dikwa, Danny Griffin and Beto Ydrach, for the final 20 minutes, and the action ended with another strong save in the Duquesne goal to deny Eliot Goldthorp’s effort from 18 yards on the final touch of the match.

The Hounds will host Western Conference foe Lexington SC at noon Saturday, Feb. 21 at Highmark Stadium.

The teams have yet to meet in a competitive match, but they did play a 0-0 preseason draw in Kentucky last season.

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