Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer: Players to Watch as Pittsburgh’s USL League Two, USL W League and WPSL squads kick off in May

As May has arrived, the regional soccer schedule may be quiet, but not for long.

In addition to Pittsburgh’s soccer calendar for May, we start off this edition of the Pulse with a new feature, ‘What’s Trending in Pittsburgh Soccer’ section along with our list of Players to Watch for Pittsburgh’s pre-professional squads.  There are also numerous Pittsburgh natives who are playing for teams around the country.

What’s Trending in Pittsburgh Soccer

• Hounds Takeaways: The Riverhounds are now settling into weekly match routine, as they now will be on the road for two matches until the end of the month along with a bye week before they return home to face The Miami FC at Highmark on May 30. Despite a narrow 1-0 league setback against Phoenix Rising FC, the Hounds are in the middle of the pack in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference.  Here’s are my takeaways from Saturday’s match:

https://pittsburghsoccernow.com/2026/05/03/takeaways-defensive-lapse-snaps-home-mojo-as-riverhounds-fall-to-phoenix/

• Homegrown vs. Scouted: Fans have been excited to read about the two different roster philosophies for the two League Two teams set to clash this Spring: Steel City’s 19 returning veterans vs. the Hounds 2 mix of national recruits and local stars.  Since this article posted, both clubs have announced more player additions. (Steel City — new player signings on its Instagram account | Hounds 2 added three more signings)

https://pittsburghsoccernow.com/2026/04/28/a-tale-of-usl-league-two-roster-blueprints-steel-city-fc-and-riverhounds-2-take-differing-approach-to-roster-builds/

• World Cup Countdown: With FNB Stadium set to host USMNT watch parties in June and Acrisure Stadium confirmed as a FIFA World Cup Fan Zone for July, the local soccer community is settling into providing larger scale viewing opportunities for soccer fans in the Pittsburgh region.  Look for more to come on both.  We met with representatives from Steelers / Acrisure Stadium this week, and they will be sharing more on the set-up at Acrisure Stadium in the days ahead and will be hearing more from Riverhounds SC President Jeff Garner in an upcoming episode of Sounding Off on Soccer.

https://pittsburghsoccernow.com/2026/05/01/world-cup-related-events-taking-shape-in-pittsburgh-both-at-fnb-stadium-and-acrisure-stadium/

• Sounding Off on Soccer Returns: After a brief hiatus, the podcast returns this week with two high-profile special episodes featuring expert guests to break down the pre-professional season and the road to the World Cup.  Guests lined up include Riverhounds President Jeff Garner and The Sporting News‘ Mike Decourcy.

• Beadling SC Women’s Team — Still Kicking in WPSL: Meanwhile, the pre-professional soccer landscape in Pittsburgh is set for a historic 2026 as five — that’s right — five (!!) local squads prepare to kick off their campaigns in the USL League Two, USL W League and WPSL. Just in case you were wondering, there is also a fifth pre-professional team that may get lost in the shadows, as Beadling’s women’s squad continues to complete in WPSL.

https://twitter.com/BeadlingSoccer/status/2046956685156094389?s=20

With rosters taking shape and schedules finalized, May marks the beginning of a summer filled with local rivalries, highlighted by four all-Pittsburgh derbies.

Last week, we took a closer look at where the two USL League Two men’s squads stand with their respective roster builds, pointing out that each club has taken a different approach in filling out spots in their lineups.

Look for more to come as we take a closer look at the rosters for Pittsburgh’s W-League and WPSL squads, Riveters SC, Steel City FC and Beadling SC and Rachael Palmer will have her first Riveters SC feature to come soon.

In the meantime, here’s a list of Ten Players to Watch who will be strapping up their boots to complete with Pittsburgh’s pre-pro teams this Spring.

Pre-Pro Players to Watch in 2026

The standout names from Pittsburgh across USL League Two, USL W League, and WPSL.

1. Koven Johnson (Midfielder, Riverhounds 2): The marquee signing and 2026 MLS SuperDraft pick returns to his roots as a former Steel City/Arsenal product to anchor the Hounds’ developmental squad.  Despite being selected by Colorado Rapids, Johnson opted to return to High Point University this Fall and will be back home in Pittsburgh.
2. Nick Graeca (Midfielder, Steel City FC): The captain of the men’s side returns for his 5th season to lead the Great Forest Division title defense — but this year as he’s also juggling his medical school workload.  In Graeca’s five seasons, Steel City has captured three division titles (first two in NPSL and last season in USL League Two).
3. Haley Longwell (Midfielder / Forward, Beadling SC): The former Moe Rosensteel Award winner (2022) when she starred at Moon, helping lead the Tigers to back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA titles, transferred from Duquesne to UNC-Wilmington last Fall.  Longwell earned CAA Attacking Player of the Year, the first time a UNCW player earned the award in the program’s 32nd season, in a season where she led the Seahawks with seven goals and 18 points.
4. Tanum Nelson (Forward, Riveters SC): A returning talent from the inaugural squad who remains a threat to any backline in the USL W League. Neslon was Riveters’ first-ever goal scorer and the first player to record a hat trick for the club. In 10 matches during the 2025 season, she recorded six goals and two assists, earning her the Steel Army Player of the Year award.
5. Anders Bordoy (Midfielder, Steel City FC): A former Riverhounds Academy standout and USL Academy contract player who made one official appearance with the first team (2023 Open Cup match vs Maryland Bobcats) has become an indispensable veteran for the Steel City men’s squad since during his collegiate tenure.  After transferring from Memphis to Pitt last year, Bordoy made 14 appearances and had two assists.
6. Jack Moxom (Goalkeeper, Riverhounds 2): The University of Pittsburgh standout brings elite shot-stopping (55 saves last fall) to the inaugural Hounds 2 roster. In 2025, Moxom played every minute of every Pitt match, recording 55 save, a 1.28 goals-against average and five clean sheets, including a notable shutout against Clemson in the ACC Tournament.
7. Hadley Murrell (Forward, Riveters SC): The Oklahoma standout and clinical finisher is one of the high-profile scouted recruits who will be joining the Riveters’ attack.  An everyday starter for the Sooners for her last three seasons, Murrell was both a finisher and a playmaker with 10 goals and 13 assists at Oklahoma while earning multiple all-conference academic honors.
8. Eben McIntyre (Forward, Des Moines Menace): Former Charleroi High School and Steel City FC standout who started his college experience at Pitt, transferred to Memphis ahead of the 2025 season, will spend the next few months with one of the most successful USL League Two clubs, Des Moines Menace.  At Memphis, McIntyre started 14 of 15 matches he appeared scoring three goals. In this previous two seasons at Pitt, McIntyre scored three goals.
9. Ashton Miles (Defender, Riverhounds 2): Bringing over 3,000 minutes of USL Championship experience, Miles is an interesting addition, providing a professional backbone to the Hounds’ defensive unit. Hailing from Fullerton, Calif., Miles already has a wealth of experience playing in the USL Championship. Beginning as an academy signing in 2022, Miles played more than 3,000 minutes in 66 appearances in all competitions for Orange County, scoring two goals and assisting two others in his four years with the team. He also captained Orange County’s pre-professional side, OCSC II and is a teammate of Koven Johnson at High Point University.
10. Kaitlyn Killinger (Midfielder / Forward, Steel City FC): A homegrown product with Steel City, Killinger spent two years at Pitt, but transferred to Duquesne last Fall and had a solid campaign, as one of nine Dukes to start all 19 games, playing 1,060 minutes — she finished fourth for Duquesne in scoring with 11 points (four goals, three assists).

USMNT World Cup Tune-Up

The U.S. Men’s National Team begins their final push before the World Cup with a massive send-off match at the end of the month.

We’ll be breaking this down USMNT and the upcoming FIFA World Cup on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast with some very special guests.

• Match: USMNT vs. Senegal (Allstate Continental Clásico)

• Date: Sunday, May 31

• Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET

• Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

FIFA World Cup 2026: Pittsburgh Fan Zones

The road to July starts now. We’ve confirmed that Acrisure Stadium will serve as a primary FIFA World Cup Fan Zone for the knockout rounds. These are free, public watch parties where fans can gather on the field to watch matches on the stadium’s massive 28-by-96-foot screen.

Mark Your July Calendars:

• July 4: Round of 16 Doubleheader (11 AM – 6 PM)

• July 5: Round of 16 Doubleheader (2 PM – 9 PM)

• July 9: Quarterfinal Match (2 PM – 7 PM)

• July 19: World Cup Final (2 PM – 6 PM)

Note: Each Fan Zone event will include live entertainment, food and beverages, and interactive soccer experiences. It’s the closest thing to being at the match without driving to Philly.

The All-Pittsburgh Derby Schedule

The 2026 season features four critical match-ups between the city’s pre-professional teams, providing local fans with plenty of high-stakes “Derby Day” action.

The local schedule kicks off in earnest on May 16 when the Riveters host FC Buffalo at Highmark Stadium, followed by the Hounds 2 opener on May 17 against Cleveland Force.

Check out May’s Pittsburgh Soccer Schedule below.

Pittsburgh Soccer Schedule (May 2026)

John Krysinsky

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).