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Riveters Turn Lights Out on Steel City: W League Great Forest Division champs roll to 5-0 Derby win in regular season finale

USL W League — Great Forest Division

FINAL: Riveters 5, Steel City FC 0

The regular-season finale of the USL W League Great Forest Division didn’t have a lot of meaning in the standings, but the Riveters SC put an exclamation point on an impressive regular season campaign, defeating Steel City FC, with an emphatic 5-0 result on Saturday night at FNB Stadium.

In a match played with intermittent rain showers, then in the second half when the lights went out — the split crowd at FNB Stadium with fans from both sides were treated to a scoring outburst from the Riveters that displayed their scoring acumen, depth of talent and how far they’ve come along in a short period of time.

Among the goal scorers was Rivs ironwoman Bella Vozar, who played most of the minutes for the squad this season and boasts the most appearances in the short tenure of the pre-professional club.

The former Thomas Jefferson and current American University standout became the 17th different goal scorer for the Riveters this season.

“It shows how diverse we are as a team,” Vozar said.

“We can put anyone in and they can step up and score.”

The rest of the goal scorers included Anna Korney, Ellen Molloy, Tanum Nelson and Minah Syam.

The Riveters (9-0-1) will now host the Central Conference bracket of the playoffs July 3 and July 5.

Riveters goalkeeper Lexi Grundler stopped seven shots on target by Steel City (5-5-0), who saw an impressive late season win streak come to a crushing halt.  It was the most saves in a match for the Riveters, as Grundler recorded her fifth clean sheet.

For Steel City FC, fresh off a mid-week win that vaulted them into second place, the season would end in a match where they were overmatched and playing without one of its biggest targets, forward Maya Matesa, who signed to play professionally in Greece for Apollon Ladies FC earlier in the week. 

First Half

Korney has been a thorn in the side of Steel City in the teams’ meetings, and she nearly did it again after six minutes when she moved deep into the left side of the box that beat the goalkeeper but was cleared off the line by well-positioned Steel City defender Maggie Nesko.

But in the 11th minute, the 16-year-old forward had her third goal in as many career matches against Steel City. Lola Abraham headed a cleared corner kick back into the box, where Gabby Lamparty touched it into the path of Korney to finish from 12 yards away.

 

Steel City goalkeeper Payton O’Malley came up with possibly the best of her five saves midway through the half when she leaped to push a long-range drive by Molloy around the post.

The half appeared to be headed to a 1-0 score, but the Riveters struck again in stoppage time. Abraham unlocked the defense with a perfectly-weighted diagonal ball into the path of Molloy, who was able to finish around the onrushing O’Malley for her third goal of the season.

Second Half

The Riveters started how they finished the first half by scoring another goal just three minutes after the break.

The team worked the ball through the box from the left, first finding the feet of Makenna Dominguez, who passed up a shot from in front of goal to make one more pass wide to Vozar arriving on the right for the finish. It was the first Riveters goal for Vozar, the right back and only player to have played in every match for the team over two seasons.

 

In the 65th minute, Nelson was on the scoresheet as the recipient of Abraham’s second assist of the night. Abraham slipped the pass between the center backs for Nelson to score her third goal of the season and club-leading ninth goal overall.

Seven minutes later, the scoring ended when Dominguez sent a pass through to Syam, who patiently waited for an opening to shoot around the goalkeeper for her first of the season.

Post-Match Notes

  • A Taste of July: With the league office confirming Pittsburgh as the Central Conference playoff host site, the Riveters used the Derby match as the perfect dress rehearsal for what’s coming to F.N.B. Stadium next weekend.

“We have to keep training hard. We have a lot of confidence as a club right now.  We have a lot of trust in each other. That will take us a long way. I think we are more prepared than last year because we know what to expect now,” Vozar added.

“This is the best, most talented team I’ve been on. This is something I am grateful for, with a group of girls that not only want to win, but want to be the best.”

Next Up

The regular season is a wrap! Riveters SC will now shift focus to preparation for the USL W League Central Conference Semifinals, which they will host right here at F.N.B. Stadium, on Friday, July 3.

Stay tuned to Pittsburgh Soccer Now for more coverage this coming week.

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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).

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