Tale of the W League Pittsburgh Derby Tape: Riveters and Steel City FC rosters brimming with local talent

Ahead of their second and final W League Great Forest Division clash of this season and fourth overall, Riveters SC and Steel City FC women’s squads are absolutely brimming with elite homegrown talent, deeply rooted in the Western Pennsylvania (WPIAL) and Greater Pittsburgh soccer ecosystems.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the team metrics along with distinct local, homegrown connections for both the Pittsburgh Riveters SC and Steel City FC rosters, highlighting where these players starred in high school, their youth club ties, and where they went on to play collegiate soccer.

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Team Metrics

Pittsburgh Riveters SC

• Record     8–1–0 (Undefeated)
• Points      25
• Current Form  W-W-W-W-W
• Goals Scored (GF)   28
• Goals Allowed (GA)  6
• Clean Sheets          6
• Goal Differential (GD)      +22

Individual

• Goals: Sabrina Bryan (4), Taylor Green (3), Alexis Tylenda (3)
• Assists: Lola Abraham (4), Bella Vozar (3), Kennedy Neighbors (3)
• Points (G+A): Sabrina Bryan (8), Lola Abraham (8), Alexis Tylenda (6), Taylor Green (6), Ellen Molloy (6)
• Shots on Goal: Lola Abraham (16), Sabrina Bryan (9), Ellen Molloy (9)
• The Iron Woman: Bella Vozar (774 minutes played)

Steel City FC

• Record 5–0–4
• Points  15
• Current Form W-W-L-W-W
• Goal Scored   15
• Goals Allowed  15
• Goal Differential  0
• Clean Sheets  2

Individual

• Goals:  Abigail Stager (5), Sydney Chontos (3)
• Assists:  Eight (!!) players tied with 1
• Shots on Goal:  Samantha Miller (14)
• Iron Woman: Elle Dorfman (804)

The Tactical Storylines: By The Numbers

1. Central Focus vs. Shared Load

• The Contrast: While the Riveters boast a incredibly balanced attack (12 different goal scorers, with Sabrina Bryan leading at 4), Steel City’s offense is highly concentrated. Abigail Stager has scored five of Steel City’s 15 total goals this summer (a massive 33% of their entire offense).

• The Matchup: The battle between Stager and the Riveters’ defensive iron core which has surrended just five goals this season —led by Bella Vozar (710 mins) and Piper Coffield (516 mins)—will likely dictate the entire outcome of the match. They were on top of their game in the previous match up — shutting down Maya Matesa (who has signed pro contract in Cyprus, Greece). Steel City comes into this match in better form, as it will be interesting to see if Gibson looks to manage the minutes of his top players or does he still throw Coffield, who’s returned this Spring from injury and Vozar into the mix in this match that doesn’t mean much for the club’s postseason chances.

2. High-Volume Creation vs. Gritty Transition

• The Contrast: For the Riveters, Lola Abraham is the high-volume engine, racking up 26 shots and 16 shots on goal. Steel City counters with Samantha Miller, who leads her side with 14 shots on goal, playing a much more direct, transition-heavy style to unlock opposing backlines.

• The Assist Mystery: The fact that eight different Steel City players have exactly one assist tells you everything about their system. They aren’t relying on a single playmaker like Abraham (4 assists); instead, they create by committee, often utilizing secondary phases and chaos in the box.

3. The Iron Woman Battle

• The Contrast: Talk about durability. While Bella Vozar leads the Riveters with 710 minutes played, Steel City’s Elle Dorfman has logged a jaw-dropping 804 minutes this summer. Dorfman has barely left the pitch all season, anchoring a defense that has clawed its way to a perfectly balanced 0 goal differential (15 GF, 15 GA) just in time for the finale.  Also, in goal, both teams have alternated keepers though Bailey Herfurth (West Virginia) stole the spotlight with her stoppage time wonder goal (yes that’s right — who can forget her goal that salvaged a draw vs Flower City in May), South Fayette standout Caitlyn Thompson has earned playing time this season, including getting the W in Buffalo earlier this week.  Steel City has seen rotation between Payton O’Malley and Ruby Morgan (Trinity / Eastern Kentucky).

Pittsburgh Derby Roster Breakdown

Riveters SC

The two-time defending Great Forest Division champions have built a roster featuring some local stars and current/recent Division 1 talent.

Visiting Hounds practice one day in April, Head Coach Scott Gibson walked by with a young player and her parents, acknowledging that he was showing around a new ‘recruit’ they were hoping would make the commitment to play with the team this year.

And so it goes.  In year two, the team that — with the support of Riverhounds’ organization resources — have continued bring in the best players possible while also packing large crowds into FNB Stadium.

There’s a lot of talented players on the roster.

The question and challenge that Gibson and his staff answered resoundingly with success— was getting this group to play a high level and build chemistry in against Great Forest Division and earn another spot in the USL W League postseason tournament.

The returninng core built around veteran Sabrina Bryan (Canon-McMillan / Hofstra — also has been coaching at South Fayette HS), Azalea Mihailovich (former UNC Ashville standout from Cumberland, MD, but played with Hounds Academy) and coming back is the team’s leading scorer from last year, Tanum Nelson (formerly Cornell University) was a good starting point.

Two interesting additions with distinct international backgrounds who have made an impact include: Ellen Molloy: Midfielder and Republic of Ireland international and Ashley Townsend: Midfielder/Forward with experience in the English league system (South Shields and Durham)

Among the current Division I talent includes Kennedy Neighbors (Indiana), Hadley Murrell (Oklahoma), Lucia Wells (North Allegheny / Pitt), Lola Abraham (Riverview / Pitt), Alexis Tylenda (Shaler, Beadling, University of Kentucky), Fiona Mahan (Avonworth / University of Alabama), Robin Reilly (Latrobe / West Virginia University); Shannon Studer (Appalachian State), Brooke Fabri (South Florida),, Piper Coffield (Mars / Indiana), Sydney Lindeman (Franklin Regional / Towson), Natalia Disora (Upper St Clair / Wake Forest), Ella Bulava (Latrobe / Maryland), Grace Bannon (Montour / Campbell), Kate Friday (Fox Chapel / Florida Gulf Coast), Lexi Grundler (Bowling Green), Aris Lamanna (Franklin Regional / Coastal Carolina), Mia Deramo (South Fayette / Youngstown State), Annamarie Williams (Highlands / Virginia), Lilly Bane (Canon-McMillan / Maryland), Caitlyn Thompson (South Fayette / Miami-OH), Bella Vozar (Thomas Jefferson / American); Bailey Herfurth (West Virginia); Minah Syam (Avonworth / Bowling Green).  

Steel City FC

Steel City’s roster leans heavily on local club standouts, featuring massive representation from it’s own homegrown machine along with other players  from other clubs in the area including Beadling SC (Western PA’s MLS Next affiliate) and local universities like Duquesne, Pitt, and Robert Morris.

Head Coach Tom Ovenden and Steel City are doubled down on continuity, returning 16 players from their 2025 campaign to anchor their inside-out developmental model. This chemistry and depth helped Steel City navigate a tough stretch early and mid season that included four losses.

Steel City played Riveters to two tight contests that weren’t decided until the final whistle last season.  In the first match this season it was a tight contest, but again, the Riveters pulled away for the clear-cut 2-0 result.

In bringing back such a large core group of returnees, it’s been a solid group that has a strong understanding of the system.

• Key Returnees: Emily Graeca (Dubois / James Madison), Coco Dorman (Marquette), Regan Reilly (Latrobe / Eastern Kentucky), Audrey Bianco (CMU), Payton O’Mally (Chartiers Valley /Bowling Green) and Kaitlyn Killinger (Plum / Duquesne)

• Local Ties: The roster features several Moon High School products, including Skylar and Kaitlyn Leseck, alongside Chartiers Valley standout Payton O’Malley. Ruby Morgan (Trinity / Eastern Ky) has been a solid presence in goal when O’Malley hasn’t played.

• Coaching Core: Veteran Jaclyn Ketter (Kent State), currently the head coach at Wheeling University, provides an essential veteran presence on the pitch.

Steel City Homegrown Standouts

• Kaitlyn Killinger (FW, #10): From Plum High School who went on to lead the attack locally for the Pitt Panthers and then transfered to Duquesne after a stellar youth career with Beadling SC.

• Jayden Sharpless (MF, #32) & Simone Sharpless (FW, #2): A dynamic sister duo with an incredible local pedigree. Jayden won WPIAL titles at both North Catholic and Avonworth before playing for Georgia State and Duquesne. Simone has been a major attacking force for North Catholic.

• The Leseck Sisters (Kayla #10 & Skylar #15): Inseparable local fixtures. Both played their high school soccer at South Park High School and moved on together to anchor the midfield and defense at Robert Morris University (RMU).

• Abigail Stager (FW, #7): A blistering forward from North Allegheny High School who was a primary offensive spark plug before taking her talents to the Kentucky Wildcats.

• Kelsey Salopek (DF, #6): A versatile talent, and another former Moe Rosensteel Award winner, who helped lead Steel Valley High School to a district title andearned All-WPIAL honors before putting together a stellar collegiate career at Kent State.

• The Folino Sisters (Gabriella #6 & Domenica #13): Bringing incredible local chemistry out of the Oakland Catholic program, reinforcing Steel City’s commitment to community-bred talent.

• Sydney Chontos (FW, #11): A fierce attacker from Beaver County (Beaver Area High School) who brings physical, direct play to the Steel City front line.