Cashman’s four-goal explosion powers Pine-Richland past Mercyhurst Prep, 5-1, to wrap JRK Classic

Senior midfielder Ryan Cashman didn’t have much time to stew over a missed late-game opportunity on Saturday evening—one that could have lifted host Pine-Richland to a season-opening victory against Upper St. Clair rather than a 1-1 draw.

Instead, the Beadling SC product made sure his next touches in the final third left zero room for doubt.

Cashman put on an absolute clinic on Sunday afternoon at Pine-Richland High School, pouring in four goals to ignite a 5-1 victory over District 10 powerhouse Mercyhurst Prep to close out the annual JRK Memorial Classic.

“I missed a sitter yesterday,” Cashman admitted after his performance. “I had an opportunity early in the second half to put us up 2-0, which could have changed the tide of that game. I’m happy I didn’t dwell on that. I came into this game ready to help my team out, and scoring four goals is a good way to do that.”

Ethan Hiserodt added a goal and an assist, while goalkeeper Jackson Dutton delivered a standout performance between the posts—highlighted by a second-half penalty kick save—to secure the Rams’ first win of the 2026 campaign.

For a Pine-Richland squad navigating new lineup combinations, taking four out of six available points against 4A rival Upper St. Clair and a state-caliber Mercyhurst Prep team gives head coach Jordan Wiegand a strong launching pad for the grueling WPIAL Class 4A slate ahead.

“My whole thing throughout this weekend is progression, learning, application, and seeing how it looks the next time,” Wiegand said.

“Upper St. Clair was a great test against an unfamiliar 4A (WPIAL) school. Today, Mercyhurst Prep was still a very decent side, but we were able to accomplish what we set out to do. We’ll escape with a draw and move out of here with a win—it’s better than other years we’ve done this, and hopefully, we propel this into the season.”

How It Happened

Both sides spent the opening 15 minutes feeling out the match, with Mercyhurst Prep dropping into a compact low block to clog central passing lanes. The Rams needed time to break through the Lakers’ structured shape, patiently probing around the perimeter.

Cashman recognized early on where the openings were developing.

“I noticed that we could definitely find some space in between their backline and midfield,” Cashman explained. “Picking up the ball there, whether it was me at the 10 or someone else, we could get the ball and go forward. It was all about winning that first ball out of the air and getting on the second ball to apply pressure.”

The breakthrough came late in the opening half. After an initial Pine-Richland attack was turned away, Cashman gathered the loose ball at the edge of the 18, cut sharply to his left, and drove a precise strike into the far corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Mercyhurst Prep created quality chances of its own before the break. In the closing minutes of the first half, Lakers midfielder Eugeno Gamboa found space 16 yards out and unleashed a laser toward goal, forcing Dutton into a brilliant diving save to preserve the lead.

Wild Second-Half Surge

Pine-Richland doubled its advantage early in the second half when Cashman drew a foul inside the box after clever footwork around the defense. Stepping up to the spot in the 42nd minute, the senior coolly buried his penalty kick into the right side of the net for a 2-0 cushion.

Six minutes later, Cashman completed the hat-trick. Junior Ethan Hiserodt threaded a weighted pass through the back line, and Cashman finished clinically to make it 3-0 in the 48th minute.

“Ethan played a really good ball in,” Cashman said of the assist.

“Lots of my teammates were open and creating space today. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

The match briefly turned chaotic seconds later. Straight off the restart, Mercyhurst Prep struck back as Gamboa capitalized on a defensive lapse to cut the Rams’ lead to 3-1.

“It changed my attitude for sure,” Wiegand said of the breakdown. “I’m such a stickler on clean sheets because they help morale going forward. It wasn’t a pattern of play that led to an amazing finish—it was self-inflicted. But in those moments, those are teachable moments as long as we use them to eliminate those mistakes moving forward.”

Pine-Richland responded like a veteran group, slamming the door shut almost immediately. Hiserodt slotted home a clean finish from 14 yards out, before Cashman capped his remarkable afternoon with his fourth goal of the day to stretch the lead to 5-1.

Mercyhurst Prep pushed hard in the final 10 minutes, demonstrating why they remain a threat for a deep PIAA postseason run in November. Gamboa earned a penalty kick in the 75th minute, but Dutton denied him with a dazzling diving save, followed by another point-blank stop two minutes later to seal the 5-1 final score.

What They Said

Despite the result, Jake Gamble, Mercyhurst Prep’s head coach praised the quality of competition at the JRK Classic and the test Pine-Richland provided:

“Yeah, I know with a few seniors, and there was some size difference out there. They scored a few goals just based off of ball winning, so we’ll get better at that. But they’re going to be a tough side to beat in a very tough section down here. We’ll certainly be keeping some eyes on these guys and how they do.”

“Past two seasons, we’ve come down here, and the level of play is great. We get to play against some very good competition that we might be seeing in November when we’re able to make it to the playoffs. So, we love it—great facilities, great people, and we really enjoy coming down.”

Wiegand also highlighted Cashman’s growth and his expanded role in the Rams’ attack this season:

“I put a heavy emphasis on Ryan early on, from his freshman year all the way up,” Wiegand noted. “Not many kids get that opportunity at these big 4A schools, but his attitude, intelligence, and knack for going forward really jumped this past year. Having more roster depth this year gives him the opportunity to flourish up high.”

For Cashman and the Rams, the focus now turns directly to section play, starting with a massive opener against Seneca Valley.

“It’s huge to get this competition early,” Cashman said. “We have a couple of freshmen stepping up, so it’s good to see them play under pressure and learn to focus in this environment. I’m looking forward to playing under the lights and showing what our team can do. We made it to the second round last year, but we’re hoping to make a bigger run this year.”

Photo Gallery (Photos Courtesy Nick Humbertson)

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Post-Match Video Interviews

Catch full post-game reaction with Pine-Richland head coach Jordan Wiegand and four-goal hero Ryan Cashman on Pittsburgh Soccer Now’s YouTube Channel:

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).