The article about this evening match on the Hounds' site: http://www.riverhounds.com/home/814645.html
They got it ! First win by the U23 Hounds for their first PDL year. 2-1 against the Totonto Lynx. No more monkey on their shoulder. Let's hope it is the start of a bold campaign full with young confidence. Goal scorers Colin Phillips and Arkangelo James. The scenario. 1-0 for the Hounds, 1-1 t the 83th and finally 2-1 at the 89th. Good one for the team's spirit.
Nice article from Pittnews that talks about the bridge established between the Pgh Riverhounds PDL team and the Pitt's team: it includes interviews of the three Pitt players and their challenge for the season ahead. http://www.pittnews.com/sports/article_78d73b8e-fc0e-11e3-ada4-0017a43b2370.html
Finally a 2nd win for the U23; at Highmark Stadium against one of the conference's power house KW United FC, 2-1. Goals scored by Bruce Cullen (Arkangelo James) 60 and James Merriam (James) 69. They were behind since the 15th minute. Good reaction. Hoping they can finish the season with more wins.
I think we need to look past their first season record and view this as an development opportunity for not only local college players but also high school players in the area. Wins are nice, but making better players will help the hounds at the pro level is better.
It is a really great organization that the Riverhounds have built. With the USL Pro club having a full academy system inplace now for several years. Having the new stadium, having a PDL club is a natural a perfect fit. Players from the Academy are attending PITT area Universities. Those University players have a Pitt franchise now to play in the highest level in the PDL. Highmark Stadium has become soccer central with 3 University and several HS using the pitch for soccer matches as well as Lacrosse. The stadium has a 3400 capacity with a first phase to expand to 6K in place. Other phases can bring the capacity to 10K if needed in the future. Did they use the plan of having the PDL side playing as part of doubleheader with the USLPro club?
They played 2 or 3 games before the first team, but for the most part they did it on their own during weeknights.
Gotcha. I guess that will be something that they will work out in time. The goal of connecting Academy and non academy players who are playing NCAA in Pitt area or away and come home for the summer is a great link between the two to have. I like the choice to stick with the USL and play in the PDL division opposed to NPSL
Ouch. For their first game of the 2015 summer, this PM at 2, the PDL team lost 4-0 at home against KWU.
West Virginia Kings Warriors will broadcast on YouTube all their PDL home games in HD: today Saturday 30th, the one against the Riverhounds U23 at 7pm EST. All details and links in the following article: http://www.wvkingswarriors.org/home/879497.html
After a hard fought away draw this week end against the mighty Michigan Bucks 0-0, the PghRiverhounds U23 won their first match against Dayton at home 2-1. http://riverhounds.com/newsstory/hounds-u23s-seal-first-win-of-pdl-season-over-dayton/ PITTSBURGH (June 9, 2015) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Under-23 team recorded its first win of the USL Premier Development League season Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over the Dayton Dutch Lions at Highmark Stadium. University of Pittsburgh midfielder Romeo Charron grabbed the Hounds’ first goal of the year on 40 minutes. Dutch Lions midfielder Jure Spiler turned Jeffrey Kyei’s shot into his own net on 77 minutes to double the Hounds’ lead. Eric Kissinger notched a consolation goal for the visitors on 84 minutes after Irakli Khutsidze’s free kick rattled against Dan Lynd’s crossbar. Dayton’s Jure Spiler (right) turns Jeffrey Kyei’s shot into his own net to give the Hounds a two-goal lead (Photo: Liz Berie / Riverhounds.com). The Hounds jump two spots to fourth place in the Central Conference’s Great Lakes Division with a 1-2-1 record (four points). Dayton falls to sixth with a 0-3-1 record (one point). Coach Josh Rife and his team travels to Toronto Thursday for an afternoon clash with the TFC Academy team at 2:30 p.m.