Riverhounds In Playoff Mode For Wilmington Trip
Preview provided by Pittsburgh Riverhounds
PITTSBURGH (Sept. 10, 2015) - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will be approaching "must win" territory when they travel to North Carolina this weekend for a showdown with the Wilmington Hammerheads.
The Hounds (10-9-6, 36 points) sit one point beneath the United Soccer League's Eastern Conference playoff line with three games left in the regular season. Securing three points against the division's bottom side Wilmington (3-15-8, 17 points) is vital ahead of two testing games to finish the season against the regular season champion Rochester Rhinos and playoff chasing Harrisburg City Islanders.
"It's like a playoff game with the position we've put ourselves in," said Riverhounds captain Danny Earls. "We need to bring that intensity you need for the playoffs."
Saturday's game kicks off at 7 p.m. from Wilmington's Legion Stadium. Hounds fans will be able to stream the action live on Riverhounds.com.
Rob Vincent's hat trick gave the Hounds a 3-0 win over the Hammerheads at Highmark Stadium last month. The English midfielder is set to return to the Hounds' starting lineup this weekend after missing last Saturday's 1-1 tie with the Charleston Battery through suspension.
Vincent remains in contention for the USL's top scorer award with 18 goals in the league this year. Former Hound Matt Fondy has moved clear with 22 goals for Louisville City. Oklahoma City Energy forward Danni Konig sits second overall with 20. The Hounds have an additional game remaining over both Louisville and Oklahoma City.
Matt Dallman's delivery for Kevin Kerr's goal last Saturday moved him to 23 assists during his USL career. Sacramento Republic playmaker Rodrigo Lopez holds the league's all-time assists lead with 24.
The Hounds continue to thrive in the USL's offensive categories with the team sitting top three in goals and goals-per-game and leading the league in assists and assists-per-game. Vincent and Kerr both rank in the top six for points earned.
By contrast, the Hammerheads have registered fewer goals, assists and shots on goal than any other team this year.
Head coach Mark Steffens has a few injury problems to contend with for the trip. Jamaican national team goalkeeper Ryan Thompson remains sidelined with the left knee injury that he suffered in July's Concacaf Gold Cup Final against Mexico. Defender Fejiro Okiomah has been struggling this week with a swollen Achilles tendon.
Ben Newnam and Stephen Okai will travel despite nursing recent injuries. Newnam strained a calf during the first half of last Saturday's Charleston game. Okai has missed the last three games with a lower left leg problem.
Pittsburgh's Mayor Bill Peduto will be in attendance Sept. 16 when the Hounds close out the regular season home slate against the Rochester Rhinos at Highmark Stadium. Peduto will announce a new partnership between Citiparks Pittsburgh BIG League Sports, the Keep on Playing Foundation and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds that will see the club's players and coaches running soccer clinics. Keep on Playing will be providing soccer equipment for young kids in the city.
Local singer and songwriter Hannah Jenkins will be playing an acoustic set in the Highmark Stadium sports bar before and after the game and during the halftime interval.
The first 2,500 fans to arrive will also receive a free insulated cooler courtesy of Highmark.
Visit Riverhounds.com for ticket information or call our box office on (412) 325-7241 to speak to a representative.
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