Pittsburgh Riverhounds

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Logo
Full name Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Nickname(s) Riverhounds
The Hounds
Founded 1999
Stadium Highmark Stadium
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(capacity: 3,500)
Owner(s) Jason Kutney

Technical Director Gene Klein
Head Coach Justin Evans
League USL Pro
2012 Regular Season: 10th
Playoffs: DNQ
Website Club home page
Home colors
Away colors
Third colors

Current season

Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the club plays in the National Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The Riverhounds play their home games at the 3,500-seat Highmark Stadium, located in Station Square. Their current head coach is Justin Evans.[1]

Contents

History [edit]

The Riverhounds were founded by Paul Heasley in 1999 as a member of the USL's A-League, now known as USL-1. They initially played their home games in Bethel Park, at Bethel Park High School's football stadium. That same year, the Riverhounds were named the A-League Organization of the Year. John Kowalski was the first head coach of the club; Justin Evans was the first player drafted to play for the Riverhounds. In their 1999 inaugural season, they advanced to the conference semi-finals in the A-league playoffs. Two years later in 2001, they reached the US Open Cup quarterfinals after beating the Colorado Rapids of the Major League Soccer and then-A-league opponent El Paso Patriots in their first two games, but the Hounds were eliminated in the quarterfinals by their second MLS opponent of the tournament, the Chicago Fire, in a two-overtime, 3–2 defeat. The Riverhounds have not reached that level of success since that time due in large part to undergoing multiple ownership and location changes.

In 2004, the club moved down to the USL's Second Division. The team also moved to Moon Township to play at Moon Area High School's football stadium for just one season. In December 2004, Heasley sold the team to Sports Facility LLC, owners of the Washington Wild Things baseball team of the Frontier League.[2] The Riverhounds played both the 2005 and 2006 seasons at the Wild Things' minor league baseball stadium, Consol Energy Park, on the outskirts of Washington, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Pittsburgh. The franchise continued to hold soccer academies and training to youth across the Tri-State Area, but did not play during the 2007 season due to a structural reorganization. During that hiatus, the Riverhounds were sold yet again to a new ownership group.

On October 29, 2007, the organization announced another venue change. Beginning with the 2008 season, Chartiers Valley High School's stadium, located just off the Kirwin Heights exit of Interstate 79 in Pittsburgh's South Hills, would be the new home of the Riverhounds.[3]

In 2012, the Riverhounds moved into their current home, Highmark Stadium, in Pittsburgh's SouthSide neighborhood.

The Riverhounds' games were broadcast from 2000 through 2002 on WPTT-AM (now WMNY-AM) and on Fox Sports Radio – WBBG-AM in 2003, and 2005 and 2006, and on WPIT-AM in 2008 by Chris Shovlin. Shovlin was partnered with former Riverhound midfielder Steve Bell on WPTT and with former assistant coach Paul Child on Fox Sports Radio. Shovlin and Bell won the 2003 Pittsburgh March of Dimes A.I.R. Award for Best Play-by-play. Shovlin also served as the team's Director of Publicity during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Only one jersey number, "99", has been officially retired by the Riverhounds. That honor was bestowed upon original owner Paul Heasley for founding the club in 1999.

Colors and badge [edit]

The Riverhound colors – black, blue, and white – were adopted before the start of the 2008 season to honor their academy and training partnership with Everton FC of the Premier League.[4][5] The use of blue is an allusion to the blue collar populace of Pittsburgh.

The term "Riverhound" is derived from the expression "river dog," which refers to Pittsburgh's barge-workers. In fact, the team's mascot, AMO, is named for the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers.

Old Riverhounds crest

Stadium [edit]

Future in Major League Soccer [edit]

The Riverhounds plan to join Major League Soccer within ten years from 2013. Highmark Stadium will initially seat 3,500 spectators, though the team plans for an eventual expansion to 18,500.[6]

Club culture [edit]

Supporters [edit]

Highmark Stadium & Riverhounds Season Opener

In November 2007, the first supporters group of the Pittsburgh RIverhounds was formed, The Steel Army. The Steel Army held their first meeting at Piper's Pub in Pittsburgh's South Side. The group started as 5–10 local people interested in supporting the reorganized Riverhounds Soccer Club and to support the efforts of growing the sport of soccer in Western Pennsylvania as well.

Members are not only from Pittsburgh but also from states as close as Ohio to states as far away as Oregon and Florida. Membership in the Steel Army is now even international with members joining the group from Sunderland and Surrey in the U.K., as well as Bray, in the Republic of Ireland, who will be following the Riverhounds from abroad.

The section of Highmark Stadium where the Steel Army stands and supports the Riverhounds is located at the South Gate end of the stadium. The terrace there holds 502 supporters, with talks of possible expansion. The Steel Army has a fierce rivalry with fellow USL PRO clubs Harrisburg City Islanders (Sons of Susquehanna) and the Rochester Rhinos (Genesee Armada).

Broadcasting [edit]

All USL Pro matches during the 2013 USL Pro season will be streamed live and on-demand free at uslnation.com.[7]

Players and staff [edit]

Current roster [edit]

As at March 26, 2013[8][9]

No. Position Player Nation
0 Goalkeeper Blum, GregGreg Blum      United States
1 Goalkeeper Gilstrap, HunterHunter Gilstrap      United States
2 Midfielder Vincent, RobRob Vincent      England
3 Defender Vázquez, AnthonyAnthony Vázquez      Puerto Rico
4 Defender Katic, NikolaNikola Katic      Croatia
5 Defender Flunder, SterlingSterling Flunder      United States
6 Midfielder Costanzo, RichRich Costanzo      United States
7 Forward Amoo, DarrenDarren Amoo      Ghana
8 Midfielder Green, MichaelMichael Green      United States
9 Midfielder Lundberg, StefanStefan Lundberg      United States
10 Midfielder Kerr, KevinKevin Kerr      Scotland
11 Midfielder Motagalvan, AlfonsoAlfonso Motagalvan      United States
12 Defender Seth, MikeMike Seth      United States
13 Defender Rolko, LouieLouie Rolko      United States
14 Midfielder C'deBaca, SethSeth C'deBaca      United States
15 Defender Marshall, AndrewAndrew Marshall      United States
16 Forward Kinne, RyanRyan Kinne      United States
17 Forward Arteaga, JhonnyJhonny Arteaga      Colombia
18 Forward Angulo, JoséJosé Angulo      Colombia
19 Midfielder Kutney, JasonJason Kutney      United States
20 Midfielder Dallman, MatthewMatthew Dallman      United States
22 Midfielder Seamon, MikeMike Seamon      United States
23 Forward Holowaty, DanielDaniel Holowaty      United States
24 Goalkeeper Hulings, RyanRyan Hulings      United States

Staff [edit]

  • United States Justin EvansHead Coach
  • United States John RotzAssistant Coach
  • Netherlands Jeroen Walstra – Goalkeeper Coach
  • United States Chris Leonard – Trainer
  • United States Jason KutneyChief Executive Officer & Director of Youth Development
  • United States Gene Klein – Technical Director

Notable former players [edit]

Head Coaches [edit]

Achievements [edit]

  • USL Pro Soccer League Atlantic Division Champions 2004

Record [edit]

Year-by-year [edit]

Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. Attendance
1999 2 USL A-League 4th, Northeast Conference Semifinals Did not qualify 4,559
2000 2 USL A-League 7th, Atlantic Did not qualify 2nd Round 3,808
2001 2 USL A-League 3rd, Northern Quarterfinals Quarterfinals 3,226
2002 2 USL A-League 4th, Northeast Did not qualify Did not qualify 2,274
2003 2 USL A-League 3rd, Northeast Did not qualify 3rd Round 1,783
2004 3 USL Pro Soccer League 1st, Atlantic Semifinals Did not qualify 1,475
2005 3 USL Second Division 7th Did not qualify 1st Round 2,236
2006 3 USL Second Division 3rd Semifinals 1st Round 2,232
2007 On Hiatus
2008 3 USL Second Division 8th Did not qualify 2nd Round 1,258
2009 3 USL Second Division 8th Did not qualify 1st Round 1,178
2010 3 USL Second Division 3rd Semifinals 2nd Round 941
2011 3 USL Pro 4th, National Division Semifinals 2nd Round 1,127
2012 3 USL Pro 10th Did Not Qualify 2nd Round 984

Team records [edit]

League matches only, as of 15 February 2013[11]

Most goals [edit]

# Name Nation Career Goals Appearances
1 David Flavius  Saint Lucia 1999–2006 56 182
2 Thiago Martins  Brazil 2002–2003 30 33
3 Phil Karn  United States 1999-2002 23 95
4 Michael Apple  United States 1999-2002, 2004, 2006 21 96
5 Said Ali  Jordan 2004-2005 15 19
6 Gary DePalma  United States 1999-2004 15 145
7 Justin Evans  United States 1999,2000,2001,2003, 2008-2009 14 101
8 Michael Butler  Liberia 1999,2000 14 37
9 Corey Woolfolk  United States 2003 8 26
10 Tenywa Bonseu  Uganda 1999–2000, 2009 7 65
11 Matt Kassel  United States 2012 6 18

Most Appearances [edit]

League matches only, as of 15 February 2013[11]

# Name Nation Career Appearances
1 David Flavius  Saint Lucia 1999–2006 182
2 Gary DePalma  United States 1999-2004 145
3 Randy Dedini  United States 1999,2000, 2001-2003 113
4 Jaman Tripoli  United States 1999-2003 105
5 Justin Evans  United States 1999,2000,2001,2003, 2008-2009 101
6= Nathan Salsi  United States 2004–2006, 2008-2009 96
6= Michael Apple  United States 1999-2002, 2004, 2006 96
8 Phil Karn  United States 1999-2002 95
9 Jason Kutney  United States 2006, 2008- 80
10 David Wright  United States 2000–2003 77

History vs. Major League Soccer [edit]

  • 6/27/2001 – U.S. Open Cup (2nd Round) – Colorado Rapids 0 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2 (Bethel Park H.S. Stadium)
  • 7/24/2001 – U.S. Open Cup (Quarterfinals) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2 vs. Chicago Fire 3 (McCully Field)
  • 7/16/2003 – U.S. Open Cup (3rd Round) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1 vs. D.C. United 2 (Maryland Soccerplex)

References [edit]

  1. ^ Evans named Riverhounds coach
  2. ^ Price, Karen (7 May 2005). "Wild Things owners looking to duplicate success". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 9 July 2008. 
  3. ^ "Sports briefs". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 29 October 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2008. 
  4. ^ Zeise, Paul (13 July 2007). "Riverhounds kick up ante". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 9 July 2008. 
  5. ^ McLeod, Scott (10 August 2007). "Blues Partner Riverhounds". EvertonFC.com. Retrieved 9 July 2008. 
  6. ^ Kilpatrick, David (Nov 29, 2012). "A New Stadium in Pittsburgh". New York Times. Retrieved Dec 8, 2012. 
  7. ^ "USL PRO Lights Up UNATION". USL Pro. Retrieved 19 April 2013. 
  8. ^ "Official Roster- USL PRO 2013". USL Pro. 
  9. ^ "2013 Pittsburgh Riverhounds". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved 26 March 2013. 
  10. ^ "Riverhounds make coaching change". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 25 October 2012. 
  11. ^ a b "Riverhounds Goals/Games Leaders". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 15 February 2013. 

External links [edit]