Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by GrouchoPython (talk | contribs) at 03:09, 24 July 2016 (2016 result). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23
Logo
Founded2013
StadiumHighmark Stadium
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Capacity3,500
OwnerTuffy Shallenberger
ManagerJames McCaig
LeaguePremier Development League
20165th, Great Lakes Division
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

Pittsburgh Riverhounds U-23 is an American soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania which began play with the 2014 PDL season. The team is affiliated with and will serve as a feeder team for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL. The team plays in the Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division.[1] The team plays their home games at Highmark Stadium.[2][3] The current manager of the team is James McCaig.[4][5]

History

Founding

On November 26, 2013 it was announced that the Pittsburgh Riverhounds had secured a Premier Development League franchise that would begin play during the 2014 PDL season. At the time, no official name was unveiled but it was indicated that team would play under the Riverhounds umbrella.[2] Riverhounds CEO Jason Kutney stated that the purpose of the team would be to provide standout local college players a place to play in the summer, something that they had not previously had. Kutney also believed that providing the opportunity to stay fit and play soccer in the region year-round would attract more players to the area in addition to providing players with the opportunity to be observed by USL and Major League Soccer scouts. At this time, it was also announced that the team would play their home matches at Highmark Stadium, likely as double-headers with their parent-club's matches[3]

2014

The club's first head coach was Oz Bakirdan who was also head coach of the Illinois Central College Cougars at the time.[6] The club's first match was scheduled for May 23, 2014 on the road against Chicago Fire Premier at Toyota Park.[7][8] The Riverhounds went on to lose the match 1-2.[9] The club played its inaugural home match at Highmark Stadium on June 4, 2013. The match ended in defeat also, with the Riverhounds losing 0-4 to the Michigan Bucks.[10] The Riverhounds U23 finished the season in last place in the Great Lakes Division with 7 points from 14 matches. For their inaugural season, Geordhy Pantophlet was the team's top scorer with 7 points (3 goals, 1 assist) in 10 matches played.[11] During the club's first season, at least 12 players from local colleges appeared on the 26-man roster.[12]

2015

Prior to the 2015 PDL season, Josh Rife replaced Oz Bakirdan as head coach.[5] Riverhounds U23 finished the season slightly improved over the previous with one more win and draw. However, the team again finished 6th in the Great Lakes Division and missed the playoffs.[13] Lucas Silva and Jason Twum led the team in scoring with two goals each.[14]

2016

In April 2016 it was announced that Rife was replaced as head coach by Englishman and former Arsenal F.C. youth coach James McCaig. Riverhounds U23 again competed in the Great Lakes Conference of the Central Division. The club opened its season on May 25, 2016 against the Michigan Bucks.[4]

Seasons

Season Division League Record (W-L-D) Points Regular Season Playoffs Open Cup Top Scorer(s) Reference
2014
4
USL PDL
2-11-1
7
6th, Great Lakes Did not qualify Not eligible Netherlands Geordhy Pantophlet (3)
[15]
2015
4
USL PDL
3-9-2
11
6th, Great Lakes Did not qualify Did not qualify Brazil Lucas Silva
England Jason Twum (2)
[13]
2016
4
USL PDL
2-8-4
10
5th, Great Lakes Did not qualify Did not qualify Anthony Virgara (3)

Stadium

Roster

Current roster

As of 23 May 2015[16][17]
Number Position Player Nation
31 GK Daniel Lynd  United States
33 DF Kevin Fielden  United States
37 MF Kai Marshall  United States
38 DF Stephane Pierre  United States
39 FW Lewis Osborne  England
40 FW Carson Gray  United States
45 MF Leighton Richards  United States
46 MF Patrick Dixon  Australia
47 DF Cody West  United States
48 MF Zachary McNabb  United States
49 MF Steven Munn  United States
50 MF Andrew Herr  United States
55 MF Matt Essig  United States
56 DF Nigel Seidu  England
57 MF Jason Twum  England
60 MF Duncan Corbett  Scotland
DF Mark Ashby  United States
MF Romeo Charron  Switzerland
DF Bryce Cregan  United States
DF Arthur Duchesne  France
DF Francio Henry  Jamaica
MF Angelo Jack  United States
MF Jeffrey Kyei  Germany
MF Robbie Mertz  United States
GK Max Swartz  United States
FW Lucas Silva  Brazil
MF Brandon Walbert  United States
GK Mack Wheeler  United States

Managerial history

# Head Coach Seasons W L T App W L T W L Honors
PDL Regular Season PDL Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
1 Oz Bakirdan[15] 2014 2 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Josh Rife[13] 2015 3 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 James McCaig 2016 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Notable former U23 players

Players who have signed for the Riverhound's first team:

Players who have signed for other professional clubs:

References

  1. ^ "PDL 2014 Standings". United Soccer Leagues. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Riverhounds Add PDL Franchise". uslsoccer.com. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b Veronica, Nick (26 November 2013). "Riverhounds become Major League Soccer affiliate". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b "HOUNDS APPOINT MCCAIG TO LEAD PDL TEAM". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b Nightingale, Richard. "A MESSAGE FROM TEAM PRESIDENT RICHARD NIGHTINGALE". Steel Army. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Rife Appointed As Riverhounds U23 Coach". USL PDL. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  7. ^ Snyder, Larry. "Pittsburgh Riverhounds Sign Six Before Heading To Houston For Preseason Camp". cityofchampionssports.com. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  8. ^ "2014 PDL Schedule". United Soccer Leagues. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 at Chicago Fire U-23 1:2". PDL. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  10. ^ "RIVERHOUNDS U-23 TEAM DROPS INAUGURAL MATCH AT HIGHMARK STADIUM TO MICHIGAN BUCKS". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  11. ^ "2014 Stats". PDL. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  12. ^ Powell, Mark. "Panthers become Riverhounds for the summer". The Pitt News. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  13. ^ a b c "2015 PDL Standings". PDL. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  14. ^ "2015 Stats". USL PDL. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  15. ^ a b "2014 PDL Standings". PDL. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  16. ^ "2015 Roster". USL. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Current Roster". Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Retrieved 26 May 2015.

External links