Pittsburgh Riverhounds MatchDay: Rochester Rhinos Ready To Rumble At Highmark Stadium

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (0-3-3) are hoping to build on their 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls U-23 squad in the U.S. Open tournament this week as they host the Rochester Rhinos in USL Pro action on Saturday night.

The final match of the three-game homestand is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and for those who can not make it to Highmark Stadium, it will be streamed live on the USL Pro’s YouTube channel.

Last Friday, Orlando City extended their winning streak to six games as they defeated the Hounds 1-0 in a hard fought match at Highmark Stadium. The Lions took an early lead in the first half when in the 14th minute, midfielder Kevin Molino, after receiving a through-ball from Dennis Chin on a quick move upfield, chipped a shot over Riverhounds goalkeeper Michael Lisch and into the left side of the net.

While it will not show up in the USL Pro standings, Pittsburgh was able to unleash victory this week when they downed the Red Bulls U-23 team 3-1 on Wednesday night. Jose Angulo, Kevin Kerr, and Rob Vincent each got on the scoresheet with a goal.

The Rhinos (2-1-4) are in fifth place in the standings, and are coming off a 2-1 U.S. Open victory against the PDL’s Western Mass Pioneers on Wednesday night at home at Sahlen’s Stadium.

It will be interesting to see who Rochester head coach Bob Lilley will go with for his starting goalkeeper this week. John McCarthy, who has both of the Rhinos’ wins, and 10 saves in four contests or Luis Soffner, who is on loan from the New England Revolution of MLS, and has eight saves in three games.

The Riverhounds defense will need to corral Rhinos’ forward Jimmy Banks, who has three goals and two assists in seven matches. He is eighth overall in the league in points with eight. Also, midfielder Tyler Rosenlund has contributed one goal and two assists in seven contests.

Rochester has scored seven goals in seven games this season while surrendering six to the opposition. It should be noted that three of the six goals came in Week 1 against the first-place Orlando City Lions. The Rhinos are 1-0-1 at home while going 1-1-3 on the road.

In June 2013, Pittsburgh shut out Rochester 3-0 at Highmark Stadium while the Rhinos turned around in the August rematch in New York and shut out the Hounds 1-0.

The Hounds will head out on a two-game road trip next weekend when they take on the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 23 at Legion Stadium in North Carolina. Then, they head to Blackbaud Stadium in South Carolina on Saturday, May 24 for a 7:30 p.m. match with the Charleston Battery.

Riverhounds Reinforcements: The Hounds will host RWB Adria of the USASA on Wednesday, May 21 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the third-longest running open soccer tournament in the world. The winner will travel to the Windy City for a fourth-round pairing with the Chicago Fire of MLS sometime during June 10-18.

Pittsburgh midfielder Matt Dallman earned honorable mention for USL Pro Team of the Week honors for Week 8.

Goalkeeper Michael Lisch, who is on loan from the Houston Dynamo, has allowed only three goals while putting up eight saves in three games for the Hounds.