The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (0-1-0) fall in their season opener against the Richmond Kickers (2-0-0). The Kickers' Matt Delicate converted the game-winner in the 87th minute to put the home side up 2-1 and earn three points. Playing in their second game of the season, the Kickers opened with a rapid pace looking to get behind the Riverhounds' defense. The Kickers' offensive pressure earned the home side two early corners. The second corner came in the 12th minute of play, leading to William Yomby rising above the cluster and heading the service toward the goal. Yomby's header was on target but struck the cross bar and deflected out for a goal kick. The Riverhounds settled into the match and began to connect through the midfield and threaten the Kickers' defense. The best scoring opportunity for the Riverhounds came in the 29th minute of play off of a throw in deep in the Kickers' defensive half. Jason Kutney took the throw and found Jason Yeisley's head for a flick. Yeisley's flick landed at the feet of Chad Severs slashing through the penalty area. Severs set the ball back for Yeisley who stuck a right-footed shot on frame, but Kickers' goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was in good position to make the save. The remainder of the first half was spent primarily in the middle third of the field. Neither side could build a quality attack and went into the locker rooms with a scoreless 45 minutes of play. The Kickers came out of intermission just like they started the game, with a rapid pace and nearly broke through with the game's first goal in the 48th minute. The Kickers' veteran defender Luke Vercollone found Stanley Nyazamba sitting in front of the Riverhounds last line of defense. As the Riverhounds defensemen moved to close down the ball, Nyazamba slotted a streaking Ryan Heins down the left side. Heins ran on to the Nyazamba pass and first timed a low hard shot to the back post. Riverhounds' goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap sprang to his left to make a spectacular one handed save and deny the Kickers the lead. The Kickers would take the lead twenty minutes later on a counter attack. A quick diagonal ball played to Edson Elcock running down the right flank allowed for the Kickers to jump into the Riverhounds defense. Elcock's cross slid past the top of the penalty area and was poked by Delicate towards Gerson Dos Santos at the top of the box. Dos Santos ripped the bouncing ball cleanly and past Gilstrap into the back of the net. The Riverhounds wasted little time to draw even with a counter attack of their own. Yeisley received a pass from Matt Tuttle on the left side. Yeisley, isolated one on one, beat his defender to the end line and crossed a left footed ball to Severs at the near post. Severs spun out of a tackle and laid a pass back to rookie Ben Horner sprinting towards the penalty stripe. Horner first timed a shot low and past three Kickers' defenders to knot the score at one. A set piece at midfield proved to be the deciding restart of the game. Pascale served a long, driven ball to the top of the Riverhounds' penalty area. Yomby fought off his mark and headed a ball on to Delicate who volleyed Yomby's pass off the upright and in for the game winner. The Riverhounds return to action next Saturday, April 16th in Harrisburg to match up against the City Islanders. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 PM kick-off at Skyline Sports Complex on City Island.
