January 11, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
The Riverhounds Academy’s 2005/06 Girls went a perfect 3-0-0 at the ECNL Florida showcase from Jan. 7-9 in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
The new year began with one of the biggest annual showcases on the ECNL calendar, and the girls of the Riverhounds Development Academy turned out some great performances against some of the nation’s top clubs from Jan. 7-9 in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
All three of the Hounds teams in attendance – the 2005/06, 2007 and 2008 Girls – had winning outings at the event with with hundreds of college scouts and recruiters in attendance, but it was the oldest group that put together an unblemished three-day record in the Sunshine State.
The 2005/06 Girls started out Sunday with an all-USL matchup against Charlotte Independence, and goals from Atleigh Ciprich and Fiona Mahan made sure the Hounds came out on top 2-0. Their second match against Florida West saw the Hounds trail early – the only goal the team conceded all week – but they tied the match up with a Camryn Kline header. The second half was all Hounds, and Ciprich, Lola Abraham and Mahan from the penalty spot made the final score 4-1. Massachussets club FC Stars was the Hounds’ final opponent, but the team had to battle both the New Englanders and wind topping out near 40 miles per hour. The conditions were less than idea for play, but Mahan netted her third goal in as many games for a 1-0 win that completed the perfect week.
By the end of Tuesday’s play, the 05/06s were one of eight teams in the 63-team age group to finish with three wins from three matches. Factoring in goal difference, with seven for and one against, the Hounds finished tied for second in the overall table, an outstanding start to 2024.
The 2007 Girls opened their time in Florida with a back-and-forth match against Match Fit Academy (N.J.), in which the Hounds fell behind by a pair of goals before rallying for a 4-3 win. Grace Bannon and Reese Huffman scored to pull the score level at 2-2, and Aubrey Wells gave the Hounds their first lead of the game. Match Fit tied the match at 3-3, but Simone Sharpless ended the exciting match with a last-minute winning goal. Next up for the 07s was a battle with Atlanta Fire, another high-level matchup. The Hounds played well in the run of play, but the Fire made the difference in the match with three headed set piece goals to send the Hounds to a 4-2 loss, despite goals from…