January 31, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
The on-field work toward the Riverhounds’ 25th-anniversary season began in earnest on Monday, Jan. 29, when the team logged its first practice of the year on the indoor field at the AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis.
The practice was the official start to the seventh season under the leadership of head coach Bob Lilley, and it was the first session for the club being outfitted by Charly, the team’s new soccer apparel and kit provider. Decked out with new practice jerseys, shorts and even sharp new pinnies, the Hounds put in a two-hour practice to get the legs loose and for the team’s 11 returning players to work out for the first time with their new teammates.
Take a peek at some of the images from Monday’s practice:
Training will continue into next week before the team has its first preseason match, a home game at Highmark Stadium against Indy Eleven at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 6. That will be the first of five contests to help the Hounds iron out their roster and prepare for their USL Championship opener at New Mexico United on Saturday, March 9.
Much can change with a month of preparation still to come, but here are some of the major items and notable pieces of info as the club prepares to become just the third in USL – and the second in the Championship – to reach its 25th season of play.
By reaching their 25th year of competition, the Riverhounds are just the fifth Pittsburgh professional sports team to reach that mark of longevity, joining the Pirates (MLB, 1887-present), Steelers (NFL, 1933-present), Hornets (AHL, 1936-56 and 1961-67) and Penguins (NHL, 1967-present).
The Hounds won the Players’ Shield for the first time in 2023 after finishing with the USL Championship’s best regular-season record, 19-5-10.
The team has reached the postseason each of the past six years, which is the second-longest active streak in the Championship behind Louisville City FC, as well as the longest active streak among Pittsburgh’s four professional sports teams.
The Hounds also reached the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last year, defeating MLS teams New England Revolution and Columbus Crew on their path to the final eight of U.S. Soccer’s national championship.
Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley is entering his seventh year with the team and 24th year overall coaching in the pro ranks. He has a 106-42-55 record with Pittsburgh and a 357-167-151…