Published on May 1, 2026 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
For most academy teams, progression through ranks is a gradual process. For the Riverhounds Development Academy’s 2014 Regional League Girls, that process happened faster than any of them could’ve expected.
After an undefeated run in the Pre-RL, the 2014 RL Girls entered a new, unfamiliar environment by moving into the Pre-ECNL bracket. Whether it be a result of faster pace, more physicality or overall skill of competition, the group was set to discover a new landscape after a promotion earned by the girls’ hard work and readiness.
In the RDA, the pathways offered to players are structurally quite clear. The top-tier academy teams compete in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), with the ECNL Regional League (RL) next below it. Before moving into those top leagues, younger age groups play in Pre-ECNL and Pre-RL leagues, developmental competitions that prepare players for the higher levels that come as they grow older.
This same idea of player and team development was far ahead of schedule when it came to the 2014 RL Girls. Head coach Marcelo Antonelli, now in his second year with the team, describes not only the foundation of the team, but the mindset behind it.
“We create a culture where everybody would be working hard for the team, giving their best, and at the same time enjoying practice,” Antonelli said. “You can learn to have fun competing, learning and improving. I think that’s the culture we’re creating.”
It is that exact culture, he believes, that carried the group tremendously upward.
“We can talk about possession, combination play, defending,” he said. “But, I think the biggest area of growth is team mentality. Everybody is fighting for each other to the end. They demand from each other and enjoy the process. That culture is the number one thing that helped us make the jump.”
Keeping this mindset in their arsenal, the results followed naturally. Through the season, the team built piece by piece, focusing first on defensive needs, then shifting the focus to attacking combinations. By building their consistency, they gradually began to outgrow their competition. Still, Antonelli is careful to focus on the team’s future obstacles in Pre-ECNL play.
“It’s not even really a decision,” he said. “The results brought them there. They had enough confidence, chemistry and success to be ready for the next challenge.”
When shifting to the…