Vincent's Hat-Trick Closes Hounds Preseason with Win over Charleston
March 21, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH (March 21, 2015) - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds wrapped up their preseason preparations Saturday night with a 5-1 win over the University of Charleston at Highmark Stadium.
English midfielder Rob Vincent led the charge against his alma mater with a second-half hat-trick to bring his preseason tally to six goals. Drew Russell and Miro Cabrilo rounded out the scoring after a disappointing first half had seen the Hounds trail to Felipe Rafael Antonio's opener.
Vincent leveled the game on 56 minutes after the official called a Charleston defender for a handball in the penalty box. The former Golden Eagle coolly slotted his kick past visiting goalkeeper Justin Bryant.
The Hounds led six minutes later when Vincent dragged a low shot past the reach of the goalkeeper. His hat-trick was completed on 70 minutes when his 20-yard drive trickled into the far corner off Bryant's fingertips.
"It was a little weird scoring against my old team, but it was preparation for the next week and that's the way I think about it," Vincent said.
Russell put the Hounds 3-1 ahead between Vincent's goals. The defender made a run down the right to finish into an open net. He later assisted on Cabrilo's strike with a pinpoint cross that the Canadian forward headed back across goal into Bryant's far corner.
"I don't think we're fully ready," said Riverhounds head coach Mark Steffens. "We gave up a soft goal in the first half and didn't press as well as we should have.
"But we're making strides every week."
The Golden Eagles had the better of the play in the first half. Their forwards forced Pittsburgh goalkeeper Ryan Thompson into some athletic early saves. Thompson also was graced with some good luck when Lewis Osborne's shot in the second minute deflected off the post.
Antonio did beat the Jamaican national team stopper on the stroke of halftime. The Brazilian forward held off Danny Earls in midfield before cutting inside Anthony Arena to stroke a low shot into Thompson's bottom-right corner.
The Riverhounds start the 2015 USL season next Saturday against state rivals Harrisburg City Islanders. Kick off is at 7 p.m. Visit Riverhounds.com for ticket information.
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