Game Day: Hounds at Birmingham Legion FC
March 10, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
The 24th season of Riverhounds soccer will kick off at the site of the team's biggest victory a year ago, as the Hounds visit Birmingham Legion FC to kick off the 2023 USL Championship season Saturday night in Alabama.
The game is a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Quarterfinal when the Hounds twice rallied - first in regulation and again in extra time - with goals by Edward Kizza to send the match to penalty kicks and eventually advance on the 10th kick of the shootout, 2-2 (8-7).
Kizza returns to the scene as one of 10 returning Hounds from a season ago, as the team will trot out a revamped lineup trying to make that next step by improving on last year's 16-9-9 record and moving beyond the conference semifinal round. The spine of the team is loaded with returning starters, from goalkeeper Jahmali Waite and center back Arturo Ordóñez, and moving forward through playmaking midfielders Kenardo Forbes and Robbie Mertz up to a front line spearheaded by 11-goal scorer Albert Dikwa. Forbes and Mertz posted 19 assists between them in 2022 - six of Mertz's came with Atlanta before his midseason transfer - which ties them as the USL Championship's top returning assists duo with Memphis' Aaron Molloy and Jeremy Kelly.
On the Birmingham side, there is no shortage of attacking threats, including a bunch with history involving the Hounds. One of the Legion's biggest offseason additions was Neco Brett, the Hounds' top scorer in 2018 and '19 who authored a four-goal masterpiece against Birmingham in the 2019 playoffs. The Legion also added former Hounds winger Tyler Pasher, who after breaking into USL with Pittsburgh went on to torment the Hounds with some clutch goals for Indy Eleven.
The reason Birmingham comes into the season so highly regarded, however, is the quality of their returning parts, led by their veteran attack centerpiece Enzo Martinez, who at age 32 is still coming off a career-best 15-goal season. Matt Van Oekel returns in goal for the Legion, and in front of him will be a defense that helped him post 11 clean sheets a season ago with the likes of Phanuel Kavita and Alex Croganle anchoring the back.
Season openers have been a mixed bag through Hounds history, as the team's 7-8-8 record is almost as even as it could be in first matches. Two of the last three have gone the Hounds' way, including last year, when then team withstood an early Memphis challenge before running away with a 3-0 win away from home. Being on the road is also par for the course, as the team begins away from home for the 18th time in 24 years, including all six seasons under Bob Lilley.
Tomorrow's match will be the first as part of the Hounds' new television deal with CW Pittsburgh, which will bring 22 matches to the Pittsburgh airwaves and stream those matches online, free of charge within the Pittsburgh market. Those outside of the region will still be able to catch every Hounds match this year as part of the USL Championship's renewed deal with ESPN+.
And fans who want to meet up to watch the game have a perfect opportunity to do so at the official team watch party at Mike's Beer Bar on the North Shore. Meet the Hounds at Mike's starting at 7 p.m. for a chance to win an exclusive VIP Ticket & Experience package for the home opener, play Hounds trivia and celebrate the start of a new season with your fellow Pittsburgh sports fans!
Riverhounds (0-0-0) vs. Birmingham Legion FC (0-0-0)
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Ala.
Odds: Hounds +270 / Draw +260 / Birmingham -121 (Bet Rivers)
TV: CW Pittsburgh
Streaming: ESPN+ (national), CW Pittsburgh (local)
Live statistics: USL Championship Match Center
Live updates: @RiverhoundsSC on Twitter
Match hashtags: #BHMvPIT and #HOUNDTAHN
United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 10, 2023
- SD Loyal Opens 2023 USL Championship Season with Home Match vs. Detroit City FC - San Diego Loyal
- Notes and Quotes: "We've got to have the right mindset, and the right mentality" - Sacramento Republic FC
- MBFC Launches New Online Game Day Feature with Live Stats - Monterey Bay FC
- Rooted in Orange County: Celebrating Ten Years of Ocsc in Irvine - Orange County SC
- Game Day: Hounds at Birmingham Legion FC - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Game Information and Match Notes - SAFC v OAK - San Antonio FC
- MBFC Re-Signs Forward Jason Johnson - Monterey Bay FC
- Three Wins, One Draw Claimed in Unbeaten Weekend for Academy Squads - Sacramento Republic FC
- Preview: FC Tulsa at Miami FC - March 11 - Miami, Fla. 4 p.m. CT - FC Tulsa
- DEX Imaging Takes over as Rowdies Kit Sponsor - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Charleston Face Phoenix in Home Opener at Patriots Point - Charleston Battery
- Loudoun United FC Sign Midfielder Aidan Rocha - Loudoun United FC
- RGV FC Sign 7 to USL Academy Contracts - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- San Antonio FC Signs Eight to 2023 Roster on USL Academy Agreements - San Antonio FC
- Memphis 901 FC Aiming at New Heights with Revamped 2023 Squad - Memphis 901 FC
- Hartford Open 2023 Season in the Golden State at Monterey Bay - Hartford Athletic
- Orange County SC Announces the Signing of Three Local Products to USL Academy Contracts - Orange County SC
- Monterey Bay F.C. Begins 2023 Regular Season against Hartford Athletic at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside - Monterey Bay FC
- Switchbacks FC Release Full Promotional Calendar for 2023 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- Phoenix Rising FC Signs Four Players to USL Academy Contracts - Phoenix Rising FC
- Loudoun United FC Acquire Jeremy Garay and Gaoussou Samaké on Season-Long Loan - Loudoun United FC
- D.C. United Loan Defender Gaoussou Samake and Midfielder Jeremy Garay to Loudoun United FC - Loudoun United FC
- Detroit City FC Begins Season Saturday Night on the Road against San Diego Loyal - Detroit City FC
- Monterey Bay F.C. Positional Preview: Forwards - Monterey Bay FC
- SD Loyal Announces 2023 Regular Season TV Broadcast Schedule - San Diego Loyal
- Oakland Roots Sports Club Adds Six Players from Project 51O to the First Team - Oakland Roots
- Preview: What to Watch for with LouCity at Orange County SC - Louisville City FC
- Legion FC Adds Young, Talented Defender with Alabama Roots - Birmingham Legion FC
- New Mexico United Announces Signing of Polish Phenom Michael Wyparlo - New Mexico United
- Match Preview: Rowdies vs Indy - Tampa Bay Rowdies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
