Riverhounds Begin Open Cup Qualifying
Published on May 7, 2003 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh RIVERHOUNDS® (1-1-1, 4 points) meet the Richmond Kickers (2-1-0, 6 points) Saturday at the University of Richmond Stadium at 7 p.m. in the first of the teams' three meetings this season. This match up also doubles as a qualifier for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The game will be broadcast live on Pittsburgh Fox Sports Radio 970 AM.
The Riverhounds are coming off a 2-0 loss to Toronto in the home opener for Pittsburgh on Saturday. Despite the loss, the HOUNDS® remain in first place in the Northeast Division with 4 points. Toronto and expansion Syracuse are tied for second place with 3 points.
Richmond, who is coming off a stellar 2002 season that ended with an overtime loss to Milwaukee in the A-League championship game, enters the game in a tie for second place in the Southeast Division with the Virginia Beach Mariners. They trail the undefeated Charleston Battery heading into the fourth week of the season.
The Riverhounds and Kickers have met seven times in regular-season play with the Kickers leading the all-time series, 5-1-1. The teams last met in Pittsburgh on June 21 with Richmond on top 2-1. Richmond has 17 players returning from their 2002 squad. New to the team are forward Greg Simmonds (Rochester), midfielder Jason Russell (Milwaukee) and midfielder/forward David Testo. The Kickers lost their 2002 leading scorer, Josh Henderson, to the Charleston Battery.
The format for this season's Open Cup qualifying is similar to last year with seven pairs of U.S.-based A-League teams playing in a two-game, aggregate goals series. The winners of the total goals series - along with the Milwaukee Wave United who received an automatic berth - will advance into the third round of Open Cup play on July 16.
Richmond has a strong history of success in the Open Cup with one title in 1995. In addition to their championship year, the Kickers have appeared in the Open Cup in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002. They advanced to the quarterfinals in 2001 where they lost to D.C. United on the same evening that Pittsburgh lost to the Chicago Fire in double overtime.
The teams complete their qualifying on May 26 at Bethel Park Stadium in a special 3 p.m. kick off on Memorial Day.
LINE UP REPORT
Returning to the Riverhounds line up for the game will be defender David Wright, who missed the home opener. He was serving a one-game suspension for a red card that he received after the game on April 26 in Atlanta.
Midfielder/defender Jaman Tripoli remains out of the line up due to a tendon strain in his right foot. Tripoli continues treatment, but his return to the line up is undetermined. Midfielder Derek Potteiger also is out of the line up with a capsular strain in his right knee. Potteiger could return to the line up in two to three weeks.
The Riverhounds return to Bethel Park Stadium May 14 at 11 a.m. for a special matinee exhibition game against the West Virginia Chaos of the Premier Development League. The game is also the team's second annual School Day Game. Tickets purchased in advance are $6. All tickets at the gate are $8. The next regular-season home game for the Hounds is Memorial Day - May 26 - at 3 p.m. against the Kickers in the second leg of Open Cup qualifying. A special Old Fashioned Memorial Day Picnic follows the game. For more information about tickets or official RIVERHOUNDS® merchandise, call 412-381-4625 or visit www.riverhounds.com.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 7, 2003
- LeChase Chosen as Construction Manager for PaeTec Park - Rochester Rhinos
- Riverhounds Begin Open Cup Qualifying - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Battery Heads To Charlotte - Charleston Battery
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