Road Trips Are All Business for the Hounds
June 2, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
The old adage goes that any time you can get points on the road, it's a good thing. For the Riverhounds, there's been a lot of good the past few seasons.
Since the arrival of head coach Bob Lilley in 2018, the Hounds have gone 22-11-12 in league matches away from Highmark Stadium, one of the best marks in the USL Championship over that stretch. That isn't a coincidence, as lots of planning goes into making a road trip a successful one.
Lilley and assistant coach Dan Visser put plenty of time in planning road trips, as having the players in ideal physical condition is just as important as any tactical preparation. While some of the longer trips involve flights, many, such as tonight's 7 p.m. kickoff against Loudoun United FC, require loading up on a charter bus the day before the game.
When the Hounds arrive at their destination, they go straight to the field for a short training session, giving the players a chance to stretch their legs. Unlike training sessions at Highmark Stadium, which can run long or be cut short, the coaches stick to a firm time schedule, and the practices involve less talking and more constant movement for a brisk workout. (See the clips above for a glimpse at Tuesday's training session.)
Once the 60-to-90-minute practice has ended, it's back on the bus to the team hotel, where a carefully planned meal, team meetings, and most importantly, a good night's sleep is on the agenda.
Meals and brief walkthrough make up the game day schedule, and roughly two hours before kickoff, the bus arrives back at the venue to suit up for game time.
It's a pretty simple routine, but it has been a successful one for the Hounds, who have both produced results and avoided too many muscular injuries or other ailments that can be made worse by sitting for a long ride. And, as Lilley said after the team's 3-0 win last Friday in New York: "It's always a nicer ride home when you get three points."
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 2, 2021
- Match Preview: Republic FC v Oakland Roots SC - Sacramento Republic FC
- Another Matchup with Sporting Kansas City Falls Short - FC Tulsa
- Academy Products Shine as Sporting KC II Surges to Emphatic 4-1 Win over FC Tulsa - Sporting Kansas City II
- Rowdies Notch Record-Setting Win over New York - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Hounds Hang on for Second Straight Road Win at Loudoun United - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Rowdies Add Striker Foster Langsdorf on Loan - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Loudoun United FC Lose 3-2 against Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Home - Loudoun United FC
- Greens Grab Huge Road Point at Indy - OKC Energy FC
- Preview: Austin Bold FC v El Paso Locomotive - Austin Bold FC
- English Native Louis Ramsay Signs with RGV FC - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- USL Championship Discipline Report - Week 7 - USL
- Road Trips Are All Business for the Hounds - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Pair of Memphis Players Called up for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualification - Memphis 901 FC
- SD Loyal Acquires Callum Montgomery on Loan from MLS Side, Minnesota United - San Diego Loyal
- Lights FC announce unexpected death of one of two official team llamas - Las Vegas Lights FC
- Oakland Roots SC at Sacramento Republic FC Match Notes - Oakland Roots
- OCSC Partners with COLLiDE Sport to Develop Global Merchandise Collection - Orange County SC
- Rowdies Face First Road Test at New York Red Bulls II - 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.
