A lot has gone into Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s current eight-game unbeaten streak.
A solid defense and spectacular play in net, which recently posted the USL Championship’s second-longest all-time shoutout streak at 698 minutes and leads the league in clean sheets at 15, has certainly been a significant factor in Pittsburgh’s current run up to first overall in the table.
So too has been their incredible discipline. The Hounds rank 17th in fouls conceded at 384, and have been assessed the fewest yellow cards of anyone in the league with just 38 in 31 matches.
However, perhaps nothing is more impressive than the incredible amount of offensive depth that the Hounds have at their disposal.
Led by one of the most balanced attacks in the entire league, the Black and Gold have proven to be a handful to deal with for opposing defenses all season long.
“It’s not like it is only me or Neco [Brett] who has to score goals, we have a lot of guys,” forward Steevan Dos Santos said. “We have Volesky with a couple goals and Robbie with a couple, Kevin, even Joe our center back has a couple goals. It’s good knowing that when you’re not scoring, someone else can score.”
So far this season, Pittsburgh has gotten goals from 12 different players The team currently boasts four players who have scored at least five times, second only to North Carolina and Ottawa who each have six.
Furthermore, they have eight different players who have scored at least three markers on the year. Only New York Red Bulls II has more with nine total.
And while Brett is the only member of the squad to crack the double-digit goal threshold so far this season, their balanced and relentless attack has made them one of the hardest clubs to contain.
“We have multiple players who could come in and make a difference by scoring a goal,” midfielder Anthony Velarde said. “I think we have key players on our team, but I don’t think we have one certain player who we have to go to and rely on so much. I think that just speaks to the team, we have a lot of depth and many players who can fill any position and know we can perform at a high level.”
This depth of talent has given head coach Bob Lilley the flexibility to field any number of different offensive formations so far this season. At times, Dos Santos and Brett have played together in a striking duo, while on other occasions one has been a solo striker with the other hanging back in more of an attacking midfielder role.
Surrounded by support from the likes of Velarde, Volesky, and Kevin Kerr in different spots, the Riverhounds can effectively mold their attack into whatever formation needed to break down opposing defenses.
“Coach has the right tactics for the right game,” Velarde said. “He’s very detailed in what he wants us to do every game, and credit to us as well that we’re able to perform and play those tactics that he wants us to use effectively.”
It takes a full team effort to win at this level, and if Pittsburgh wants to keep its title hopes alive, it is going to need a full effort from all three thirds of the pitch in every match from here on out.
And finding someone to step up offensively shouldn’t be much of a concern.
“This squad is very talented,” Dos Santos said. “Coach has been rotating the guys through and we are still winning. That’s good because if you’ve been getting the most minutes, you know if you get a day off whoever steps in is going to do a good job as well.”
