PITTSBURGH (July 23, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2-12-4) dropped the final leg of their three match homestand, falling 3-0 to the Charlotte Independence (8-6-4). Extending their winless streak to six matches, the Hounds have also lost four-straight for the first time since 2014.
Buoyed by a stellar showing by goalkeeper John Berner, who saved all five shots faced, the Independence scored twice in the first half off tallies by Caleb Calvert in the 31st minute and Lewis Hilton in the 44th minute, while Jorge Herrera added late insurance in second half stoppage time.
The Hounds got off to a quick start, as captain Kevin Kerr had two chances in the match’s first 30 minutes. Receiving a pretty feed from Lebo Moloto in the sixth minute, Kerr tuned up from the top of the box only to see his shot blocked. He followed up that effort in the 28th minute with a redirect of a Mike Green cross on net, forcing Berner to make a strong save.
Charlotte pulled ahead moments later off a tough-angled go by Calvert. Shooting from the right side of the box, Calvert’s shot fired off Vargas and into the net. Pittsburgh would threaten again in the 41st minute thanks to a direct shot by Stephen Okai from distance narrowly missing the top of the goal.
Much like the first tally, the Independence responded minutes later. Receiving a through-ball from Enzo Martinez, Hilton bullied his way to space at the top of the box, shooting a bouncing shot that evaded a diving Mauricio Vargas.
Despite outshooting the Independence 6-to-3 and earning three corners in the first half, the Hounds finished the first 45 minutes and change down two. The deficit proved too much to overcome, as Pittsburgh would only fire one shot on goal for the remainder of the match and cede the third and final tally in stoppage time.
The Hounds now hit the road to end the month of July, taking on the Wilmington Hammerheads (6-7-5) on Saturday, July 30 at 7 p.m. at Legion Stadium.
Line-ups:
Riverhounds – Mauricio Vargas – Jack Thompson (Marshall Hollingsworth 46′), Willie Hunt, Sergio Campbell (Zak Boggs 81′), Michael Green – Lebo Moloto, Danny Earls, Stephen Okai (Conor Branson 66′), Kevin Kerr – Corey Hertzog, Alejandro Aguilar (Nick Thompson 66′)
Subs not used: Hunter Gilstrap, Jordan Murrell, Ryan Adeleye
Charlotte Independence – John Berner – Kevin Bilal Duckett, Patrick Slogic, Joel Johnson, Henry Kalungi – Jun Davidson (Paul Clowes 74′), Lewis Hilton, Enzo Martinez, Zach Pfeffer (Jorge Herrera 71′) – Caleb Calvert (Norberto Ochoa 87′), David Estrada (Alex Martinez 81′)
Subs not used: Cody Mizzel, Jack Metcalf, Austin Yearwood
Scoring Summary:
CTL- Caleb Calvert 31′ (Lewis Hilton)
CTL- Lewis Hilton 44′ (Enzo Martinez)
CTL- Jorge Herrera 90+’ (Alex Martinez)
Misconduct Summary:
PGH- Danny Earls 1′ (Caution)
PGH- Sergio Campbell 63′ (Caution)
Cleveland Brothers “Blue Collar Player of the Game” – Willie Hunt
Post-Game Quote Sheet
Dave Brandt
Thoughts on the match tonight…
It’s the same old story – lots of chances in the first half not put away and a couple really average goals to give away. And this group struggles when they give the first goal away. We are dying for one of those to go in and put us on top. We didn’t get it done, we gave up one before half and then we’re fighting from behind.
On Berner’s play…
There’s not a lot of consolation at this point, but he saved a lot of good shots. I thought a little bit of it was down to luck. Maybe one or two hit field players and saved off the line, but we do need to get better.
Sense of not being able to catch a break…
Strong sense. But all you can do is work hard and do better. You make your breaks and we haven’t been able to do that yet.
On the attitude…
It’s difficult. I desperately did not want to give up three goals. I changed to three in the back. We opened it up. I desperately wanted a goal so we tried to force something interesting to happen and to get a goal. I just didn’t want to give up a third and I was disappointed that we did and I didn’t think we did a good enough job recognizing it. Some people don’t think it matters if we lose 3-0, 5-0, but to me it does – every goal and each side matters.
Corey Hertzog
On team belief…
We’re coming in every game believing we can get three points and it was unfortunate tonight because it was bad luck. But you just have to win games, we need to get it together and get three points. It’s just frustrating.
On things eventually going your way…
We’ve had chances and we’ve just gotten unlucky. We had a couple good chances at 0-0, where we could have gotten a goal or two. It’s just part of the game. Everyone’s been there. They’ve had the good seasons where all the chances go in, and a bad season where they don’t. Coach keeps saying to keep fighting, keep believing, keep shooting, and have faith. Just got to keep going. Don’t give up.
On things coming together…
I think we’re playing well. We’re creating the chances. We’ve gotten unlucky with calls or goals and we just put our heads down. And then the goals come and we get down and we can’t let it get to us. We just have to keep fighting and put a chance away. Once we score that goal it will turn around but we just need that first one to turn around the season.
On the forwards chasing the games…
Going into the game we start 0-0 so it’s always a battle for the first goal, and we haven’t been doing that. And in the past games we’ve just been digging our own grave once they get that first goal. And then they get another and we just keep digging and digging. I mean eventually it has to turn around. We can’t be unlucky the entire season. Hopefully these chances will go in. Another team will have to start chasing and they start digging a hole. Then we can start from there and get the six points, or hopefully six, nine, 12.
