Rostraver Twp., Pa.
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds played in their first preseason game and came away with a 4-2 win over Penn State in front of a crowd of about 1,000 at the James Weis Stadium at Belle Vernon High School.
While forward Michael Apple lead the way, the first goal was scored by Thiago Martins, who is supposed to be an important part of the team this year.
Martins' goal, in the 8th minute off an assist from Brent Jacquette (one of this year's College Draft picks), was scored on a looping shot that sailed over the Nittany Lions' goalkeeper, Ryan Moate, and just under the crossbar to give the Riverhounds an early lead.
There were other chances later on for both sides but the score remained 1-0 at the break. Apple lead the way in the second half scoring his first in the 51st minute beating Moate from about 10 yards out with a shot that found the left corner from a Richard Villar pass.
The graduate of Akron University (Ohio) had not been scoring a lot lately but he seemed to make up for that on this night.
His second goal came in the 60th when he took a pass from Jaman Tripoli and beat Moate with a shot inside the right post before scoring again in the 73rd from Paul Dolinski heading a shot across the goal line and just inside the right post.
Penn State came back soon after when Paul Severs scored into an open cage with Riverhounds' cageminder Randy Dedini caught out of position. His diving attempt came up short.
The last goal came from an area graduate as Joe Zewe beat Dedini in the 83rd on a rebound.
The 'hounds will next play a team of Pennsylvania College All-Stars at Robert Morris University on Saturday evening.
