Pittsburgh Riverhounds Host Real Maryland In Regular Season Finale
Hounds Must Win And Get Help From Harrisburg and Cleveland To Earn Final Playoff BerthCourtesy of Pittsburgh Riverhounds
2008/08/07
With a win Saturday night, and losses or ties by Bermuda Friday and Wilmington Saturday, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds could garner the final playoff berth in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division. The Riverhounds currently hold 17-points in the USL-2 standings. The most they could earn with one match to play is 20. That would tie them with the Western Mass Pioneers for sixth place, but would propel the Hounds into the playoffs as the sixth seed because Pittsburgh holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with Western Mass. However, the Riverhounds will have to watch the scoreboard Friday night as Harrisburg travels to Bermuda. Should Bermuda win, the Hogges would also have 20-points, but they hold the three-way tiebreaker and they would get the final berth over Pittsburgh and Western Mass. Even so, should Wilmington upset Cleveland in North Carolina Saturday night, the Hammerheads would earn their 21st point, th us eliminating Pittsburgh, Western Mass and Bermuda.
The Riverhounds are happy to be in a position in which the season is still so meaningful heading into the final weekend. Pittsburgh did not participate in match play last year, while on hiatus to regroup under new ownership. Getting a playoff spot would mean the 2008 season could be considered a huge success for a club that has been reborn.
The Hounds picked up a victory Wednesday night in Harrisburg when they upset the defending USL-2 champion Harrisburg City Islanders 2-1. Justin Evans scored in the 2nd minute. Harrisburg tied the match in the 71st minute when Steve Fisher belted in a goal. Then in the 84th minute, Evans delivered a perfect free kick down the middle that was headed in by rookie Travis MacKenzie.
Thabiso "Boyzzz" Khumalo leads the Hounds in scoring with 6-goals and 3-assists for 15-points this year.
Tickets for the Real Maryland at Pittsburgh match Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Chartiers Valley Stadium are on sale on-line at www.riverhounds.com and will be available at the gate on the night of the game.
Chris Shovlin - Riverhounds PR
