Courtesy of Pittsburgh Riverhounds

2009/08/05
(Pittsburgh, PA) --- The Pittsburgh Riverhounds do have a say in their destiny, but not only will they have to be victorious in their two remaining matches, they will also need some help from some of the other sides in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division to get to the playoffs. If they can finish with 25-points and have Real Maryland, Crystal Palace Baltimore, and Western Mass finish with fewer, then the Riverhounds could earn the fifth and final berth in the USL-2 postseason.

The scenarios that the Riverhounds require already started playing out last Sunday when Real Maryland claimed only a single point when they played Harrisburg to a scoreless draw. That gave the Monarchs 23-points with two matches remaining. Pittsburgh must hope that Real Maryland does not win either of their final two games and that, at best, the Monarchs tie one and lose one.

Crystal Palace Baltimore also has two more games to play; one of them is with the Riverhounds in Pittsburgh in the regular season finale on August 15th. Currently with 22-points, the Hounds must hope that the Palace either loses to or ties Harrisburg this Friday night.

Western Mass also has two games remaining and currently holds 20-points. Pittsburgh could afford to have the Pioneers win one of them, but not both.

Tiebreakers could also come into play in the event that Pittsburgh and another club(s) end up with 25-points.

Of course, the Hounds need to take care of their own business first and that means beating the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday night at Chartiers Valley Stadium. Pittsburgh will be watching the out-of-town scoreboard closely after that match. On that same evening, last-place Bermuda will visit Real Maryland. The Hounds will be hoping for a Hogges’ upset over the Monarchs. Richmond will also play at Wilmington but those two sides are tied for first place in the USL-2 with 35-points each and that match does not have any bearing on Pittsburgh’s fortunes.

If things go favorably for the Riverhounds this weekend, Pittsburgh will be rooting for Wilmington to defeat Real Maryland and for Harrisburg to knock off Western Maryland next Wednesday. Without a win over Charlotte on Saturday, the Riverhounds can forget about the playoffs.

Tickets for the match between Charlotte and Pittsburgh are on sale now at www.riverhounds.com, buy phone during regular business hours at 412-539-1191, and will be available at the gates on game night.

Chris Shovlin - Riverhounds Director of Publicity and Media Relations - 412 952 1933