Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com
Sunday, March 20, 2011
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Riverhounds got a late goal from Jeremy Deighton to earn a 1-0 victory against the University of Pittsburgh in the club’s second preseason match at the state-of-the-art Peterson Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon.
Deighton’s goal came in the 77th minute after Riverhounds trialist Neil Schaffer traveled into a free space and penetrated the Panthers’ defense. After committing a Panthers’ defender, Schaffer slotted a pass to a slashing Deighton at the top of the penalty area. Deighton collected Schaffer’s pass with composure and confidently finished past the approaching Panthers goalkeeper.
The match began at a frantic pace as the Riverhounds and Panthers were looking to gain early control of the play. The majority of the first half was held within the middle third as both lines of defense were quick to stifle the opposition’s attack and clear the ball away from danger. The Riverhounds were focused on building a solid attack, while the Panthers were looking to play direct.
Neither the Riverhounds nor the Panthers gained the upper hand in the first half, but each side had opportunities to break the stalemate. In the 18th minute the Riverhounds gained an advantage with a smooth combination through the midfield between Matt Tuttle and rookie Ben Horner. Following the combo, Tuttle found Tommy Gray down the right flank by playing a diagonal ball behind the Panthers’ defense. Gray collected the ball in stride and delivered a bending cross for an onrushing Chad Severs, but saw his service headed out for a corner. The Panthers first half opportunity came off a counter-attack two minutes later, but was quickly smothered by the Hounds’ tracking defenders.
The second half opened with a calm Riverhounds side and a high-paced Panthers side. The Panthers earned the first quality scoring opportunity in the 56th minute off a left-to-right counter. A breakdown in the midfield allowed for the Panthers to get behind the Riverhounds’ left side and serve a cross to the back post. The Panthers’ forward’s first touch was poor, however, and allowed trialist goalkeeper Greg Blum to make a confident diving save.
During the last thirty minutes of regulation, the play began to open up for the Riverhounds as a result of the Panthers direct style of play. Outside midfielders Tuttle and Gray found themselves isolated multiple times down the flanks allowing them to serve dangerous balls into the penalty area. Unfortunately for the Hounds, Tuttle and Gray’s services did not connect with any of their teammates.
The Riverhounds did get the goal they were looking for through Deighton, though, as his strike proved the difference.
The Riverhounds continue their preseason schedule on Tuesday, March 22nd against the Robert Morris Colonials. The match is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at Joe Walton Stadium.