PITTSBURGH (April 20, 2019) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2-1-3) drew Saint Louis FC (4-1-2), 0-0, on a rainy Saturday night at Highmark Stadium.

A defensive match resulted with few scoring chances between Pittsburgh and Saint Louis. Hound Christian Volesky and Saint Louis FC forward Kyle Greig collected near second-half stoppage time goals, but their chances fell wide of the net. Goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard logged the clean sheet for the Hounds.

First Half

Pittsburgh recorded its first scoring opportunity from the foot of Kevin Kerr at the 11th minute. The midfielder sent a dangerous cross into the box, but no Hound could catch up to the ball before it rolled beyond the end line.

The Hounds and Saint Louis FC possessed the ball evenly during the first half, with Saint Louis having the slight advantage 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent.

Two yellow cards were handed out to the Hounds’ Joe Greenspan and Steevan Dos Santos at the 29th and 40th minute, respectively.

The Hounds' best opportunity came from Neco Brett’s blast in the 39th minute from close range, but was stopped by Saint Louis goalkeeper Jake Fenlason.

Pittsburgh outshot Saint Louis 6-3 through the first 45 minutes, with Dos Santos and Brett leading the shot total with two a piece.

Second Half

Scoring chances were limited for both Pittsburgh and Saint Louis in the second half. The 59th minute resulted in a shot wide by Saint Louis midfielder Kadeem Dacres.

The Hounds collected two additional yellow cards in the second half. One being collected by Jordan Dover in 58th minute and the second from Thomas Vancaeyezeele in the 90'+3 minute mark.

Volesky and Saint Louis FC's Greig collected the best chances of the half near stoppage time. A close back-heel attempt by Volesky at the 88th minute went just wide from inside of the penalty box. Greig missed an open net short side with time winding down in the half.

Hound of the Match

Joe Greenspan posted four tackles (led team), two clearances, one interception and one block against Saint Louis FC.

Stat of the Game

This marks the second shutout for Pittsburgh goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard on the season. This also marks the third draw in five all-time meetings between the two clubs. 

What’s Next

Riverhounds SC will return to Highmark Stadium next weekend to take on Nashville SC (3-2-1) for a match at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. Tickets can be purchased on tickmaster.com.

Lineups:

Riverhounds SC - Ben Lundgaard – Ryan James, Tobi Adewole, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Joe Greenspan, Jordan Dover – Kenardo Forbes – Neco Brett (Noah Franke 87’), Mouhamed Dabo (Anthony Velarde 66’), Kevin Kerr (Christian Volesky 71’) – Steevan Dos Santos

Subs not used: Kyle Morton, Sammy Kahsai, Robbie Mertz, Uchenna Uzo

Saint Louis FC - Jake Fenlason – Sean Reynolds, Phanuel Kavita, Sam Fink, Matt Bahner – Kadeem Dacres (Albert Dikwa 77’), Guy Abend, Lewis Hilton, Russell Cicerone – Joaquin Rivas, Kyle Greig

Subs not used: Patrick Schulte, Paris Gee, Audi Jepson, Austin Martz, Oscar Umar

Misconduct Summary:

PIT - Joe Greenspan 29’ (caution)

PIT - Steevan Dos Santos 40’ (caution)

PIT - Jordan Dover 58’ (caution)

PIT – Thomas Vancaeyezeele 90’+3 (caution)

Head coach Bob Lilley

On the draw...

"We competed well. Don't know that we played well. I think we had a little bit more of the ball, but I don't think both teams limited opportunities. I think we need to pass the ball better. There were more turnovers than we would've liked, we didn't do a good enough job of holding the ball up top."

On the Hounds' offensive performance...

"[Saint Louis] did a good job of challenging the first ball in. That's not easy on Steevan [Dos Santos]. It's important that he can hold some of those balls and I think Kevin [Kerr] and Neco [Brett] need to be available at times, and they're not. The front three didn't do a good enough job of getting on the ball."

On what impact the weather had on his team's performance...

"I don't think any. It's a nice surface. The ball is a little bit faster and skips. We told them there might be some funny rebounds and skips. There might be a few more rebounds, be alert for balls spinning off. It didn't really change our tactics."

Goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard

On the impact of a delayed start time...

"It does. It does for everybody, not just me. Especially since we came out here and had to go in. It's a little different if we never came out here. The boys did well tonight to cope with it. [Saint Louis] has to do the same thing we do. It's kind of even on both sides."

On earning another clean sheet...

"It could be much cleaner for everybody. I could be cleaner with my distribution. Then again, the backline and myself, we did our job tonight. We like to work and build on that, be positive about it, but then again, we keep growing. We keep getting better and better than the first game of the season and second game of the season. That's what we're going for. That's what Bob Lilley wants for us to do. To progress, and I thought it was a good progression."

Midfielder Kenardo Forbes

On the match...

"We just didn't have enough chances to win the game. We will just have to learn from it. Next week, we just have to go to work. Work on it for next week and Nashville because dropping a home game is like a loss. We just have to get it right next week."

On weather conditions...

"We are used to it, every year it is the same thing sometimes on the road or at home. That is something we need to adjust. No excuses. We just need to do better five on three."

On emphasis after game...

"We are doing good position wise, keeping the ball, but when we get to the final third just, like run up. We just need to need to clean that up for next week against Nashville."