ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - There were questions as to how successful Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC could be before the 2023 USL Championship season began.

The side had seen five players who recorded at least 22 starts move on to other clubs as free agents in the offseason. So had three of the club’s top four goalscorers in 2022, who had accounted for 48 percent of the Hounds’ goals in the regular season and playoffs.

But, as he always seems to be able to, Hounds Head Coach Bob Lilley had returning pieces he needed, and a corps of newcomers that were ready to step up to the mark.

On Saturday night, that collective was rewarded with the club’s first silverware in the USL Championship era.

Pittsburgh’s 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium gave the side an unassailable lead over its rivals in the Eastern Conference, and Western Conference leader Sacramento Republic FC, leading to exuberant locker room celebration as they were awarded the Players’ Shield for the first time.

“The group deserves a lot of credit because they came a long way,” said Lilley. “I mean, nobody picked us to do anything this year because of the players we lost. I think we are always very competitive and when you look at the overall records against Tampa Bay, Louisville, they're all very close.

“I know our group works extremely hard. A lot of guys came a long way, and almost every player on our roster, we’ve put work into, they’ve been developed, they’ve accepted the challenge and they've jumped to a really high standard.”

There have been standouts, of course. Leading from the front was Albert Dikwa, whose league-leading 20th goal of the season after just 29 seconds set the Hounds on their way before a sellout crowd of 7,407 fans at Al Lang Stadium. Center back Arturo Ordoñez has shone all season, and his goal just past the hour-mark solidified the Hounds’ position as Tampa Bay pressed for an equalizer.

But in the biggest win of the season so far, contributions came from throughout the squad, as they have all season. Junior Etou notched his third assist of the season to set up Dikwa’s opening goal and had a stellar all-around game defensively, winning 7 of 7 duels and 2 of 2 tackles while helping limit the Rowdies’ chances to deliver crosses from the right flank.

Then there was Luke Biasi, whose midfield interception not only snuffed out a potential attack for the hosts, but instead sent the Hounds forward. Less than a minute after he’d come on as a substitute, Tola Showumni capitalized on the opportunity, setting up Ordoñez with a crisp, low cross that the Spaniard tucked home from close range.

As the final whistle went, the celebrations began on the field and then continued in the locker room, the sound of “Campeones, Campeones, Olé, Olé, Olé,” ringing out as everyone from Hounds owner Tuffy Shallenberger to the traveling staff got in on the party.

It’s that collective spirit which might explain how this Hounds group has become a team greater than the sum of its perceived parts, although at this point it’s hard to argue those players who might have been underestimated at the start of the season have shown their true value, whether part of the locker room celebration, or participating remotely back in Pittsburgh.   

“One of the things I said to the guys [was to] make sure we’re reaching out to the guys that didn’t travel because some of our hardest workers on this team weren’t even in the 18 tonight,” said Lilley. “When you look at Burke Fahling, Trevor Zwetsloot, these guys have been unbelievable in training. It’s hard to leave Pittsburgh and not have everyone in tow, but I think that’s what it takes at times to make everyone better.”

“I said a few days ago, we’re like family,” added Dikwa. “When we go out there and play for each other, we’re ready to battle for each other. And for me, the most important thing is just go out there with my brothers and know that we will get the reward of our work. We will defend together, we will attack together. The spirit is unbelievable in that team, and I love them.”

There is more silverware to be claimed for the Hounds, who will get the chance to win their first USL Championship title while holding homefield advantage at Highmark Stadium. The club’s home success before record-setting crowds this season both in the league and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and its unmatched ability this season in the league to sustain leads, bodes well for the potential of the best playoff run in the club’s history.

As the postseason approaches, however, no questions remain as to the potential the collective the Hounds have assembled can achieve.

“I think I can say I’ve coached a lot of years,” said Lilley. “It’s hard to remember exactly every year, but I know this this is quite likely the closest group [I’ve coached]. I mean, I can't remember a team to be in this together, on and off the field, week-in and week-out. It’s been a lot of fun coaching them this year.”