PITTSBURGH – Two Northeastern rivals will square off for the first time in the USL Championship Playoffs when No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC hosts No. 5 seed Hartford Athletic in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix on Saturday night, with the visitors looking to add to the knockout success they experienced in lifting the USL Jägermeister Cup in October. Kickoff at Highmark Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (12-10-8, 44pts) – The Hounds earned their eighth consecutive trip to the USL Championship Playoffs and earned the opportunity to host for the first time since 2023 as it won four of its final six games to earn a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh was once again led by one of the best defenses in the league, with goalkeeper Eric Dick finishing third in the race for the Golden Glove with a 0.89 goals-against average as the side allowed only 28 goals in 30 regular season games. The attack proved more of a work-in-progress, with offseason addition Augustine Williams leading the side with nine goals as the Hounds went without a double-digit goalscorer for the first time in a full campaign since 2014, but the side was solid at home when it found the net first, recording eight wins and suffering only one defeat when it hit the front at Highmark Stadium.

Hartford Athletic (13-12-5, 44pts) – Hartford Athletic earned its first trip to the postseason since the 2020 season and only its second all-time with a breakout season that saw the side emerge as one of the best attacking units in the league after a slow start to the regular season. Athletic won only once in its first 11 regular season games as it struggled with injuries, but the club’s run in the USL Jägermeister Cup group stage sparked its league form, including a seven-game undefeated streak in the middle of the season that brought Hartford into playoff contention. Head Coach Brendan Burke’s side was one of the better sides on the road in the campaign, winning seven times in league play while also defeating San Antonio FC and Sacramento Republic FC away from home in its run to lifting the USL Jägermeister Cup, and will be hoping to deliver more knockout success in November.

All-Time Series

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has gone 13-2-2 all-time against Hartford Athletic, including sweeping the regular season series between the clubs this year. Hartford’s only away win against the Hounds came in the 2020 season, with Pittsburgh sitting on a 7-1-1 record and +17 goal differential in meetings at Highmark Stadium.

Opta Says

10 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC conceded only 10 goals in the first half of games in the regular season, the fewest of any team in the league.

48 – All 48 of Hartford Athletic’s goals in the regular season came from inside the penalty area, making the side the only team to fail to record a goal from outside the box in the league this campaign.

Players to Watch

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Sean Suber: The center back was one of only three players to play every minute of the regular season and played a key role in the club’s defensive success with a league-leading 204 clearances while also winning 75 of 115 aerial duels.

Hartford Athletic – Michee Ngalina: The former USL Championship Young Player of the Year recorded five goals and three assists in the regular season but his ability to stretch the field and attack opponents one-on-one saw him rank third in the league with 41 completed dribbles and lead the team with a +7.33 Goals Added mark.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – No suspensions

Hartford Athletic – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Elijio Arreguin
AR1: Rhett Hammil
AR2: Noah Kenyawani
4TH: Muhammad Kaleia