PITTSBURGH – Eric Dick made a decisive save and Sean Suber scored the game-winning goal as Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC advanced 4-2 in a penalty shootout against Hartford Athletic in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs at Highmark Stadium after the teams had played to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes.

Having recorded three saves through regulation and extra time, Dick came through in the opening round of the shootout as he made a diving save to deny Hartford’s Hadji Barry’s effort to the right side. The Hounds were then perfect from the spot, as Bertin Jacquesson, Robbie Mertz and Augustine Williams all found the net before Athletic’s Samuel Careaga shot high to open the fourth round. Suber’s low shot to the right corner wrapped up the result, sending the USL Jägermeister Cup winners home.

Hartford had opened the game brightly and found the net inside the opening 90 seconds, only for Careaga’s finish to be ruled out for offside. The Hounds first good opportunity came shortly before the half-hour mark as Beto Ydrach rose highest at a free kick to head toward the right corner to force a good low save by Athletic’s Anthony Siaha to keep the game scoreless at the break.

Chances proved few in the second half, with Mertz having an effort blocked by Joe Farrell midway through as he broke into the right side of the penalty area. The game headed to extra time, but neither side posed a serious threat to break the deadlock, sending the game to a shootout where the 2024 USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year came through with the crucial save before his teammates kept their cool from the spot.

Takeaways

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Hounds weathered an early run of pressure from Hartford and from there were impressive in dictating the flow of the game, and while they were unable to find a decisive moment in attack in regulation, they claimed the shootout in impressive fashion.

Hartford Athletic: The visitors were unable to find enough in the attacking third as the game went on, and were held without a shot in both periods of extra time as what was a breakthrough season at Trinity Health Stadium came to an end.

Key moment

Pittsburgh goalkeeper Eric Dick denied Hartford’s Hadji Barry in the opening shot of the shootout to set his side up for victory with four consecutive goals from the spot.

Key stat

Pittsburgh’s midfield and defense restricted Hartford to only seven touches in the penalty area and only one shot inside the box, holding Athletic to a 0.34xG mark across 120 minutes.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Eric Dick, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Dick recorded a three-save shutout in regulation and extra time before recording the decisive save in the shootout for the hosts.

Scoring Summary
No Scoring

Penalty Shootout

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Bertin Jacquesson, scored; Robbie Mertz, scored; Augustine Williams, scored; Sean Suber, scored

Hartford Athletic – Hadji Barry, saved; Joe Farrell, scored; Jack Panayotou, scored; Samuel Careaga, missed