PITTSBURGH – Robbie Mertz scored the only goal as No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC claimed the Eastern Conference title with a 1-0 victory against No. 7 seed Rhode Island FC before a club-record crowd of 6,745 fans at Highmark Stadium in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.

The Hounds will visit the winner of the Western Conference Final between FC Tulsa and New Mexico United in the 2025 USL Championship Final next Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and SiriusXM FC.

The visitors created the best early opportunities, first through Noah Fuson’s powerful shot from the right side of the penalty area that was parried wide of the near post by Hounds goalkeeper Eric Dick, and then from the ensuing corner kick as Hugo Bacharach’s flicked header flashed just over the crossbar. Pittsburgh carved out the best chance of the opening half in the 35th minute, however, as a clever piece of interplay sprang Danny Griffin in behind the defense, only for RIFC’s Koke Vegas to make an excellent one-on-one save.

Both sides threatened early in the second half as Rhode Island’s JJ Williams sent a stretching effort high of the crossbar, while the Hounds’ Augustine Williams flashed a shot just wide of the left post from the right side of the box. The hosts broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, however, as Griffin controlled a second ball just outside the penalty area and set up Mertz, who shifted onto his right foot in the right side of the box and fired home a shot that took a slight deflection on its way into the net.

Rhode Island was reduced to 10 players on the hour-mark as former Pittsburgh player Marc Ybarra was sent off for a second yellow card. Despite that, the visitors almost grabbed an equalizer with 16 minutes to go when Williams broke in on a counterattack but was denied by Dick. The Hounds’ shot-stopper made another key save a few minutes later to keep out a free kick from the edge of the penalty area by Hamady Diop.

As the game entered stoppage time, Pittsburgh had a chance to put the game away as Brigham Larsen shrugged off a defender but was denied by Vegas, while RIFC’s Noah Fuson curled a shot just over the top-left corner of the crossbar. The Hounds held firm, however, to see out the win and claim the Eastern Conference trophy.

Takeaways

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The hosts earned their first USL Championship Eastern Conference title with another resolute defensive display that earned the club its first trip to a USL Final since its founding in 1999, with Pittsburgh native Robbie Mertz delivering the crucial moment in the attacking third as the Hounds extended their current shutout streak to 512 minutes.

Rhode Island FC: The defending title-holders saw their dream of becoming the first team to win consecutive Eastern Conference titles since the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2021 come to an end as they outshot their hosts but were denied by a spectacular display from Hounds goalkeeper Eric Dick.

Key moment

Hounds goalkeeper Eric Dick denied Rhode Island talisman JJ Williams on a breakaway with 16 minutes to go to keep the hosts ahead, which ultimately proved the best save from a five-save shutout by the 2024 USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year.

Key stat

Robbie Mertz’s second-half goal broke a 389-minute scoreless streak for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, notching the host’s first goal of the postseason after advancing via a penalty shootout after scoreless draws in each of the opening two rounds.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Eric Dick, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – The Hounds’ goalkeeper posted his first five-save performance since July 30 against Miami FC, and produced some stops of the highest quality to send his side to the Eastern Conference crown and onto the USL Championship Final.

Scoring Summary
PIT – Robbie Mertz (Robbie Griffin) 55’