Photo Credit: ISNSoccer.com Having Hunter Gilstrap as a coach is a player’s dream. Gilstrap is a man who has seen it all as a player, having played in the USL, NASL, and even the South African Premier Soccer League. He’s gotten the job done as a coach with experience at the college, professional, and academy level, helping countless players reach their full potential. He can now add national team coach to his decorated resume after serving on the staff of the
The home opener for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds featured no other than New York Red Bulls II, a team that won just about everything last season including the Regular Season, Eastern Conference, and USL Cup titles. Photo Credit: ISNSoccer.com The weather was perfect, the atmosphere absolutely electric, and the gameplay was much more of the same. The first half featured a goalfest of sorts as four goals were scored and both sides played entertaining football. The goals came at a frenzied pace,
Rookie keeper makes eight saves in USL debut The Pittsburgh Riverhounds (0-4-3) fell for the first time on the road this season, dropping a 1-0 decision to FC Cincinnati (5-2-2) in front of a USL-record crowd of 23,375 at Nippert Stadium. The game-winning tally came midway through the first half, as Sean Okoli fed a ball past Conor Branson to Jimmy McLaughlin, who converted on his initial rebound past a sprawling Mauricio Vargas. Both teams traded possession for much of the contest,
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have signed Pittsburgh native Brenden Alfery for the 2016 United Soccer League (USL) season. Goalkeeper Alfery has signed his first professional contract with the Hounds after playing his junior and senior college seasons at Robert Morris University. He started all 37 games for the Colonials during his time in Moon Township. Photo Credit: Ian Thomson/Riverhounds.com The 21-year-old from Cheswick played his club soccer for Century United and attended Central Catholic High School before spending two seasons at the NCAA
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are pleased to announce that goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap and central defender Karsten Smith have joined the club for the 2016 United Soccer League season. Photo Credit: Ian Thomson/Riverhounds.com Gilstrap’s return to Highmark Stadium to lead the Riverhounds’ Goalkeeper Academy youth training program was announced last November. The 2010 USL-2 Goalkeeper of the Year has also agreed terms to join Mark Steffens’ first team roster. Smith, 27, played collegiately at American University before trialing with teams in France and Vietnam
As a journalist you are not supposed to pick favorites when it comes to players or teams, but sometimes you can’t help it. There are just those that rise above the crowd, those that stand out on and off the pitch. Photo Credit: Pam Moody/ISNSoccer.com I first met Hunter Gilstrap when he was a young goalkeeper with the Cleveland City Stars of USL-1. He was already a fan favorite there for a lot of reasons: spectacular athleticism, natural leadership, and complete
In Western Pennsylvania, soccer is growing exponentially. To aid that growth, there is one individual that is helping his hometown community embrace the beautiful game and has put together an intriguing playing resume. With a hometown near Pittsburgh, Greg Blum has been active in the state playing his way through the ranks. Photo Credit: Joe Foughty/ISNSoccer.com In 2009, Blum played a big role in the Erie Admirals’ improbable run to the NPSL National Championship, as the inaugural team ran a 9-0-1 record
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds of USL PRO have formed an affiliate partnership with the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer, it was announced today by Riverhounds CEO Jason Kutney. The deal will enable Houston to loan a minimum of four MLS-contracted players to Pittsburgh for the 2014 USL PRO season. Kutney says the affiliation is more proof that the USL PRO team is working to reach the top level of soccer in the United States. “In partnering with a top MLS side like Houston
Gilstrap finds a home with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of USL-2. We last saw Hunter Gilstrap in goal for the Cleveland City Stars at Middlefield Cheese Stadium in Bedford, Ohio. Little did we know that this would be the last time we would see the City Stars on the field and in operation. The franchise folded in December of 2009 after failing to find a buyer. It wasn’t due to a lack of effort as Dr. Aaron Tredway did his best to