The Pittsburgh Riverhounds followed a rainy Fan Fest at Highmark Stadium with a gloomy 2-1 loss against the University of Michigan.
Former Riverhounds Under-23 player Robbie Mertz nudged the Wolverines ahead after two minutes before Tyler Anderson doubled the lead inside half an hour. Romeo Parkes halved the deficit before halftime with the goal frame twice denying the Hounds an equalizer.
Pittsburgh drops to 2-1 in preseason following earlier wins over Penn State and Ohio State.
Akron presents the next challenge on Friday evening at 6 p.m. Head coach Mark Steffens and his team will travel to Northeast Ohio to play at the Zips’ FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field unless poor weather prevents use of Akron’s grass surface.
Admission to Highmark Stadium will be free if the game is switched to Pittsburgh.
Michigan took advantage of some sloppy play from the Hounds in the opening stages with Mertz sliding the Wolverines ahead after being sent clear by Francis Atuahene on a quick transition. Anderson made it 2-0 when his inswinging free kick eluded everyone in the penalty box before nestling inside Hunter Gilstrap’s far corner.
Lebo Moloto almost pulled one back on 34 minutes after Stephen Okai and Jordan Murrell pushed up to prompt the first spell of sustained Hounds pressure. Kevin Kerr teed up Moloto inside the penalty area. His drive took a deflection off a Michigan boot before thumping the crossbar.
Murrell continued to raid down the left side and his looping cross helped to put the Hounds on the board two minutes later. Jamaican forward Parkes guided his header back across goal beyond goalkeeper Braden Horton.
Steffens began the second half with 11 players that did not start the game.
Zak Boggs came close to restoring parity on 67 minutes with an outside of the foot volley that Horton tipped onto his crossbar.
The Hounds were reduced to 10 men for the last 15 minutes after unsigned Canadian teenager Duwayne Ewart received a straight red card for a late challenge on a Michigan defender.
Ryan Dodson was thwarted in the closing minutes by Horton’s point blank save.
Sunday’s contest was preceded by Highmark Stadium’s first Fan Fest event featuring live music from Title Town, food trucks and other activities.
Reigning United Soccer League champion the Rochester Rhinos comes to Pittsburgh for the regular season opener on April 2.
