• Who: Riverhounds vs. Columbus Crew II • What: Preseason Game 4 • When: 2:34 p.m. • Where: Highmark Stadium
► FOLLOW ALONG
• And that's the final whistle. Riverhounds win the game thanks to #4's late effort. We're not sure who from the Hounds will be speaking, but whoever is sent out, you'll see their quotes in the feed later.
• Hounds trialist #17 with an incredible header to clear a looping shot off the line after a loose ball in the box.
• A crew player performs a few stepovers on the edge of the box, before firing high over the bar. You can get the sense that both teams kinda just want this thing to be over so they can get inside for a hot shower.
• GOAL: We finally have a goal, as #4 fires a sweet volley from the edge of the area after Jacquesson wins a header and then guides the ball back to him.
• Larsen is played through by Jacquesson, but under pressure from a Crew defender he can only scuff his effort weakly past the near post.
• Quick break over, back underway for the third. A few more changes from the Hounds sees the likes of Walti return to the game academy graduate Pablo Linzain come in for the first time and new signing Brigham Larsen (who being Norwegian, I imagine will thrive in this environment) making his way out as well.
• With the last shot of the period, Ahl lets rip from about 25 yards out but it flies high and wide, hitting two people hanging out by the player's tunnel.
• Etou's cross is dropped by the Crew goalkeeper and Griffin's rebound goes over the bar.
• Columbus are starting to put together a few more scoring chances, but the Hounds back line is certainly doing a good job at keeping them at bay.
• Broughton with the first chance of the period, flicking a header on at the near post from Mertz' corner but it just glanced over the bar.
• Underway in the second period. Max Broughton, Charles Ahl and Bertin Jacquesson make their way onto the field as well as a few trialists, with Walti, Biasi, #6 and #29 among those that have come off.
• The whistle goes for the end of the first period, quick break of five minutes. Riverhounds certainly the better team so far, with Dick having only one minor save to make. The weather has calmed down a bit now, so hopefully that will stop being as much of a factor as we move forward.
• Dick gets down to smother a weak shot after a Crew man broke through the back line.
• Sample left all alone in the middle of the box from a quick corner, but his effort went right at the keeper. Should have done better.
• Walti's tackle sees the ball fly out to #6 out wide, who lays it inside to Griffin who has his shot blocked and turned away for a corner.
• As you might expect, the ball isn't exactly moving around with ease as the snow flurries continue to come down and settle on the pitch, so it isn't exactly a smooth, flowing affair so fair and a few passes aren't quite making their target.
• Williams with two chances early on, but the Crew defenders and goalkeeper have done very well to smother him and prevent him from getting any clear-cut chances away.
• We are UNDERWAY: The aforementioned Dick, Luke Biasi, Sean Suber, Junior Etou, Bradley Sample, Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin, Robbie Mertz, Augustine Williams are the regulars to start out, with two trialists (who are sporting #6 and #29) also on the field to begin.
• PROGRAMMING NOTE: Been told by Hounds staff that today will be three periods of 30 minutes rather than two periods of 45 minutes.
• The players are out. Columbus Crew II are wearing grey but without any numbers on their shirts or shorts, so identifying them will be near-impossible. Hounds are in yellow and thankfully DO have numbers.
• The players have completed their warmups (which take on a different meaning today) and will be out shortly. Today's referee is out and he's wearing shorts. I applaud his bravery.
• We are DANGEROUSLY close to losing sight of the white lines on the pitch at this rate.
• I did say in the buildup to the game that this game could be moved to the AHN Montour Complex, and seeing Eric Dick warming up out there now as the snow comes down, I bet there are a few who wish that they did.
• Coming to you LIVE from above the Monongahela River in the warm, but most importantly dry, press box at Highmark Stadium for the latest game in the Riverhounds' preseason endeavours.
The Hounds have not officially added anyone to the roster since we were last here, so there will be a few 'trialists' on show today just like last time, but we should hopefully see more of the familiar faces being blended into the team.
We are also expecting some bad weather today, so do not be surprised if that plays a factor in the game today, especially if we don't make it through all 90 minutes.
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THE ASYLUM
Matthew Rhys Baldwin
10:17 am - 02.16.2025Highmark StadiumFinal: Riverhounds 1, Columbus Crew II 0
• Who: Riverhounds vs. Columbus Crew II
• What: Preseason Game 4
• When: 2:34 p.m.
• Where: Highmark Stadium
► FOLLOW ALONG
• And that's the final whistle. Riverhounds win the game thanks to #4's late effort. We're not sure who from the Hounds will be speaking, but whoever is sent out, you'll see their quotes in the feed later.
• Hounds trialist #17 with an incredible header to clear a looping shot off the line after a loose ball in the box.
• A crew player performs a few stepovers on the edge of the box, before firing high over the bar. You can get the sense that both teams kinda just want this thing to be over so they can get inside for a hot shower.
• GOAL: We finally have a goal, as #4 fires a sweet volley from the edge of the area after Jacquesson wins a header and then guides the ball back to him.
• Larsen is played through by Jacquesson, but under pressure from a Crew defender he can only scuff his effort weakly past the near post.
• Quick break over, back underway for the third. A few more changes from the Hounds sees the likes of Walti return to the game academy graduate Pablo Linzain come in for the first time and new signing Brigham Larsen (who being Norwegian, I imagine will thrive in this environment) making his way out as well.
• With the last shot of the period, Ahl lets rip from about 25 yards out but it flies high and wide, hitting two people hanging out by the player's tunnel.
• Etou's cross is dropped by the Crew goalkeeper and Griffin's rebound goes over the bar.
• Columbus are starting to put together a few more scoring chances, but the Hounds back line is certainly doing a good job at keeping them at bay.
• Broughton with the first chance of the period, flicking a header on at the near post from Mertz' corner but it just glanced over the bar.
• Underway in the second period. Max Broughton, Charles Ahl and Bertin Jacquesson make their way onto the field as well as a few trialists, with Walti, Biasi, #6 and #29 among those that have come off.
• The whistle goes for the end of the first period, quick break of five minutes. Riverhounds certainly the better team so far, with Dick having only one minor save to make. The weather has calmed down a bit now, so hopefully that will stop being as much of a factor as we move forward.
• Dick gets down to smother a weak shot after a Crew man broke through the back line.
• Sample left all alone in the middle of the box from a quick corner, but his effort went right at the keeper. Should have done better.
• Walti's tackle sees the ball fly out to #6 out wide, who lays it inside to Griffin who has his shot blocked and turned away for a corner.
• As you might expect, the ball isn't exactly moving around with ease as the snow flurries continue to come down and settle on the pitch, so it isn't exactly a smooth, flowing affair so fair and a few passes aren't quite making their target.
• Williams with two chances early on, but the Crew defenders and goalkeeper have done very well to smother him and prevent him from getting any clear-cut chances away.
• We are UNDERWAY: The aforementioned Dick, Luke Biasi, Sean Suber, Junior Etou, Bradley Sample, Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin, Robbie Mertz, Augustine Williams are the regulars to start out, with two trialists (who are sporting #6 and #29) also on the field to begin.
• PROGRAMMING NOTE: Been told by Hounds staff that today will be three periods of 30 minutes rather than two periods of 45 minutes.
• The players are out. Columbus Crew II are wearing grey but without any numbers on their shirts or shorts, so identifying them will be near-impossible. Hounds are in yellow and thankfully DO have numbers.
• The players have completed their warmups (which take on a different meaning today) and will be out shortly. Today's referee is out and he's wearing shorts. I applaud his bravery.
• We are DANGEROUSLY close to losing sight of the white lines on the pitch at this rate.
• I did say in the buildup to the game that this game could be moved to the AHN Montour Complex, and seeing Eric Dick warming up out there now as the snow comes down, I bet there are a few who wish that they did.
• Coming to you LIVE from above the Monongahela River in the warm, but most importantly dry, press box at Highmark Stadium for the latest game in the Riverhounds' preseason endeavours.
The Hounds have not officially added anyone to the roster since we were last here, so there will be a few 'trialists' on show today just like last time, but we should hopefully see more of the familiar faces being blended into the team.
We are also expecting some bad weather today, so do not be surprised if that plays a factor in the game today, especially if we don't make it through all 90 minutes.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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