Expansion side Pittsburgh Riveters SC has set the standard in the new Great Forest Division this year, boasting a 5-1-3 record and +14 goal differential through nine games. Its results thus far have put the team on pace to secure the division title and a postseason berth with a win against Steel City FC this Friday. 

While the Riveters are a first-year team on paper, this squad has history: more than half of the roster are current or former Riverhounds Development Academy products. The team’s familiarity translated immediately to the pitch this summer and has played a significant role in getting the group one win away from the playoffs. 

Head Coach Scott Gibson, who is also the Riverhounds Academy Director, explained the importance and purpose behind selecting academy alums for the Riveters’ inaugural squad.  

“They know what it means to play for the organization,” Gibson said, “they're used to me as a coach, and it's been so seamless for them because they know what we're asking of them.” 

Riveters defender and Academy alum Bella Vozar, who was recently named to the May Team of the Month, admitted that reuniting with her former teammates is one of the reasons she wanted to play for the team.  

“I knew immediately I wanted to be a part of it, because it was such a cool opportunity,” Vozar said. “Coming home, playing with my old teammates, playing with new girls who are already trying to play pro and go to the next level. I knew that it was really going to push me and be a really cool experience.”  

The heavy Riverhounds alums presence on the roster is balanced by other talented players from across the country who were brought in at the start of the season. Cornell University forward Tanum Nelson scored the Riveters’ first two goals of the season. Olivia Damico, who just finished her career with the Penn State Nittany Lions, has started every match in the midfield for the Riveters. 

Both the coaches and players said the addition of other athletes into the Riverhounds core has created the perfect blend that has proven to be successful this season. 

"All the outside people who have traveled here to play have been just a seamless fit with what we want to do,” said Riveters captain and Riverhounds Academy alum Tessa Dellarose. “That's a testament to their character and personalities to come in and uphold our standards, everything that we expect of culture and the level that we want to play at here. They brought in their energy and their attitude every single day, and it's made this place so much better." 

This group now has the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot in front of their home crowd at Highmark Stadium, the field where Academy alums grew up playing and watching games. The Riveters have been unbeatable at Highmark this season, entering Friday’s battle with a 3-0-1 home record, all of which were clean sheets. 

The Pittsburgh community has rallied around the Riveters since its inception, especially last month when a sellout crowd of 6,077 fans —the fourth highest attendance in Highmark Stadium history— showed up for the team’s home opener.  

“It was awesome,” Vozar recalled. “I don't really get nervous for games anymore, but that one, I was definitely a little bit nervous because I've never played in front of that many people. It was cool to know that many people want to come watch us,” Vozar said.  

Dellarose said the fan support has empowered her throughout the season, and she’s looking forward to their energy at Friday’s match.  

“I'm super excited,” she said. “This is a really awesome opportunity for our fans to come out, and every single home game, they've been phenomenal,” Dellarose said. “They've been so much fun, and building off the opening weekend crowd, we're probably going to have a similar one this Friday. It's been really cool, and I'm just so happy so many people are excited about women's soccer."  

Friday’s match will be filled with intensity, as the Riveters will face rival Pittsburgh side, Steel City. The Riveters won 3-1 in the teams’ first meeting on June 11, with goals from Damico and Riverhounds Academy’s Sabrina Bryan and Anna Korney. 

The team is coming off a 1-1 draw against FC Buffalo last Saturday, where Academy alum Minah Syam’s stoppage-time equalizer rescued a critical point on the road to set up the clinching scenario for the Riveters this weekend. Gibson said the team is building off that momentum and is grateful they can now get the job done at home. 

“The support from the fans has been everything,” he said. “We're so looking forward to Friday, and people ask us about pressure, but we just don't feel it. We go out there and play and enjoy it. The morale of the group is extremely high, and we'd love to have sealed it on Saturday, but doing it at home would be sweeter.”