The Pittsburgh Riveters are in the driver’s seat in the Great Forest Division after taking a resounding 4-0 win over previously unbeaten Flower City 1872 this afternoon at Rochester Community Sports Complex in Rochester, N.Y.
Kennedy Neighbors, Sabrina Bryan, Tanum Nelson and Emily Hanrahan all scored for the Riveters (4-0-1), who move two points clear over Flower City (3-1-2) with a match in hand.
Lexi Grundler made one save for her second straight clean sheet — the team’s third in a row —and the Riveters completed their three-match road trip with a cumulative score of 9-0 in three victories.
• First half
Grundler was the first goalkeeper called into action when Flower City midfielder Mia Gray hit a firm shot through traffic from outside the box. The keeper stood tall to make the save, ending the fourth-minute threat.
In the ninth minute, the Riveters’ first shot found its way into the back of the net. Ellen Molloy had space at the top of the box and looked ready to shoot, but the Irish international instead slipped a well-weighted pass into the box for Neighbors, who softly finished to the right side of the goalkeeper for her first goal of the season.
The match continued to be played tightly after the teams battled to a 3-3 draw on the second week of the season, and by the 30-minute mark, the total shot count was just 2-2.
Flower City came close to tying the match in the 41st minute, but a shot from the top of the box by top scorer Eva Poissant got past Grundler’s dive before smacking off the left post and staying out.
• Second half
The Riveters turned on the offense after the break, and Bryan doubled the lead in the 53rd minute.
Bryan, making her first start of 2026, received a pass inside the box from Nelson and then went to work, weaving around a pair of defenders with clever footwork before getting away a left-footed strike for her second of the year.
Nelson then got her first of the season in the 64th minute on the same field where she scored the first-ever Riveters goal in 2025. The midfielder worked a give-and-go with Neighbors moving across the top of the box to her right, allowing her to score back across goal with a low shot inside the left post.
The scoring wrapped up four minutes from time when Hanrahan, a former Flower City player, got her head on the end of a Fiona Mahan corner kick, putting the ball off the bar and over the line as she collided with Flower City goalkeeper Brigid Mulholland.
• Hitachi Player of the Match
Kennedy Neighbors takes the top honor for a second match in a row after contributing the opening goal and an assist on the third. The forward played all 90 minutes and reprised her strong work in the middle of the field to create space for her wide teammates.
• What’s next?
With the three-match road trip in the rear view, the Riveters are back at home to host Erie Sports Center (1-2-0) at 6 p.m. Friday, June 12 at F.N.B. Stadium. Erie is off this weekend but will host FC Buffalo on Wednesday before the contest in Pittsburgh.
THE ASYLUM
Riveters rocket to first place
The Pittsburgh Riveters are in the driver’s seat in the Great Forest Division after taking a resounding 4-0 win over previously unbeaten Flower City 1872 this afternoon at Rochester Community Sports Complex in Rochester, N.Y.
Kennedy Neighbors, Sabrina Bryan, Tanum Nelson and Emily Hanrahan all scored for the Riveters (4-0-1), who move two points clear over Flower City (3-1-2) with a match in hand.
Lexi Grundler made one save for her second straight clean sheet — the team’s third in a row —and the Riveters completed their three-match road trip with a cumulative score of 9-0 in three victories.
• First half
Grundler was the first goalkeeper called into action when Flower City midfielder Mia Gray hit a firm shot through traffic from outside the box. The keeper stood tall to make the save, ending the fourth-minute threat.
In the ninth minute, the Riveters’ first shot found its way into the back of the net. Ellen Molloy had space at the top of the box and looked ready to shoot, but the Irish international instead slipped a well-weighted pass into the box for Neighbors, who softly finished to the right side of the goalkeeper for her first goal of the season.
The match continued to be played tightly after the teams battled to a 3-3 draw on the second week of the season, and by the 30-minute mark, the total shot count was just 2-2.
Flower City came close to tying the match in the 41st minute, but a shot from the top of the box by top scorer Eva Poissant got past Grundler’s dive before smacking off the left post and staying out.
• Second half
The Riveters turned on the offense after the break, and Bryan doubled the lead in the 53rd minute.
Bryan, making her first start of 2026, received a pass inside the box from Nelson and then went to work, weaving around a pair of defenders with clever footwork before getting away a left-footed strike for her second of the year.
Nelson then got her first of the season in the 64th minute on the same field where she scored the first-ever Riveters goal in 2025. The midfielder worked a give-and-go with Neighbors moving across the top of the box to her right, allowing her to score back across goal with a low shot inside the left post.
The scoring wrapped up four minutes from time when Hanrahan, a former Flower City player, got her head on the end of a Fiona Mahan corner kick, putting the ball off the bar and over the line as she collided with Flower City goalkeeper Brigid Mulholland.
• Hitachi Player of the Match
Kennedy Neighbors takes the top honor for a second match in a row after contributing the opening goal and an assist on the third. The forward played all 90 minutes and reprised her strong work in the middle of the field to create space for her wide teammates.
• What’s next?
With the three-match road trip in the rear view, the Riveters are back at home to host Erie Sports Center (1-2-0) at 6 p.m. Friday, June 12 at F.N.B. Stadium. Erie is off this weekend but will host FC Buffalo on Wednesday before the contest in Pittsburgh.
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