The Pittsburgh Riveters are Great Forest Division champions for the second straight year after clinching the top spot with a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Force tonight at F.N.B. Stadium.
Ellen Molloy, Piper Coffield and Alexis Tylenda scored for the Riveters (7-0-1), who secured their spot in the USL W League Playoffs, beginning July 3. This season’s title clinching lacked some of the drama of a season ago, as the Riveters are secure in the top spot with two matches to play.
Lauryn Contini scored just before halftime for the Force (3-5-0), which ended the Riveters' run of 503 minutes without allowing a goal.
• First half
Molloy had the Riveters ahead after only 62 seconds, scoring the fastest goal in the short history of the club. Lola Abraham tried to slip a pass to the left side from the top of the box, but the defense deflected it into the path of Molloy, who took a touch to her right before finishing her second goal of the season into the bottom corner of the net.
The Force did away with any notion of it being a one-sided affair shortly afterward. Mary Dziuba missed just high from a chance near the penalty spot in the 10th minute, and Chloe Hughes hit the outside of the right post only a minute later.
Coffield doubled the Riveters’ lead in the 25th minute with her second goal of the season, which, just like her first in the season opener, was a headed goal from a corner kick, this one delivered by Emme Butera.
The Force cut into the lead in the final minute before the break. Hughes delivered a long cross from the left side into the box, and Contini had time to control and finish into the bottom left of the net.
• Second half
The Riveters kept the pressure on and almost scored from another corner kick in the 52nd minute. Bella Vozar’s header was cleared off the goal line, and the follow-up attempt by Anna Korney was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Leah Prezenkowski for one of her 10 saves.
Abraham set up the third goal by driving into the box in the 58th minute, drawing Prezenkowski off her line with a defender also closing. The Riveters forward kept the ball alive and played it off one of the Force players to the front of the goal, where Tylenda was unmarked and tapped in for her third goal of the season.
The Force nearly cut the lead again in the 67th minute when Mikyla Hau-Golden broke in behind the defense. Bailey Herfurth came off her line to make a lunging stop at the attacker’s feet, and center back Gabby Lamparty covered back to block a second effort from going into the open net.
Herfurth finished with a season-high four saves in the match, ending with a low dive to her right to stop and hold an 84th-minute shot by Lauren Mahoney.
• Hitachi Player of the Match
Ellen Molloy was a steady threat all night after her well-taken goal in the second minute. She finished with five shots, including a first-half chance for a second that was denied by an excellent save, and she contributed a box-to-box effort before exiting in the 77th minute.
• What’s next?
The Riveters have their final regular-season road match on Wednesday, June 25, when they travel north to face FC Buffalo in a 7 p.m. match. Buffalo (3-4-1) has won three straight matches and has been much better at home with a 2-1-1 record.
THE ASYLUM
Riveters repeat as division champs
The Pittsburgh Riveters are Great Forest Division champions for the second straight year after clinching the top spot with a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Force tonight at F.N.B. Stadium.
Ellen Molloy, Piper Coffield and Alexis Tylenda scored for the Riveters (7-0-1), who secured their spot in the USL W League Playoffs, beginning July 3. This season’s title clinching lacked some of the drama of a season ago, as the Riveters are secure in the top spot with two matches to play.
Lauryn Contini scored just before halftime for the Force (3-5-0), which ended the Riveters' run of 503 minutes without allowing a goal.
• First half
Molloy had the Riveters ahead after only 62 seconds, scoring the fastest goal in the short history of the club. Lola Abraham tried to slip a pass to the left side from the top of the box, but the defense deflected it into the path of Molloy, who took a touch to her right before finishing her second goal of the season into the bottom corner of the net.
The Force did away with any notion of it being a one-sided affair shortly afterward. Mary Dziuba missed just high from a chance near the penalty spot in the 10th minute, and Chloe Hughes hit the outside of the right post only a minute later.
Coffield doubled the Riveters’ lead in the 25th minute with her second goal of the season, which, just like her first in the season opener, was a headed goal from a corner kick, this one delivered by Emme Butera.
The Force cut into the lead in the final minute before the break. Hughes delivered a long cross from the left side into the box, and Contini had time to control and finish into the bottom left of the net.
• Second half
The Riveters kept the pressure on and almost scored from another corner kick in the 52nd minute. Bella Vozar’s header was cleared off the goal line, and the follow-up attempt by Anna Korney was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Leah Prezenkowski for one of her 10 saves.
Abraham set up the third goal by driving into the box in the 58th minute, drawing Prezenkowski off her line with a defender also closing. The Riveters forward kept the ball alive and played it off one of the Force players to the front of the goal, where Tylenda was unmarked and tapped in for her third goal of the season.
The Force nearly cut the lead again in the 67th minute when Mikyla Hau-Golden broke in behind the defense. Bailey Herfurth came off her line to make a lunging stop at the attacker’s feet, and center back Gabby Lamparty covered back to block a second effort from going into the open net.
Herfurth finished with a season-high four saves in the match, ending with a low dive to her right to stop and hold an 84th-minute shot by Lauren Mahoney.
• Hitachi Player of the Match
Ellen Molloy was a steady threat all night after her well-taken goal in the second minute. She finished with five shots, including a first-half chance for a second that was denied by an excellent save, and she contributed a box-to-box effort before exiting in the 77th minute.
• What’s next?
The Riveters have their final regular-season road match on Wednesday, June 25, when they travel north to face FC Buffalo in a 7 p.m. match. Buffalo (3-4-1) has won three straight matches and has been much better at home with a 2-1-1 record.
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