The euphoria and excitement of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ 2025 USL Championship run has been quite the ride — one that has carried the team into the season with its biggest offseason in club history.
From the news of a $150M stadium expansion, to new kits with European designer Hummel as their partner, to a new coach and new players, the team starts defense of its crown Saturday.
A sold-out crowd is expected to pack Ralph Lundy Field at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, S.C., to watch the USL’s two oldest franchises play for the 47th time, with the Battery holding an 18-11-17 advantage.
The game will take place despite ongoing labor strife between USL Championship players and owners.
Players will stop play for 60 seconds after the game has begun in a display of unity as players fight for better conditions.
“For more than fifteen years, players in this league have operated under standards that fall short of what a professional competition demands,” a statement released by the USL Players Association read. “From zero-dollar contracts to unlivable conditions, players have repeatedly absorbed instability while League Headquarters has expanded, profited, and strengthened its business model.
“Throughout bargaining, players have demonstrated flexibility and made meaningful concessions in pursuit of a fair agreement. That movement has limits. We have reached that limit.”
The union said it will evaluate further steps after this weekend’s games.
Labor issues aside, the new season brings a series of challenges for the defending champs, including a new line of defense as the club saw goalkeeper Eric Dick depart for the Indy 11. First-team all-league defender Sean Suber moved south and plays for the Battery. He’s excited to start the season against the club he helped lead to a title last November.
“I’ve got a lot of love for players, staff and the club over there,” an excited Suber said after practice Thursday. “Obviously I’m in a new black and yellow here with Charleston, we’re ready to go to war and get that first win in front of the fans here in Charleston. We want to start off fresh and fast. It couldn’t have been written any different. It will be a great time.”
Suber, a native of Charlotte, N.C., is closer to family and friends and much like Dick — who has family in Indiana and played his college ball at Butler — moved away from Pittsburgh more for personal reasons.
As for the Riverhounds, the back line has several players returning — including Beto Ydrach, who delivered the final PK against FC Tulsa that secured last season’s championship.
“It will be a little bit of a weird scenario,” Ydrach said about facing his former teammate. “Whoever they throw at us, were ready to go. It’s always a rivalry against Charleston. It will be good to see him, but he’s the enemy now. I feel we got more comfortable with the new guys who have come in during preseason, and I feel we can carry that into the opener.”
The Riverhounds have assembled a new team that has some familiar faces, including striker Albert Dikwa. Dikwa had his contract purchased from Rhode Island in January, much to the delight of fans who saw him tally 37 goals over four seasons with the Hounds, including 20 in the 2023 campaign, winning the golden boot award.
Coach Rob Vincent feels good about the start of his first full season in charge of the team he inherited Oct. 10 when Bob Lilley was placed on administrative leave.
“We’re relatively happy. We’ve had good spells and a good start to see the identity of the team to come out,” Vincent said. “Still a lot of room for improvement. There are still plenty of things to work on as the games start. We hope to get some good results.”
Part of that defensive nucleus that will try to replace Suber and Dick are Victor Souza and Nico Campuzano, both of whom were signed during the offseason. Souza comes from the New England Revolution II out of MSL Next Pro, providing stability to the back line. Former Pitt standout Campuzano will be the man in net after leading the USL last season with 84 saves while playing for Monterey Bay.
“Nico is obviously a different type of goalkeeper to Eric,” Vincent said. “He’s helped us in possession. He’s better with his feet. I think we’re still trying to get him to a point of where he’s got more command inside his box. He’s a good shot stopper and only conceded a handful of goals in preseason, and I think that helps him.”
What also helps is the core of the team, captain Danny Griffin and Robbie Mertz, return. Griffin was named the the club’s captain for a third straight season. Mertz will begin 2026 on the sideline nursing a knee injury. He returned to practice Thursday but is not expected to be in the lineup.
The game starts at 6 p.m. and will be televised locally by KDKA .