The Pittsburgh Riverhounds won their first USL Championship title last season with a suffocating defense.
They picked up their first win of this season Saturday with a more offensive approach.
Bradley Sample scored the go-ahead goal in the 48th minute, leading the Riverhounds to a 3-2 victory over Loudoun United.
Albert Dikwa and Samuel Bassett also scored for the Riverhounds (1-1). Thorleifur Ulfarsson and Sean Young scored for Loudoun (0-1).
The Riverhounds fell behind in the 20th minute when Ulfarsson got a foot on an attempted clear by Guillaume Vacter and directed it past scrambling goalkeeper Nico Campuzano.
The Hounds tied the score in the 25th minute on a successful penalty kick by Dikwa. They were awarded the penalty when Sal Mazzaferro felled Perrin Barnes in the box.
The Hounds took the lead for good in the 48th minute when Dikwa headed a deflected corner kick toward the far post and Sample headed it in.
The Hounds made the lead 3-1 when Bassett took a pass outside the penalty area, weaved through the Loudoun defense and scored with his left foot in the 69th minute.
Young scored in the 78th minute to make it a one-goal game, but the Riverhounds held on from there.
The Hounds are scheduled to face Steel City FC in a US Open Cup game Tuesday at Highmark Stadium.