Professional sports teams face challenges during their seasons when it comes to scheduling.
For the defending USL Champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Wednesday’s derby match vs. Steel City FC in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup — a game rescheduled from last week because of poor weather — it marks what could be an early season test of the club’s depth and durability.
If the Riverhounds get past the amateur club from Cheswick, they would then have Saturday’s home opener vs. Sporting Jacksonville to deal with, only to have to get back at it hosting a second-round Open Cup match at Highmark Stadium the following Wednesday vs. amateur club Virginia Dream. The last of those potential four matches would culminate with a road trip to face the Indy 11 on April 4.
For defender Beto Ydrach, finding a way to channel what went wrong in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay and use it in a positive way vs. Steel City would be a step in the right direction to what has been a lackluster 1-2 start to the 2026 season.
“We just spoke about it. It’s a good opportunity to try build momentum back for the season,” Ydrach said. “Steel City vs. the Riverhounds. It’s been a long time coming. Sixty-nine years for this. We know what they’re going to bring. It’s going to be a tough match, but we’re ready to go with the proper respect that they deserve.”
The second-year defender said this season’s sub-par start is almost a mirror image of the start to 2025, when the club struggled while beginning the season on the road.
“Last year we had some growing pains at the beginning of the season and channel it,” Ydrach said. “We have a lot to improve on. We need to put our foot on the gas coming up soon and just are excited to have the next two matches at home.”
Part of the lack of early success has fallen on the defense, which has allowed 33 shots, 17 of which have found their way toward starting goalkeeper Nico Campuzano. The club has been outscored 7-4 over the first three matches. It’s a stark contrast from 2025, when it took twice as many games to yield the same amount.
The transition from Bob Lilley’s defensive-minded approach has not quite come across with Rob Vincent’s new roster, one he had a hand in constructing after the historic finish to last season and subsequent transfer of power in taking the reins of the club.
“It’s hard in the immediate aftermath of the game. There was a lot of disappointment,” Vincent said. “The way the game finished, we were not happy with, giving up the third goal. Statistically, it looked a lot worse than it was. We didn’t do enough to hurt them, which, I think, is the next step we need to take, being too content playing in the middle third of the field. There is still a lot of work for us to do.”
For Campuzano, the former Pitt standout and last season’s USL leader in saves with 84, taking this match lightly against Steel City FC would be a mistake.
“So far, I’m not happy with the results we’ve had,” Campuzano said. “For me, I’ve played USL 2, so I know the level of play. Many of us have played at that level. I take the results as they come and analyze that in a way to improve.”
Tonight’s game will start just after 7. Tickets are available online at both teams’ website and the Highmark Stadium box office. The match also is available to watch on the U.S. Open Cup’s YouTube channel.