Sellout crowd watches Riveters history begin with draw
A sellout crowd of 6,077 witnessed history tonight at Highmark Stadium as the Pittsburgh Riveters played their inaugural USL W League match, battling to a 0-0 draw with the visiting Cleveland Force.
The night had it all but goals for the home team, as the Riveters held a territorial edge and outshot the Force by a 13-4 margin. Riveters goalkeeper Pauline Nelles made two saves for the first clean sheet in team history, while Force goalkeeper Griselda Revolorio made four stops.
The match opens a 10-game schedule for the Riveters in the Great Forest Division in the W League, the nation’s largest pre-professional women’s soccer league.
The match opened with a roar, and the Riveters came out looking for chances early. One of the best came only 10 minutes in, when Olivia Damico cut a pass back to Annamarie Williams outside of the top of the box, and Williams’ shot missed just over the bar.
Natalia DiSora, the youngest Riveters player at just 17 years old, was shown the first yellow card in team history for a tactical foul. That gave the Force a free kick 35 yards from goal, and from the ensuing service, Mackenzie Russell headed on goal to force a stop from Nelles.
In the 24th minute, Carola Fontán nearly had the breakthrough with space to shoot at the top of the box, as her curling effort struck the crossbar and bounced away from the goal.
Right out of the gates, the Riveters nearly took the lead when a build-up play got Kennedy Neighbors into space in the box, but her effort went wide of the goal.
A minute later, Piper Coffield put the ball in the net from a Riveters corner kick. However, the goal was disallowed for contact being made with Revolorio, who was unable to corral the ball into the box, bringing a celebration to a premature end.
Robin Reilly nearly had a fortunate goal in the 68th minute after entering as a substitute when her shot deflected off the foot of a Force defender. The redirection nearly caught Revolorio off guard, but she was able to retreat and push the ball over the crossbar.
The Force had their own dangerous moment barely a minute later, as Isabella Antonio found a gap in the Riveters defense and turned her own shot off the crossbar.
The Riveters had a few more half-chances, including a cross that was just out of the reach of a diving Tessa Dellarose header, but the match came to an end with the teams sharing the points.
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THE ASYLUM
Riveters
11:06 pm - 05.16.2025South ShoreSellout crowd watches Riveters history begin with draw
A sellout crowd of 6,077 witnessed history tonight at Highmark Stadium as the Pittsburgh Riveters played their inaugural USL W League match, battling to a 0-0 draw with the visiting Cleveland Force.
The night had it all but goals for the home team, as the Riveters held a territorial edge and outshot the Force by a 13-4 margin. Riveters goalkeeper Pauline Nelles made two saves for the first clean sheet in team history, while Force goalkeeper Griselda Revolorio made four stops.
The match opens a 10-game schedule for the Riveters in the Great Forest Division in the W League, the nation’s largest pre-professional women’s soccer league.
The match opened with a roar, and the Riveters came out looking for chances early. One of the best came only 10 minutes in, when Olivia Damico cut a pass back to Annamarie Williams outside of the top of the box, and Williams’ shot missed just over the bar.
Natalia DiSora, the youngest Riveters player at just 17 years old, was shown the first yellow card in team history for a tactical foul. That gave the Force a free kick 35 yards from goal, and from the ensuing service, Mackenzie Russell headed on goal to force a stop from Nelles.
In the 24th minute, Carola Fontán nearly had the breakthrough with space to shoot at the top of the box, as her curling effort struck the crossbar and bounced away from the goal.
Right out of the gates, the Riveters nearly took the lead when a build-up play got Kennedy Neighbors into space in the box, but her effort went wide of the goal.
A minute later, Piper Coffield put the ball in the net from a Riveters corner kick. However, the goal was disallowed for contact being made with Revolorio, who was unable to corral the ball into the box, bringing a celebration to a premature end.
Robin Reilly nearly had a fortunate goal in the 68th minute after entering as a substitute when her shot deflected off the foot of a Force defender. The redirection nearly caught Revolorio off guard, but she was able to retreat and push the ball over the crossbar.
The Force had their own dangerous moment barely a minute later, as Isabella Antonio found a gap in the Riveters defense and turned her own shot off the crossbar.
The Riveters had a few more half-chances, including a cross that was just out of the reach of a diving Tessa Dellarose header, but the match came to an end with the teams sharing the points.
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