PITTSBURGH (April 10, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC has added a pair of young players with plenty of potential to their inaugural roster with the addition of forward Lilly Bane and defender Natalia DiSora.
Both players are currently in the Riverhounds Development Academy (RDA) and have committed to major NCAA Division I programs — Bane to Purdue and DiSora to Wake Forest — and now they will be able to add USL W League experience to their resumés before college.
“As we have built out the roster, it’s great to see the pathway that the Riveters now provides for players at different stages of their careers that wasn’t previously there,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said. “We have a very good mix of players who are either graduates or still in the RDA, players who came from other clubs in Pittsburgh and players who are from all over the country and world who see Pittsburgh as a destination to come and play.”
Bane, 17, is a senior at Canon-McMillan High School and was an all-WPIAL selection while helping the Big Macs to the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals. She joined the RDA this school year and plays on the club’s 2006/07 team in the Elite Clubs National League.
“Lilly joined the Academy recently and has improved immensely in such a short period of time. She is very good technically, has an excellent left foot and is a constant goal threat. She will bring an energy to the team in both training and games, and we believe this opportunity with the Riveters will take her game to the next level,” Gibson said.
DiSora, 17, is a junior at Upper St. Clair High School, and her play for the Panthers made her the lone underclass player to earn all-state honors as a defender in 2024. With the 06/07 RDA team, she was also selected to represent the club in the National Selection Game at the ECNL Florida showcase last January.
“Natalia is the ultimate competitor. She is an excellent 1v1 defender and has great strength, power and speed in her play,” Gibson said. “She is fearless in the way she can escape pressure with the ball and is a handful to play against. Natalia is a very versatile player and can play anywhere along the back line and midfield. We are excited to see how she will do with the Riveters this year.”
The Riveters are little more than a month from their opening match May 16 against the Cleveland Force at Highmark Stadium. Tickets are on sale now for all of the Riveters home games at riveterssc.com/tickets or by calling the Highmark Stadium Box Office at 412-865-GOAL.
