Match Recaps

PITTSBURGH (June 15, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riveters were firing on all cylinders tonight with five different players finding the net on the way to a 7-0 win over Erie Sports Center at Highmark Stadium.

Sabrina Bryan and Gina Proviano scored two goals apiece, and Olivia Damico, Tanum Nelson and Tessa Dellarose also had goals as the Riveters (5-1-2) maintained their lead in the Great Forest Division with two matches to play. 

Bailey Herfurth made three saves for her first shutout of the season, as the Riveters kept Erie (0-5-3) winless on the season.

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First half

The Riveters were on their guard against an Erie team that tied them 1-1 just 10 days ago in Erie, and they came out determined to be the aggressors.

Bryan opened up the scoring the the 16th minute on a well-weighted ball through by Nelson, allowing the Riveters’ most-veteran player to poke the ball around the goalkeeper in her first start of the season.

Damico had the next great scoring chance when she cut into the box to shoot in the 29th minute. Erie goalkeeper Morgan Sinan dove to her left and got fingertips on the ball, changing its direction just enough to push it off the post.

The second finally came in the 40th minute from Nelson, after Anna Korney weaved through defenders at the top of the box. Korney found Nelson open on the left side, and Nelson finished with her left foot for her team-leading sixth goal.

It was 3-0 just before halftime when Dellarose cracked the Erie defense with a pass that sent Damico on a breakaway, and Damico finished calmly into the bottom right corner for her fourth goal in the past five matches.

Second half

Dellarose continued the scoring from the penalty spot in the 51st minute after Bryan was tripped inside the box. The Riveters’ captain netted her first of the year with a shot to the bottom right corner of the net.

Bryan added her second in the 55th minute from in front of goal, with Damico playing provider with a low cross in from the right flank.

With the lead, the Riveters began going to their bench, and Proviano made her way quickly onto the scoresheet only four minutes after entering the match.

Proviano scored her first in the 67th minute after Bryan found her in front of goal with a soft pass, and two minutes later, she had her second goal of the match by controlling a hard ball through the box from Kelsey Salopek and turning it the other direction into the left side of the net.

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Modelo Player of the Match

Sabrina Bryan, the native of nearby Cecil, Pa. and former Hofstra All-American, made her first start of the season an impactful one. Bryan was directly involved in four of the seven goals, scoring two herself, adding an assist and winning the penalty kick finished by Dellarose.

What’s next?

The Riveters face their final road trip of the regular season against a resurgent FC Buffalo team (3-2-1) on Saturday, June 21. With two matches in hand, Buffalo could get back into the divisional race with a win, but they must first navigate a trip to their in-state rival Flower City 1872 on Tuesday night.

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Riveters SC lineup (4-3-3) — Bailey Herfurth; Kelsey Salopek, Natalia DiSora, Abi Hugh, Bella Vozar (Ella Bulava 76’); Tessa Dellarose (Minah Syam 63’), Annamarie Williams (Kate Friday 70’), Tanum Nelson (Lucia Wells 70’); Anna Korney (Alexis Tylenda 63’), Sabrina Bryan (Ava Boyd 76’), Olivia Damico (Giną Proviano 63’)

Erie Sports Center lineup — Morgan Sinan; Lucy Horn, Ellie Mills (Fabiana Vasquez 78’), Destinee Robertson, Jade Brown (Kirsty Cameron 78’), Grace Emanuel (Leya Bretz 84’), Judit Ferré Valls (Eden Palkovic 78’), Hannah Shepard, Brooklyn Respecki (Laoise O’hAodha 84’), Niamh Warrender, Olivia Dixon (Autumn Waid 56’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Sabrina Bryan 16’ (Tanum Nelson)
PIT — Tanum Nelson 40’ (Anna Korney)
PIT — Olivia Damico 45’ (Tessa Dellarose)
PIT — Tessa Dellarose 51’ (penalty)
PIT — Sabrina Bryan 55’ (Olivia Damico)
PIT — Gina Proviano 67’ (Sabrina Bryan)
PIT — Gina Proviano 69’ (Kelsey Salopek)

Discipline summary

ESC — Fabiana Vasquez 82’ (caution – tactical foul)

INDIANA TOWNSHIP, Pa. (June 11, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riveters came home with all three points from their shortest road trip of the season, with goals by Anna Korney, Olivia Damico and Sabrina Bryan pushing the team to a 3-1 win at Steel City FC tonight at Founders Field.

Korney, a 15-year-old from DuBois, Pa., was making her first appearance for the Riveters (4-1-2), and her goal just 21 minutes into the match quickly made her the youngest scorer in the team’s short history.

Margherita Memoli scored for Steel City (2-1-2) to cut the lead to 2-1, but the Riveters held on to take control of first place in the USL W League’s Great Forest Division.

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First half

Steel City came out as the aggressor with a packed crowd around their home park, and they had two early chances on goal that missed just wide by Emily Cooper and Margaret Wilde.

The Riveters began to work into the match after the first 15 minutes, but Korney created the first goal from almost nothing at the 21-minute mark. The young forward won the ball from the Steel City defense on the left side and took a quick touch to cut inside. She released a curling shot from outside the box that skimmed the underside of the crossbar and settled into the bottom of the net.

The goal shifted the Riveters into high gear, and in the 36th minute the lead was doubled. Abi Hugh took a short corner kick and received the ball back, taking a touch before driving a head-height cross through the box. Damico timed her jump perfectly, and she turned a header back inside the near post to double the lead with her third goal of the season.

Second half

Early after the break, Steel City’s Audrey Bianco made an impressive run to weave through the defense and into the box, nearly reaching the 6-yard box on the left side. She couldn’t find a teammate, and eventually Piper Coffield bumped Cooper off the ball fairly and cleared the danger.

The Riveters also had their attacking moments but without success hitting the target, as chances for Tanum Nelson and Korney missed the frame.

Steel City began to press forward more in the final 15 minutes, and from a free kick in the 86th minute, the hosts got on the board. Lucy Ream delivered the kick from wide on the left, and Memoli was the first player up to it, redirecting a header past Riveters goalkeeper Pauline Nelles to make it 2-1.

A few nervous moments for the Riveters ended in the first minute of stoppage time, when Ava Boyd slipped a ball behind the defense with Bryan charging forward. Hesitation between Steel City players allowed Bryan to get on the ball cleanly, and she circled the goalkeeper to finish into an open net.

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Modelo Player of the Match

Abi Hugh was a tireless worker moving back to the wing back position she played to begin the year after a pair of matches tucked into the center of the formation. Her ability to get forward helped keep Steel City on its heels, and her delivery to assist Damico on the second goal was inch-perfect.

What’s next?

The Riveters return home to face Erie Sports Center at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 15 at Highmark Stadium. Erie (0-3-3) held the Riveters to a 1-1 draw last week in Erie, but they face a busy weekend with a home match against FC Buffalo the day before.

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Riveters SC lineup (4-3-3) — Pauline Nelles; Abi Hugh (Kate Friday 80’), Natalia DiSora, Piper Coffield, Bella Vozar; Annamarie Williams (Robin Reilly 80’), Jayden Sharpless (Kelsey Salopek 60’), Tanum Nelson (Minah Syam 71); Anna Korney (Ava Boyd 80’), Kennedy Neighbors (Sabrina Bryan 60’), Olivia Damico (Gina Proviano 71’)

Steel City FC lineup (4-3-3) — Payton O’Malley; Regan Reilly (Bri Ross 66’), Lucy Ream, Emily Graeca, Coco Dorfman (Saveria Ulizzi 61’); Margherita Memoli, Margaret Wilde (Maya Matesa 84’), Kayla Leseck; Emily Cooper, Audrey Bianco (Helena Locatelli 61’), Marissa Salisbury

Scoring summary

PIT — Anna Korney 21’
PIT — Olivia Damico 36’ (Abi Hugh)
STC — Margherita Memoli 86’ (Lucy Ream)
PIT — Sabrina Bryan 90+1’ (Ava Boyd)

Discipline summary

PIT — Annamarie Williams 79’ (caution – tactical foul)
PIT — Bella Vozar 88’ (caution – reckless foul)

PITTSBURGH (June 8, 2025) — Tanum Nelson claimed another first-time accolade in Pittsburgh Riveters history, scoring the club’s first hat trick to seal a 3-0 win over FC Buffalo this evening at Highmark Stadium.

Nelson, who already had the first goal in team history to her name, scored all three goals in the first half to keep the Riveters (3-1-2) atop the Great Forest Division. The midfielder and Vermont native now leads the team with five goals in six matches.

The Riveters led Buffalo (1-2-1) by a 21-11 count in total shots, and goalkeeper Pauline Nelles made three saves to record her third shutout of the season.

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First half

The start of the match was delayed 30 minutes because of lighting in the area, but the Riveters wasted no time pushing forward once play began, and Nelson had the team in front after only nine minutes. 

Alexis Tylenda slipped a pass around the defense and into the right side of the box, and Nelson timed her run perfectly to be first to the ball and fire it into the upper right corner.

In the 20th minute, Nelson doubled the lead by working the left side. This time, it was Olivia Damico who played provider on the pass, and Nelson this time finished with a soft touch around Buffalo goalkeeper Bella Simoncelli.

Four minutes before halftime, Nelson completed the historic hat trick. Damico served a cross from the right that was played by a Buffalo defender but caromed to Nelson. The Riveters’ midfielder took a touch to control the ball and finished in front of jubilant fans in Paul Child Stand on the stadium’s East End.

Second half

Buffalo came out more intent on getting forward after the break. Chloe Japic tested Nelles with a shot in the opening minutes, and shortly afterword, Annamarie Williams made a critical blocked shot when she got across just in time to rebuff Buffalo’s Skylar Cornell’s shot from 12 yards.

Simoncelli shone in the Buffalo goal in the second half, making a series of excellent saves to deny Abi Hugh, Tylenda and Damico before the hour mark. The Buffalo goalie finished with seven saves.

The Riveters had another flurry of chances in the 76th minute, when Bella Vozar was denied by Simoncelli. The rebound came to Minah Syam, who turned the ball toward the open net, only to have Buffalo defender Erin Weir clear the ball off the goal line.

Despite a few more chances for the Riveters, neither team found the net in the second half. The Riveters have not allowed a goal at home through three matches at Highmark Stadium.

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Modelo Player of the Match

Tanum Nelson earns her second Player of the Match honor with goals No. 3, 4 and 5 on the season. The rising senior at Cornell University has been a steady threat as an attacking midfielder with the Riveters, making runs behind the defense and taking a team-high five total shots.

What’s next?

The Riveters make the short trip to face Steel City FC (2-0-2) for the first time at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 11 at Founders Field in Indiana Township, Pa. Steel City is the last Great Forest Division team the Riveters have yet to face; they drew 2-2 with Erie in their most recent match Saturday.

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Riveters SC lineup (4-3-3) — Pauline Nelles; Lucia Wells (Sydney Lindeman 84’), Natalia DiSora, Piper Coffield, Bella Vozar; Abi Hugh (Kate Friday 84’), Annamarie Williams (Jayden Sharpless 62’), Tanum Nelson (Minah Syam 72’); Alexis Tylenda (Carolina Lucci 84’), Kennedy Neighbors (Sabrina Bryan 62’), Olivia Damico (Giną Proviano 72’)

FC Buffalo lineup (4-3-3) — Bella Simoncelli; Erin Weir, Charlie Pawli, Tess Ford (Delta Barber 72’), Claire DeAngelis (Paige Szymanski 46’); Gianna Tuzzolino, Lizzy Harkness, Eileen Solomon (Chloe Japic 5’, Lindsay Lenhard 63’); Skylar Cornell (Kylie Miranto 72’), Carissima Cutrona, Sarah Woods (Isabella Schmidt 72’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Tanum Nelson 9’ (Alexis Tylenda)
PIT — Tanum Nelson 20’ (Olivia Damico)
PIT — Tanum Nelson 41’ 

Discipline summary

BUF — Skylar Cornell 58’ (caution – persistent infringement)

(June 5, 2025) — A stoppage-time header cost the Pittsburgh Riveters full points, and the team had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Erie Sports Center tonight at the Penn State Behrend Stadium in Erie, Pa.

Olivia Damico put the Riveters (2-1-2) in the lead early in the second half, but a header in traffic by Leya Bretz pulled Erie (0-3-2) level in the second of three added minutes.

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First half

The Riveters pushed forward early and often, and Damico slipped a pass through to Alexis Tylenda in the fourth minute, but an offside call negated the potential scoring chance. That would be a common sight in the match, as the Riveters were flagged for a whopping 13 offside infractions.

Kennedy Neighbors had a chance to put the Riveters ahead in the 26th minute after left back Lucia Wells hit just the right pass through the defense. Neighbors was able to get around Erie goalkeeper Morgan Sinan as she came off her line, but she was unable to turn her shot into the open net.

Riveters goalie Pauline Nelles made the first two of her three saves in the latter stages of the first half, but chances were few entering the break.

Second half

Tylenda, a constant runner forward all night, made the run that led to the Riveters opening the scoring.

In the 58th minute, she tracked down a ball on the left side, this time well onside. She carried the ball into the box before lifting a pass across the box to the back post, where Damico was ready and finished from inside 10 yards with a shot on her first touch.

It was the second goal in as many matches for Damico, the Penn State graduate, and the second assist of the season for Tylenda, who has four goal contributions (two goals, two assists) in her last three matches.

The Riveters came close to a second goal a minute later, when Lilly Bane slipped a pass to Tanum Nelson in the box, but Nelson’s shot was denied by Sinan.

The Riveters nearly saw the game out, but a foul in stoppage time gave Erie a free kick 35 yards from goal. Olivia Dixon booted a long ball into the middle of the box, and Bretz rose to get just enough of the ball to redirect it past Nelles and into the net.

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Modelo Player of the Match

Lucia Wells was excellent in a two-way role at left back for the Riveters. In addition to her defensive contribution, she created the team’s best first-half chance with her pass to Neighbors, and she was involved earlier in the build-up to Damico’s goal. 

What’s next?

The Riveters return home for a match against FC Buffalo (1-1-1), and a win will be necessary to stay in control of their path in the Great Forest Division after dropping points. The first-ever meeting between the two teams will be a 5 p.m. kickoff Sunday, June 8 at Highmark Stadium.

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Riveters SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Pauline Nelles; Lucia Wells, Natalia DiSora, Piper Coffield, Bella Vozar (Kelsey Salopek 87’); Annamarie Williams (Minah Syam 61’), Abi Hugh (Sydney Lindeman 79’); Alexis Tylenda (Gina Proviano 87’), Tanum Nelson (Kate Friday 79’), Olivia Damico (Robin Reilly 61’); Kennedy Neighbors (Lilly Bane 61’)

Erie Sports Center lineup (4-5-1) — Morgan Sinan; Destinee Robertson, Hannah Shepard, Niamh Warrender, Olivia Dixon; Grace Emanuel, Lucy Horn (Leya Bretz 85′), Jade Brown, Judit Ferre Valls, Ellie Mills; Laoise O’hAodha (Autumn Waid 67′)

Scoring summary

PIT — Olivia Damico 58’ (Alexis Tylenda)
ESC — Leya Bretz 90+2’ (Olivia Dixon)

Discipline summary

ESC — Grace Emanuel 65’ (caution – reckless foul)
PIT — Minah Syam 78’ (caution – tactical foul)

PITTSBURGH (May 30, 2025) — Alexis Tylenda and Olivia Damico scored first-half goals to send the Pittsburgh Riveters to a rain-soaked USL W League win over Flower City 1872 tonight at Highmark Stadium.

Goalkeeper Pauline Nelles made four saves for the Riveters (2-1-1) to earn her second shutout of the season, and the Riveters completed a season sweep of Rochester, N.Y.-based Flower City (1-2-0).

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First half

Each team had early chances, starting with the Riveters’ Kennedy Neighbors turning the ball toward goal while on the ground in a penalty area scramble, only to have the Flower City defense clear it away from the goal line.

Nelles then was forced into action in the eighth minute when she got on the ground quickly to deny Emily Hanrahan, who got a step on the Riveters defense to get into the right side of the box.

The Riveters were on the board in the 20th minute after Tessa Dellarose hit a long-range shot that forced a save by Flower City’s Cate Burns. Tylenda anticipated the rebound and lifted a shot into the roof of the net to score for the second time in as many games. It was also the first-ever goal at home for the Riveters, scored by a graduate of nearby Shaler Area High School.

Just before halftime, the Riveters’ continued pressure paid off when Tanum Nelson slotted a pass through to Damico down the right channel. Damico, a native of Western New York, circled the charging goalkeeper and passed into the open net for a 2-0 lead in first-half stoppage time.

Second half

The second half settled in to more of a midfield battle with the Riveters intent on protecting their lead.

Tylenda nearly sprung an unmarked Robin Reilly for a breakaway in the 65th minute, but her lofted pass carried too far, and Burns was alertly off her line to collect.

Nelles was tested again in the 73rd minute on a long Flower City free kick into the box. Eva Poissant rose to turn a flicked header on goal, and Nelles had to scramble toward the bottom right corner of the net to push the ball around the post on the wet surface.

That would turn out to be the final shot on goal for Flower City — the Riveters also had just one more from that point — as the home team clamped down to complete the clean sheet.

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Modelo Player of the Match

Olivia Damico earns the honor for her well-measured run and timely finish against her hometown team. It was the first Riveters goal for the Penn State product, and it came one game after she set up tonight’s other goal scorer — Tylenda — to record her first assist with the club.

What’s next?

The Riveters head back on the road next week when they visit Erie Sports Center (0-2-1) for a 6 p.m. kickoff Thursday, June 5. Erie also has a road match at Flower City coming up this Sunday afternoon before facing the Riveters.

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Riveters SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Pauline Nelles; Lucia Wells (Sydney Lindeman 87’), Natalia DiSora, Piper Coffield, Bella Vozar; Tessa Dellarose, Annamarie Williams (Minah Syam 72’); Alexis Tylenda (Ava Boyd 72’), Tanum Nelson (Giną Proviano 87’), Olivia Damico (Ella Bulava 61’); Kennedy Neighbors (Robin Reilly 61’)

Flower City 1872 lineup (4-4-2) — Cate Burns; Meghan Joerger, Maya Ikewood, Courtney Carter, Lily Brongo; Catherine Rogers, Jamie Keens (Morgan Goodman 70’), Delaney Tellex (Finn Cregan 78’), Jailyn Parrotte (Andrea Wilson 46’); Emily Hanrahan (Amelia Adiutori 65’), Sam Cipolla (Eva Poissant 46’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Alexis Tylenda 20’
PIT — Olivia Damico 45+1’ (Tanum Nelson)

Discipline summary

None

(May 28, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riveters had control of play in the first half, but they could not hold on to any points tonight against the Cleveland Force, who rallied for a 3-2 win at Krenzler Field in Cleveland.

Kennedy Neighbors opened the scoring for the Riveters (1-1-1) with an assist from Alexis Tylenda, before Tylenda scored one of her own six minutes later assisted by Olivia Damico.

The Force (1-0-2) came out with intensity in the second half, besting the Riveters with goals from a trio of scorers to pull ahead by the 72nd minute.

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First half

From the opening whistle, the Riveters dominated possession. In the fifth minute, an effort by Neighbors was met by the hands of Force goalkeeper Griselda Revolorio. A handful of chances came early for the away team, but none found the back of the net.

In the 25th minute, Tylenda took the ball up the right wing, and a sharp pass found Neighbors alone in the center of the box, and a decisive shot resulted in the ball in the back of the net.

Damico continued to apply pressure along the right wing, and she beat the Force left back with a combination of speed and footwork to send a cross to Tylenda in the box, who headed it home for the Riveters’ second goal and a 2-0 halftime lead.

Second half

The pace of the match shifted in the second half with Cleveland Force’s formation change. 

In the 50th minute, a questionable tackle from a Riveters defender on Sophia Sindelar resulted in a point to the spot from referee Robert Johnson. Hannah Pachan stepped up to take the penalty and fired it past Riveters goalkeeper Pauline Nelles.

Only seven minutes later, the Force equalized when Reagan Pentz found the back of the net with a well-placed shot.

Cleveland continued to build on their momentum, and Brynn Severance scored the go-ahead goal during the 72nd minute from a shot from outside the box that hit the post before settling in the back of the net.

The Riveters rallied for a few good chances toward the end of the second half and into stoppage time, but they could not find a way to get a tying goal.

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Modelo Player of the Match

With a goal and an assist in her Riveters debut, forward Alexis Tylenda earned Modelo Player of the Match honors.

What’s next?

The Riveters face their shortest turnaround of the W League season as they prepare to host Flower City 1872 at 7 p.m. Friday, May 30 at Highmark Stadium. Flower City (1-1-0) has not played since last Saturday, when the Riveters took the first meeting between the teams, 3-2, in Rochester, N.Y.

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Riveters SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Pauline Nelles, Abi Hugh, Natalia DiSora, Piper Coffield, Bella Vozar (Kelsey Salopek 46’), Tessa Dellarose (Lilly Bane 46’, Kate Friday 75’), Annamarie Williams (Sydney Ritter 65’), Alexis Tylenda, Tanum Nelson (Lucia Wells 81’), Olivia Damico (Carola Fontan 65’), Kennedy Neighbors (Ashlyn Basinger 65’)

Cleveland Force SC lineup (4-3-3) — Griselda Revolorio, Emme Butera, Lilly Boebel (Mara Jaracz 46’), Brynn Severance, Hannah Pachan, Reagan Pentz, Bella Antonio (Anna Fugarino 90+1’), Sophia Sindelar, Mackenzie Russell, Julia Rocky, Meg Heath

Scoring summary

PIT — Kennedy Neighbors 25’ (Alexis Tylenda)
PIT — Alexis Tylenda 31’ (Olivia Damico)
CLE — Hannah Pachan 51’ (penalty)
CLE — Reagan Pentz 57’ 
CLE — Brynn Severance 72’

Discipline summary

PIT — Bella Vozar 45’ (caution – tactical foul)
CLE — Hannah Pachan 69’ (caution – tactical foul)

(May 24, 2025) — The first win in Pittsburgh Riveters history is in the books, but the team had to hold off a late surge by Flower City 1872 to come away with a 3-2 USL W League victory tonight at Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

Tanum Nelson scored the first two goals in the history of the Riveters (1-0-1) less than two minutes apart, and Lucia Wells added a late third goal that proved important in the end.

Sam Cipolla came off the bench to score twice for Flower City (1-1-0), the second goal coming in stoppage time to make for a tense finish.

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First half

For the second mach in a row, the Riveters came out on the front foot, which would translate into a 14-3 advantage in shots by the end of the 90 minutes. But Flower City goalkeeper Brigid Mulholland was strong cutting off chances early and would finish with seven saves.

Olivia Damico came close to opening the scoring in the 26th minute, but her shot from the right side of the penalty area struck the right post squarely and rebounded back in her direction. A scramble in the box minutes later allowed Nelson to turn a shot on goal, but Mulholland got a boot on the ball to turn it wide.

The historic first goal in Riveters history came in the 31st minute on a play that began with a long free kick into the box by Piper Coffield. The ball landed in the penalty area but was not cleared by Flower City, and it fell to Nelson, who had room to place her shot into the back of the net.

The celebrations only had about 90 seconds to die down before Nelson — who plays her college soccer at Cornell University, a little more than an hour away from Rochester — was at it again with an exceptional strike. The midfielder received a pass from Kennedy Neighbors and turned forward, finding space to operate 25 yards from goal. Nelson hit a perfectly placed right-footed shot that struck the underside of the crossbar and went into the net, giving the Riveters a 2-0 lead at the break.

Second half

The Riveters continued to push forward, and both Abi Hugh and Neighbors forced saves by Mullholland in the first seven minutes of the half. Flower City, meanwhile, brought Cipolla into the match after the break, and trailing, their tactics turned more direct.

Riveters goalie Bailey Herfurth didn’t record an official save, but she got an important hand to a low cross in the 70th minute, preventing the ball from going across goal, and Coffield then blocked a shot before play was stopped for a foul against Flower City.

The lead increased to 3-0 in the 80th minute from a corner kick. The ball was allowed to bounce in the Flower City box, and a clearance attempt came only as far as Wells, whose shot from 15 yards netted her first goal of the season. 

Flower City was not done, however, and in the 83rd minute, Cipolla got on the end of a bouncing long ball and managed to chip it into the net with pressure from Coffield behind her and Herfurth coming off her line.

Cipolla struck again in stoppage time, touching the ball around Herfurth after another long ball sent her behind the defense. But the Riveters were able to see out the remaining time, earning win No. 1 in team history.

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Modelo Player of the Match

Tanum Nelson claimed a place in history with the first goal in Riveters history, and she quickly grabbed another with the first brace for the club. The midfielder had three shots total and logged 72 minutes playing a key role in the center of the park.

What’s next?

The Riveters are back on the road for their first midweek match at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, when they go on the road to face Cleveland Force SC (0-0-2) for the second time. The Force drew 2-2 last Wednesday with Erie after their season-opening draw with the Riveters.

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Riveters SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Bailey Herfurth; Abi Hugh (Sydney Ritter 81’), Natalia DiSora, Piper Coffield, Bella Vozar; Tessa Dellarose (Ava Boyd 81’), Annamarie Williams (Kate Friday 72’); Kennedy Neighbors (Lucia Wells 65’), Tanum Nelson (Minah Syam 72’), Olivia Damico (Lilly Bane 46’); Robin Reilly (Sydney Lindeman 46’)

Flower City 1872 lineup (4-5-1) — Brigid Mulholland; Jamie Keens, Meghan Joerger (Isabella Fiorillo 84’), Maya Ikewood, Courtney Carter; Amelia Adiutori (Maria Karipidis 55’), Catherine Rogers, Mia Gray (Sam Cipolla 46’), Emily Hanrahan (Finn Cregan 84’), Eva Poissant (Morgan Goodman 46’); Chloe DeLyser (Delaney Tellex 46’)

Scoring summary

PIT — Tanum Nelson 31’ (Piper Coffield)
PIT — Tanum Nelson 32’ (Kennedy Neighbors)
PIT — Lucia Wells 80’
FLC — Sam Cipolla 83’ (Maria Karipidis)
FLC — Sam Cipolla 90+2’ 

Discipline summary

None

PITTSBURGH (May 16, 2025) — 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 (0-0-1) held a territorial edge and outshot the Force (0-0-1) 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.

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First half 

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.

Second half

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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Modelo Player of the Match

Piper Coffield was strong from her center back position as the Riveters opened their history with a shutout. Her disallowed goal was a prime example of the threat she posed on set pieces, as well, and Coffield and the defensive cohort limited the Force to one shot on goal in each half.

What’s next?

The Riveters will gear up for their first-ever road game, a 6 p.m. start Saturday, May 24 at Flower City 1872 in Rochester, N.Y. Flower City has yet to begin their season, opening up Monday night at FC Buffalo.

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Riveters SC lineup (4-2-3-1) — Pauline Nelles; Abi Hugh, Piper Coffield, Natalia DiSora, Bella Vozar; Annamarie Williams (Lilly Bane 46’), Tessa Dellarose; Lucia Wells (Sabrina Bryan 46’, Sydney Ritter 85’), Carola Fontán (Tanum Nelson 46’), Olivia Damico (Robin Reilly 62’); Kennedy Neighbors (Kate Friday 71’)

Cleveland Force lineup (4-3-3) — Griselda Revoloria; Julia Rocky, Ella Raimondi, Mackenzie Russell, Emma Butera; Hannah Pachan, Reagan Pentz (Mara Jaracz 86’), Brynn Severance (Eva Sunjevaric 79’); Lauryn Contini (Lilly Boebel 79’), Isabella Antonio (Olivia Sipsock 79’), Lauren Mahoney (Addy Cusick 62’)

Scoring summary

None

Discipline summary

PIT — Natalia DiSora 17’ (caution – tactical foul)