The wait is finally over in Pittsburgh. After decades of near misses, heartbreaks, and rebuilding cycles, the Riverhounds have claimed their first championship in club history, defeating FC Tulsa in a tense, scoreless final that was decided from the penalty spot. The title was the culmination of a flawless postseason run in which the Hounds did something truly unprecedented: they did not concede a single goal in the entire playoffs.
At the center of the story was goalkeeper Eric Dick, who delivered one of the finest postseason performances the USL has ever seen. With back-to-back five-save clean sheets in the semifinals and final—plus the decisive penalty save in the shootout—Dick was the obvious and unanimous choice for Championship Final MVP.
A Final Defined by Grit and Goalkeeping
The match itself reflected the identity the Hounds embraced all postseason: disciplined, relentless, and unshakeably composed. Both teams carved out chances in open play, yet neither could solve the opposing goalkeeper.
The Hounds nearly struck early when Luke Biasi hammered a curling 30-yard effort off the crossbar. Augi Williams twice came close, first forcing a diving stop from Tulsa’s Tyler Deric and later missing narrowly from an improvised volley just before halftime.
Tulsa, meanwhile, pushed for control through sheer volume, outshooting Pittsburgh 17–6. But every time the match seemed ready to tilt their way, Dick stepped in...none bigger than his 40th-minute reaction tip over the bar on a point-blank Kalil ElMedkhar header.
Second Half Resilience Fuels a Title Push
After the break, Tulsa launched wave after wave of pressure. Pittsburgh’s back three, Sean Suber, Beto Ydrach, and Biasi, held firm, and midfielders Danny Griffin, Bradley Sample, and Junior Etou repeatedly made last-ditch interventions, none more important than Griffin’s sliding recovery to break up a dangerous 59th-minute turnover that nearly sprang Taylor Calheira clean through.
The Hounds survived another frantic spell in the 74th minute, blocking multiple shots in the box before Dick collected the loose ball cleanly. From there, Pittsburgh absorbed Tulsa’s surges, fought for territory in extra time, and leaned on the structure that had carried them all postseason.
Destiny From the Spot
With neither side able to break through in 120 minutes, the championship came down to penalties, and the Hounds immediately seized the moment. After Pittsburgh buried its first two attempts, Dick delivered the turning point, diving low to his right to stonewall Stefan Lukic on Tulsa’s second kick.
From there, the Hounds were perfect. Jacquesson, Mertz, Boone, and Suber all converted confidently, and when Ydrach stepped up with the title on his foot, he smashed his shot straight down the middle to seal the championship as Deric dove away.
In a postseason built on composure, it was a fitting finish.
Eric Dick: The MVP of a Lifetime
Dick’s performance will live permanently in club lore. Over the span of the postseason, he posted:
0 goals allowed
Two straight five-save performances
A crucial penalty stop in the championship shootout
For a team that built its identity on defensive precision and unity, Dick was the foundation. His command in the air, calm distribution, and fearless shot-stopping made him the clear choice for Championship Final MVP...and a new icon in Riverhounds history.
A Historic First Title
For a club that has long prided itself on toughness, community, and continuity, this championship is more than a trophy, it’s the moment that cements a legacy. The Riverhounds didn’t just win their first title; they did it in unforgettable fashion, completing a postseason for the ages without conceding a single goal.
The city has been waiting for this moment for years.
Now, at long last, it belongs to Pittsburgh.
The Riverhounds are champions.