The Pittsburgh Riverhounds secured their eighth consecutive postseason berth — a franchise record — with a gritty 2-1 victory over Indy Eleven at Highmark Stadium on Saturday night. The win not only snapped a five-match winless streak against Indy but also solidified the Riverhounds’ place among the USL Championship’s most consistent playoff contenders, trailing only Louisville City FC in active streaks. With 5,618 fans packing the stadium, the Hounds (11-10-7) delivered a performance that sent the sellout crowd home buzzing.
Indy Eleven, desperate to climb above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference, came out aggressive early. Goalkeeper Eric Dick was called into action in the seventh minute, smothering a free kick from Aodhan Quinn. Quinn nearly broke through again in the 22nd minute, finding space on the left side of the box, but Dick’s fingertip save kept the match scoreless. The breakthrough came in the 38th minute when Robbie Mertz whipped a cross to the back post, where Augi Williams redirected the ball across goal for Danny Griffin to slide in and finish — marking his sixth goal of the season and a personal best.
The second half saw Indy’s keeper Hunter Sulte put on a show, making a trio of spectacular saves in quick succession to keep his team within reach. He denied Williams with a kick save, dove to stop a blistering half-volley from Bradley Sample, and pushed Charles Ahl’s near-post effort wide. But the Hounds eventually doubled their lead in the 76th minute when center back Sean Suber rose at the near post to nod in Sample’s corner kick — his first goal of the 2025 campaign.
Indy clawed one back in the 88th minute through James Musa, who capitalized on a misdirected clearance and volleyed home from close range after Jack Blake’s awkward delivery spun perfectly to the back post. Despite the late drama and five minutes of stoppage time, Pittsburgh’s defense held firm to preserve the win and clinch their playoff spot.
Danny Griffin earned Modelo Man of the Match honors for his all-around effort. In addition to scoring the opener, the captain led the team with five possession recoveries, won four aerial duels against a physically imposing Indy side, and made five touches in the attacking box — a testament to his two-way impact.
With the postseason locked in, the Riverhounds now turn their attention to climbing the Eastern Conference standings for a potential home playoff match. Their next test comes on Oct. 18 with a late-night road clash against Monterey Bay FC, a side fighting for its playoff life. A strong finish could see Pittsburgh secure a top-four seed and bring playoff soccer back to Highmark.