The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are hoping to help improve soccer in western Pennsylvania and they are looking to do it in a big way.
On Tuesday, the Riverhounds announced the launch of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Tournament Series, which is a grouping of tournaments that will take place over the course of the year and culminate with the Riverhounds SC Three Rivers College Showcase in December.
“We are proud to launch our very own soccer tournament series and bring high-level youth competitions to the greater Pittsburgh area,” Riverhounds SC owner Tuffy Shallenberger said in a statement. “As these events target clubs from across the country, it will provide an excellent opportunity for new families and faces to see our city. Along with the development of our academy, we are building in partnership with Allegheny Health Network a state-of-the-art facility in Coraopolis that will serve as the hub for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Tournament Series. We are excited to be a driving force behind the growth of youth soccer in western Pennsylvania.”
We are excited to announce the launch of the Riverhounds SC Tournament Series. #UNLEASH
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— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) January 12, 2021
The Riverhounds are planning to kick off the tournament series with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Classic in July, followed by the Hounds Steel City Cup in October and the Three River College Showcase in December. The fourth tournament of the series, the RDA Spring Invitation, won’t begin until March 2022.
The Riverhounds organization is hoping the series will bring clubs from all over and turn into one of the best attractions in the area. Tournaments and games will be at Highmark Stadium, the Montour Junction Sports Complex, along with other high-quality facilities in the area.
“The commitment to youth development from within our club and throughout the region from our owner Tuffy Shallenberger, and many others over the past decade, has been remarkable,” Riverhounds SC coach Bob Lilley said. “We have built a very strong academy program with experienced and talented coaches and reached into our community with many other programs and initiatives. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Tournament Series is a continuation of our desire to grow the game in western Pennsylvania. We look forward to hosting other clubs that share our passion for the sport and also believe in the development of our youth.”
The tournaments will provide an opportunity for teams of all skill levels. The Black and Gold will have a support staff made up of the Riverhounds Academy and will also consult with PA Classics to make sure the events maintain a level of standard that will coincide with expectations of both families and competitors.
Justin Evans, a Riverhounds SC Hall of Fame inductee and former player and head coach, will lead the team of directors and said the Riverhounds are looking to provide something in Pittsburgh that hasn’t been around for a long time.
“As an organization, we are very excited to lead the way in the soccer community for the Greater Pittsburgh Area by presenting this tournament series in our own backyard,” Evans said. “These tournaments will provide an opportunity to teams of all skill levels and also fill the tournament void that has been absent in Pittsburgh for so many years.”
