May 27, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

Pittsburgh had a three-goal lead before conceding two late tallies and hanging on for a 3-2 victory at Flower City 1872 on Saturday in Rochester, N.Y.

The Riveters (1-0-1) scored twice in the first half on goals by Tanum Nelson at the 31st and 32nd minutes. Piper Coffield assisted on Nelson’s opening tally, which was the first goal in team history, and Kennedy Neighbors had a helper on the second.

Pittsburgh had a 4-0 advantage in shots on target in the first half. The Riveters earned three corner kicks, which were all taken by captain Tessa Dellarose, who is a Brownsville Area High School graduate and Grindstone native. Dellarose is a member of the University of North Carolina women’s soccer team that won a national championship in December.

Pittsburgh controlled possession from the opening kick, and the Riveters’ pressure nearly paid off in the 26th minute when Olivia Damico had her shot from the right side of the penalty area hit the post and ricocheted back in her direction. Following a scramble in the box, Nelson put a shot on target, but Flower City keeper Brigid Mulholland made one of her seven saves.

Pittsburgh continued to press in the second half, and had two shots on target in the 51st and 52nd minutes by Abi Hugh and Neighbors, but both were stopped by Mulholland.

Canon-McMillan product Lilly Bane, who will play at Purdue, came on in the second half and had a shot on target in the 79th minute that set up the Riveters’ fourth corner kick.

Dellarose curled her kick into the box and a header was attempted but couldn’t be made. The ball bounced around, and in the ensuing scrum, it came to the foot of Lucia Wells, who fired a low shot to the right, and passed a diving Mulholland for a 3-0 advantage in the 80th minute. Wells entered the match in the 65th minute.

Dellarose was substituted after Wells’ tally, but Flower City made the match interesting on goals by Sam Cipolla in the 83rd and 92nd minute during stoppage time. Cipolla’s first goal was assisted by Maria Karipidis.

Pittsburgh keeper Bailey Herfurth didn’t record an official save, but she deflected a low cross in the 70th minute that prevented the ball from going across the goal. Coffield blocked a shot before a foul was called against Flower City to stop the momentum.

There were no yellow or red cards issued in the match.

Pittsburgh has four points after two matches in the USL W pre-professional league.