By Katie Mayock, Journalism Intern – Sports
The Pittsburgh Riveters SC are starting to fill out their roster ahead of their inaugural season in the USL W League in 2025.
On October 2nd, defender Tessa Dellarose, a graduate of Brownsville Area High School and the Riverhounds Development Academy, became the first player to join the team. Dellarose just wrapped up her junior season at UNC, winning a national championship, and also plays for the U.S. U-20 Women’s Youth National Team.
Since then, the Riveters have added three more players to the roster. Defender Piper Coffield, a graduate of Mars Area High School and the Riverhounds Development Academy’s ECNL team, committed to the team following her sophomore season at Indiana University. Just a couple weeks later, midfielder Kennedy Neighbors joined her IU teammate Coffield as the third member of the Riveters’ roster. Finally, just a few days ago the Riveters announced midfielder Tanum Nelson as the fourth member of the inaugural team. Nelson just finished her junior season at Cornell University.
The Riveters staff will continue to fill out the roster with top collegiate talent and through open tryouts. On December 6th, the Riveters held the first-ever Riveters Open Combine, which was open to female soccer players aged 18 or older who wish to be a part of the USL W League’s newest team. Head coach Scott Gibson, sporting director Dan Visser, and other members of the Riveters staff evaluated players during the tryout and provided feedback afterwards.
“It’s been a long time coming since the inception of the team and all the different things that we’ve been doing behind the scenes,” said Gibson. “It’s finally good to get out on the field.”
In total, 43 women attended the combine at the AHN Montour Sports Complex. The Riveters staff will invite top players back for another tryout and/or to participate in the team’s preseason in April.
Gibson has also made the first addition to his coaching staff, hiring Reaghan Duval as the team’s goalkeeper coach. Duval currently coaches at Robert Morris University and the Riverhounds Development Academy, roles that she will continue in alongside her position with the Riveters.
The Riveters will open play in the USL W League in May 2025. The team will play its home games at Highmark Stadium, current home of the Riverhounds.
