Canon-Mac grad Bryan still has scorer’s touch for Riveters
At 27 years old Sabrina Bryan is the oldest member of the Pittsburgh Riveters soccer team.
And though she’s surrounded by players that are in college or high school, don’t equate her age as being old for a soccer player.
“She might be 27 years old, but she’s in her prime as a soccer player,” Riveters coach Scott Gibson said. “It’s often a misconception that she’s an old player. She’s not. She’s right in that sweet spot for a player.”
Before the Riveters, a pre-professional team, played their inaugural season last year Bryan, a Canon-McMillan graduate, wasn’t sure if she’d play soccer again.
The opportunity has proven to her something she believed all along.
She can still play at a high level.
Bryan has scored in three straight games for the Riveters and leads the team with four goals.
“Last year I definitely wanted to prove to myself I could still do it,” Bryan said. “I had an injury, which was a little hiccup along the way last year, so going into this season my goal was to stay healthy the whole time and see if I could physically endure a full season. Obviously, it’s a shorter season, games wise, but we’re putting in the work two or three months before we start basically every day. It’s nice to know I can still do it. I don’t know where it’ll go from here, but I’m just taking it day by day.”
Bryan has shown the same quality in front of goal that she had when she was an NCAA All-American at Hofstra and before that leading Canon-McMillan to a state title in 2016.
Her goal scoring streak has played a role in the Riveters sitting atop the USLW Great Forest Division standings with three games remaining in the regular season. The Riveters host Cleveland Force SC on Sunday at FNB Stadium (formerly Highmark Stadium) in Station Square.
Whether she’s come in during the second half as a substitute or been a starter, Bryan has made an impact.
Bryan had the lone goal in last week’s 1-0 win against Erie Sports Center and scored once in a 4-0 win over Flower City 1872 and a 3-0 win in another match with Erie Sports Center.
“She’s excellent one-on-one and can find a half yard of space very easily,” Gibson said of Bryan. “She has a clinical left foot. She can get to the end line and cross balls in for assists too. She really only needs a half a yard in the 18 (yard box).”
Bryan credited one of her forward partners, Lola Abraham, a former Riverview High School standout and current Pitt player, with feeding her good passes that have set up scoring chances. Abraham assisted on Bryan’s last two goals.
“As the season has gone on our chemistry as a team has been getting better,” Bryan said. “We kind of understand where the other person is going to run before they get there. Our vision on the field is much better, and Lola has been having some amazing passes to me. She makes it pretty easy for me.”
Aside from playing for the Riveters, Bryan also coaches in the Riverhounds’ youth academy and is an assistant coach on the South Fayette girls soccer team that won the PIAA Class 5A championship in the fall.
Three of the girls she’s coached at South Fayette – Caitlyn Thompson, Gabby Beinecke and Mia Deramo – are on the Riveters.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Bryan said. “We always have lots of jokes with each other. It’s great to share the field with them and it’s a great way for them to maybe look up to me and hopefully learn something. We always have a lot of fun together.”
Lily Bane, a Canon-McMillan grad, is also on the team for a second consecutive year.
The Riveters have a five-point lead on second-place Flower City 1872. They are closing in on another division title, but expect tough tests in their final three games.
“Obviously we have a target on our back coming off that division championship last year,” Bryan said. “We knew it was going to be tough. We knew other teams wanted to prove a point. We always say that every team brings their best game against us. We’re just ready for it and we’re excited to hopefully repeat as division champions and go further in the playoffs.”