Sounding Off on Soccer with John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky
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Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky talks all things soccer, including the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, collegiate and scholastic competition, MLS, Premier League, International Soccer and more.

  1. Having worn crest for both Riverhounds and Steel City FC, Nicky Kolarac weighs in on historic Open Cup clash

    MAR 16

    Having worn crest for both Riverhounds and Steel City FC, Nicky Kolarac weighs in on historic Open Cup clash

    Pittsburgh native Nicky Kolarac, who has played for three different teams in the US Open Cup: Michigan Bucks, Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Steel City FC, joined John Krysinsky on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast to discuss the historic match between the Riverhounds and Steel City.   The match between the Riverhounds and Steel City (Tuesday, March 17 -- 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium) will be the first time two teams from the Pittsburgh area will face off against each other in the proper US Open Cup tournament since 1957 -- a span of nearly seven decades and 69 years! John and Nicky discussed an array of topics, including:  How the Pittsburgh soccer landscape has changed since he was a young player Playing in US Open Cup with three different clubs (Michigan Bucks -- 2014 PDL Champions, Riverhounds in 2015 and Steel City FC in 2024)Experience of being with Riverhounds in 2015 during its Open Cup run, when current Head Coach Rob Vincent scored in three straight matches during the Cup competition Being brought to Steel City FC (initially Pittsburgh Hotspurs) to help provide leadership and veteran presence, eventually helping play a key role in building successful, winning culture, which has included three straight Division championships (2023 and 2024 in NPSL, 2025 in USL League Two) Significance of the first match between two Pittsburgh clubs in the Open Cup since 1957!And much more!

    45 min
  2. Steel City FC's Nick Graeca and Grant McIntosh look forward to facing Riverhounds in Open Cup

    MAR 11

    Steel City FC's Nick Graeca and Grant McIntosh look forward to facing Riverhounds in Open Cup

    On the newest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky is joined by Steel City FC's Nick Graeca and Grant McIntosh to discuss their upcoming Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match vs the Riverhounds Among the topics discussed included:  Juggling post-collegiate life while still training and competing with Steel City FCHow Steel City's roster evolved through Open Cup qualifying, building a strong player pool and rounding into form as the Open Cup and USL League Two season approaches Thoughts on building on a successful first season in USL League Two Importance of match between two Pittsburgh-area teams in the US Open Cup (First Match between two Pittsburgh clubs in USOC proper in 69 years) What it will be like to have Steel City FC supporters and soccer family supporting them at Highmark Stadium Importance of Open Cup friendlies against Robert Morris and Duquesne Thoughts on facing the Riverhounds

    45 min
  3. Down to the wire in USLPA-USL CBA negotiations, plus Riverhounds 2026 predictions

    MAR 5

    Down to the wire in USLPA-USL CBA negotiations, plus Riverhounds 2026 predictions

    Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky and Mark Goodman are back and ready on a new Episode of Sounding Off on Soccer to discuss the new season as the Riverhounds get set to defend its USL Championship title.  However, will the season start on time?   The USLPA and USL Headquarters continue to negoiate in good faith, but with less than 48 hours before kickoff, there is still no new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and the league.   John and Mark share their thoughts on the 11th Hour negoiations, then roll up their sleeves to discuss some of the Five Burning Questions for the Riverhounds as they begin their title defense under a new, permanent Head Coach, Rob Vincent, then make their Annual predictions.

    1h 4m
  4. Steel City FC's Tom Ovenden and Dan Brower on historic Open Cup match with Riverhounds SC

    FEB 10

    Steel City FC's Tom Ovenden and Dan Brower on historic Open Cup match with Riverhounds SC

    On Friday, Steel City FC and the Riverhounds announced that its historic US Open Cup match has been moved to Highmark Stadium -- on March 17, at 7 p.m.     This seemed like a great opportunity to bring back and check in with Tom Ovenden and Dan Brower, Steel City FC's owner/president and the men's first team Head Coach to discuss the match and the club's efforts to partner with the Riverhounds in hosting the Open Cup match.

    44 min
  5. Riverhounds Robbie Mertz reflects on title run, higher standards for players and more

    FEB 6

    Riverhounds Robbie Mertz reflects on title run, higher standards for players and more

    Robbie Mertz is back for another season with his hometown club, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. This time he comes back to the club, with a new contract, as a champion, postseason hero and even more determined to contribute in contributing to the Riverhounds' standard of success that has been part of his tenures with the team. As the Hounds kick off the preseason, Mertz joins John Krysinsky on the Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast for a revealing and compelling in-depth interview.   Among the topics John and Robbie discuss included: reflections on last season's remarkable postseason run, the team's resilience in overcoming adversity, dealing with what he described as a 'shocking' coaching change, finding a way to score the biggest goal in club history after missing golden chances the previous week, then experiencing hospitalization from exhaustionsigning a new contract and looking forward to a transition to the new season as Rob Vincent has been implemented as the permanent Head Coach and what his role will be with the team the continuing efforts of the USLPA to bring higher standards for players and reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the league -- as negotiations are still at a standstill Mertz, 29, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of nearby Upper St. Clair High School, has been a mainstay for the Hounds since signing with his hometown club as a rookie in 2019. While he did have a short stint with Atlanta United 2 starting in 2021, he rejoined the Hounds via transfer midway through the 2022 season and will be entering his seventh season with the team.

    45 min
  6. Randy Waldrum on United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame honor, career and transition to new role with Pitt

    FEB 3

    Randy Waldrum on United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame honor, career and transition to new role with Pitt

    Randy Waldrum has earned his spot in coaching history in the United States of America. In January, the United Soccer Coaches Annual Convention in Philadelphia, the organization honored Waldrum, along with Craig Ewing, Al Miller and Steve Sampson, as part of its 2026 Hall of Fame Class. The U.S. Soccer coaching icon, who helped build successful women's college soccer programs at every stop, including at University of Pittsburgh, sat down with John Krysinsky for a special interview segment for Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast. In this segment, Randy shares more on recieving on of the highest honors for a soccer coach in the United States and devulges into his career and soccer journey while also sharing plenty of thoughts on the current state of women's soccer, college athletics, thoughts on VAR, advice for coaches and how he's been transitioning in his new role as Technical Director for Pitt women's soccer and much more.

    1h 3m
  7. Stefan Lundberg comes full circle with Bridge City FC

    JAN 9

    Stefan Lundberg comes full circle with Bridge City FC

    Stefan Lundberg has done it all on the Pittsburgh soccer landscape, but he's still not done yet. The former WPIAL and club soccer standout, who went on to a four-year career at Duquesne University, played three seasons with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, where he (no pun intended) was part of the team that bridged the gap playing before scarce crowds at Chartiers Valley to the inagural season at Highmark Stadium.  Lundberg has stayed involved with the game with local amateur clubs including Tartan Devils Oak Avalon of Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League and is now one of the veteran leaders for Pittsburgh's new pro indoor soccer club, Bridge City FC.   On the first episode of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast of 2026, Lundberg took a few moments to catch up with Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky, sharing more about his soccer journey and the new experience playing indoor soccer with a team that has been a very interesting collection of young and veteran players, and much more.

    23 min
  8. Danny Griffin reflects on Riverhounds' first-ever title winning campaign

    12/09/2025

    Danny Griffin reflects on Riverhounds' first-ever title winning campaign

    In what was our first-ever in-person, on location edition of Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast, at Shiloh Plate & Pour (on Mt. Washington), one of the pillars of the Riverhounds 2025 championship squad, the team's captain and midfielder, Danny Griffin joined John Krysinsky to share his thoughts, in his first extended interview session, a few weeks after the team delivered the franchise's first-ever League Title to Pittsburgh. If there was one overriding theme in this conversation with Griffin, it was about how the team banded together and remained a close-knit group regardless of what ever adversity it faced, eventually finding a way to pull off an improbable run through the playoffs without allowing a goal and bringing home Pittsburgh's first-ever professional soccer Championship in the modern era.   "In all my years here, we've always had a close-knit locker room and the guys demanding more from each other," Griffin shared.   "Guys would get on each other. Get after each other about what we needed to do. There's struggles in every season, but in those little moments, there are guys that really stepped up and had each other's back.  That went a long way for everyone."

    42 min
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Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky talks all things soccer, including the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, collegiate and scholastic competition, MLS, Premier League, International Soccer and more.

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