Part of history
Waynesburg无毛视频檚 Basinger thrilled to be playing for Pittsburgh Riveters
Ashlyn Basinger jumped at the opportunity.
The Waynesburg Central graduate was told of the newly formed Pittsburgh Riveters pre-professional women无毛视频檚 soccer team and was thrilled when she was asked to be part of the roster.
Basinger, who is a member of the University of Cincinnati women无毛视频檚 soccer team, had a connection with the Riveters through Pittsburgh Riverhounds academy director Scott Gibson.
无毛视频淲hen I was in high school they helped me develop and prepare me for college,无毛视频� said Basinger, the 20-year-old daughter of Greg and Melissa Basinger of Waynesburg. 无毛视频淲ith my experience from there, Scott Gibson, the (Riveters) head coach, reached out and asked me, 无毛视频楧o you want to be part of the team we无毛视频檙e building here in Pittsburgh?无毛视频�
无毛视频淚 said absolutely I would love to be a part of something so important and historic. I had a past with the Riverhound development academy, and them wanting to bring some local girls back to help field a team and show support around Pittsburgh, I was up for that.无毛视频�
Basinger is one of two area women on the team along with Brownsville graduate and North Carolina national champion Tessa Dellarose.
无毛视频淚 know Tessa very well, from Brownsville. We played against her in high school,无毛视频� Basinger said. 无毛视频淚 love playing with Tessa. She无毛视频檚 such a humble, nice person and such a great player.无毛视频�
Basinger loves the concept of the Riveters.
无毛视频淭he platform we无毛视频檝e built for young girls, not only in the city but also around where I无毛视频檝e grown up, is amazing,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚 never had that, somewhere that I could look and say, 无毛视频楬ey, this local team, that could be me one day.'无毛视频�
Basinger has seen some action off the bench as a forward for the Riveters who are 5-1-3 heading into their final regular season match Friday when they host Steel City. Pittsburgh can clinch a playoff spot with a victory.
The Riveters are coming off a 1-1 draw at FC Buffalo on Saturday and were in danger of losing until Minah Syam scored off a scramble in front of the net in stoppage time to tie the match. The goal was set up by Dellarose无毛视频檚 corner kick.
Basinger said being a member of the Riveters has helped her evolve as a player.
无毛视频淧laying where I do at Cincinnati, with the Riveters I无毛视频檓 getting to play with some girls I无毛视频檒l compete against in the Big 12 and build more connections and just learn from other athletes,无毛视频� Basinger said. 无毛视频淚 think this is such a great experience to grow my own game and to, overall, be part of something that无毛视频檚 so much bigger than myself.无毛视频�
Riveters home games at Highmark Stadium have been a thrill to be a part of, according to Basinger.
无毛视频淗onestly, the best word I can think of that describes it is electric,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淭he way that the city comes out and supports us is incredible. I无毛视频檝e never been a part of something like it.
无毛视频淢y favorite part is seeing all the young girls there and how much they love it. They无毛视频檙e all dressed in the jerseys with the headbands, looking like the Riveter Rosie (of the team emblem) and just the excitement they have on their face to see the team take the field and maybe think that someday it无毛视频檚 something they could maybe do.无毛视频�
Basinger was the 无毛视频-Standard Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2022 when she scored a WPIAL-leading 56 goals, including the 100th of her career. She helped lead Waynesburg to two WPIAL playoff wins in which she scored all three of her team无毛视频檚 goals 无毛视频� 1-0 over Aquinas Academy and 3-1 over Winchester Thurston 无毛视频� as the Lady Raiders advanced to the semifinals.
Unfortunately, an ACL injury took Basinger out of action and derailed her team无毛视频檚 goal of reaching the district final or qualifying for the PIAA tournament. Waynesburg finished with a 16-5 record.
无毛视频淲hile it was challenging to work to recover from my ACL, I think it helped me build a lot of character, and also love for the game,无毛视频� Basinger said. 无毛视频淗aving to step away from the game for around seven or eight months before I could even practice again showed me how important it is for me to be an athlete, and only made me love it more.无毛视频�
Basinger was recruited by the University of Maryland and spent her freshman year, a red-shirt season, with the Terrapins before transferring to Cincinnati.
无毛视频淚 red-shirted my first year at Maryland because of me coming back from the ACL,无毛视频� Basinger explained. 无毛视频淭hey wanted to be sure I didn无毛视频檛 re-tear it early on since that无毛视频檚 such a common occurrence. It was precautionary. I got in a few games in the spring but none in the fall for conference play.
无毛视频淚 really enjoyed the university overall, but I moved on just for the sake of growing in the sport with a team I felt I could be more successful at. I love Cincinnati. I think it无毛视频檚 a great program that无毛视频檚 heading in a good direction and it无毛视频檚 something I wanted to be a part of.无毛视频�
Basinger will be a junior academically with the Bearcats. She played in nine games during the 2024 season and recorded her first collegiate point with an assist in a 4-1 win over Houston.
无毛视频淚 had a really strong spring season and I think the way that we无毛视频檙e planning to play in the fall, the formation, I think I无毛视频檓 going to see a lot more of the field and will become more impactful,无毛视频� Basinger said.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 looking forward to playing this fall and, hopefully, scoring a few goals and becoming a starter, fingers crossed. I do know the experience I无毛视频檓 getting now here (with the Riveters) is giving me a boost.无毛视频�