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Real Maryland recorded its first-ever victory in USL-2 with a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in front of a raucous crowd of 1,800 at the Maryland SoccerPlex Saturday in a slightly shortened affair due to lightning.

The Monarch fans didn’t have to wait long for the games first goal. In the sixth minute, Dennis Alas floated the ball into Devlin Barnes who snuck behind the Riverhounds back line. Barnes took the ball down and squared it for William Brindley to score the first-ever goal in Real Maryland history.

The Monarchs continued to attack and were rewarded right on the cusp of halftime. A quickly taken free kick by a Riverhounds player hit referee Michael Donovan and fell kindly for Ronald Cerritos. The El Salvadoran international and former Major League Soccer star made no mistake, smashing the ball into the lower corner from 20 yards.

Pittsburgh came out strong in the second half and Real Maryland were reduced to 10 men when Cerritos was sent off for a second bookable offense, but a staunch Real Maryland defense was able to hold on for the clean sheet.

The game would be delayed for lightning in the final minutes and ultimately was called in the 89th minute, giving the Monarchs the win.

Real Maryland is back in action next Saturday when it travels to Western Mass for a re-match with the Pioneers.