QUEBEC CITY, Quebec -- The Montreal Impact beat the Riverhounds, 1-0, in front of 5,461 fans Friday at Laval University's PEPS Stadium.

In addition to the game, the Hounds may have also lost defender Mario Gori, who suffered what initially appeared to be a torn ACL in the 50th minute. Gori will undergo tests to determine the full extent of the injury when he returns to Pittsburgh.

The Impact got on the board in the 62nd minute when midfielder Mark Rowland launched a shot from 45 yards out and buried it to the left of Riverhounds goalkeeper Randy Dedini. Ze Roberto picked up the assist for his short back pass that screened the Riverhounds' defense from the shot.

The Hounds appeared to tie the game in the 74th minute after Ben Garry headed the ball past Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton. However, the Hounds were called for a foul on Sutton and the goal was not allowed.

A scoreless first half featured a fairly even pace for both teams, with Pittsburgh preferring to make Montreal move forward toward goal. Montreal took advantage of the time in front of the Pittsburgh goal taking six shots and forcing Dedini to make four saves. The Riverhounds could not capitalize on three direct kicks from 30 yards in front of the Montreal goal.

Most of the pressure by Montreal came at the foot of Rowland who made two shots and chipped several balls into the penalty area. The Impact's best chance in the first half came in the 38th minute when forward Mauro Biello sent a hard, line drive shot off a turnaround in the middle of the penalty area. Dedini was forced to knock the ball down and smother it with his body.

Rookie midfielder Joey Worthen made the Montreal fans hold their breath when he collected a David Flavius pass after streaking down the left side of the field in the 22nd minute. His movement down the left side pulled Sutton to the left post but Worthen's shot was just wide right.

Midfielder Matt Chulis will most likely miss the game in Rochester next Friday because he received a yellow card in the 78th minute. This will put him over the 21-point limit, which requires a one-game suspension. He will be eligible for Sunday's game against Indiana.

Both teams were playing without regular starters. The Impact were without defender Lloyd Barker, who was sitting out this game on a one-game suspension for an accumulation of yellow card points. The Hounds were without defender Ricardo Iribarren, who cannot travel to Canada, and midfielder Brian Johnson, who has a foot injury that needs to be evaluated upon the team's return to Pittsburgh.

Defender Michael Green left the game with a knee injury in the 59th minute. He will be evaluated next week in Pittsburgh.

The Hounds return to Bethel Park Stadium on Sunday to face the Indiana Blast at 6:05 p.m. It will be Team Poster Night, and all fans will receive the 2002 team poster.

NGON RELEASED, PICKED UP

Interim Head Coach Tim Carter on Thursday released forward Ali Ngon, who missed most of training camp and the early part of the season with an injured foot.

Ngon made seven appearances for 203 minutes and scored one goal. He also scored an own goal to give Toronto a 2-1 win in overtime on June 12. The Lynx picked up Ngon on Thursday signing him for the remainder of the season.

WIN TICKETS TO THE 2003 RIVERHOUNDS HOME OPENER

All fans will be asked to complete a marketing survey as they enter the game on Aug. 4 and 17. Any fan who returns the survey will be eligible to win four tickets to the Hounds' home opener in 2003.

COMMITTED TO 2003

Hounds president and CEO Paul A. Heasley has informed the A-League that the team will return for its fifth season. Letters of commitment to the league were due this week, and Heasley has complied.

At the annual operations meeting in November, the Hounds will learn when the season will open and who will be their opponents. The Hounds hope to find Western Conference teams such as Minnesota, Milwaukee, Seattle and Vancouver on the schedule.