Defender Dani Rovira and midfielder Sammy Kahsai may be new to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC roster in 2019, but past experience will look to carry them on the pitch this season.
Rovira is coming off his senior campaign where he played at the University of Vermont, starting in 11 games for the Catamounts. After graduating from Vermont, he had to make the adjustment to playing for a professional club in his 2019 rookie season.
“It is definitely a different atmosphere,” Rovira said. “The pace of the game, the movement, the physicality of it, it is just a good thing for me to learn. It has been a fun experience, which I enjoy but it is good the team is getting points.”
Although Rovira has yet to play in a match with the Hounds, he will work toward improving his game before he receives his first action. He is trying to learn from the players who have been with Pittsburgh for a longer period of time.
“I try to learn a little from every guy,” Rovira said. “All of them have experience, have won championships, have played at this level. Some of the guys, they are always trying to teach me something, always trying to learn. That is what makes it the best. To get to enjoy it.”
Similarly to Rovira, Kahsai enters his rookie campaign with Pittsburgh. A University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) graduate, Kahsai started every game of his senior season, scoring five goals for the Retrievers.
Prior to playing for UMBC, Kahsai was a member of the D.C. United Academy where he gained his foundation for the game.
“That helped me big time,” Kahsai said. “Coming out of high school and going into the academy helped me understand the game, give me better positioning, understanding IQ and good professional standards at D.C. United.”
He has been able to translate his soccer skills to the professional level, coming to a new home in Pittsburgh. Kahsai’s impression of Pittsburgh and the Hounds thus far has been a positive one.
“The season opener was something else,” Kahsai said. “It was a great amount of people, great amount of crowd, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the regular season.”
The Hounds (2-1-3) take on Nashville SC (3-2-1) at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Highmark Stadium. In its past five matches, Pittsburgh is unbeaten with a 2-0-3 record. The Black and Gold look to remain strong at home, where they have lost only two regular season matches since the start of the 2018 campaign – one of which coming at the hands of Nashville SC in May 2018.
“Just come out and protect the home ground,” Rovira said. “It’s a home game, and we expect to win. Just like the coaches say, just try to get on the ball, keep the ball and good things will happen.”
