PITTSBURGH (December 20, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have signed defender Taylor Washington to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2018 season, pending USL and USSF approval.
Washington, 23, comes to the Hounds after spending this past season on loan with cross-state foe Bethlehem Steel FC. He was originally drafted by the Steel’s parent club, the Philadelphia Union of the MLS, in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
“Taylor is a player who I have really liked since his college days at George Mason and playing against him there [with the United States Naval Academy],” said head coach Dave Brandt. “In the three games we played Bethlehem Steel this year, Taylor played just about every minute of left-back, so he’s just a player that I have liked for quite a long time and I’m thrilled to have him as part of our back four this year.”
At Bethlehem, Washington started in 28 of the Steel’s 30 matches and was second on the club in minutes played at 2,473. The defender was also a part of seven clean sheets and played a full 90 minutes in all but four of his starts on the year.
Washington made one appearance with the Union, getting the nod in a friendly against Crystal Place FC this past July.
Prior to the Steel, Washington competed collegiately first at Boston University then George Mason University. With the Terriers, Washington started in 14 of the team’s 18 games, picking up his first collegiate goal, a game-winner, against conference rival Harvard.
Moving to George Mason before his sophomore year, Washington excelled with the Patriots over three seasons, notching a goal and three assists in 52 career starts. He was named Atlantic-10 All-Conference first team in 2013 and NSCAA All-Midwest Third Team in 2015 for his efforts, as well as George Mason Student-Athlete of the year at the school’s 2016 Senior Salute award ceremony.
A native of Somers, New York, Washington also had stints with PDL side Worcester Hydra FC in 2012 and the D.C. United U-23 squad in 2015.
With the addition of Washington, the Hounds now have 17 players officially under contract. The current roster for the 2017 season is as follows:
Ryan Adeleye (Club option exercised in December)
Bryan Arguez (Signed to one-year deal on December 15)
Kay Banjo (Signed to one-year deal on November 23)
Keasel Broome (Signed to one-year deal on November 11)
Shane Campbell (Signed to one-year deal on November 23)
Ritchie Duffie (Signed to one-year deal on November 15)
Danny Earls (Club option exercised in December)
Devaughn Elliott (Signed to one-year deal on December 8)
Corey Hertzog (Club option exercised in December)
Kenroy Howell (Signed to one-year deal on December 12)
Jamal Jack (Signed to one-year deal on December 15)
Kevin Kerr (Already under contract)
John Manga (Signed to one-year deal on November 15)
Jack Thompson (Club option exercised in December)
Nick Thompson (Club option exercised in December)
Chevaughn Walsh (Already under contract)
Taylor Washington (Signed to one-year deal on December 20)