PITTSBURGH (July 22, 2019) – Following a very successful first year of team operation, the Riverhounds Development Academy East (RDA East) will begin participation in US Club Soccer’s Great Lakes Alliance (GLA) league for the upcoming 2019-2020 season.
The RDA East has 12 teams registered for the GLA, each averaging seven league games per season including a mix of home and away games, as well as crossover games in Canton, Ohio and Batavia, New York. The league matches will bolster a competitive calendar that was previously filled with friendly matches and regional tournaments.
“This is another huge step forward for all involved with the RDA East,” Academy East Director James Meara said. “This will be a great test for our players in a very competitive environment.”
The RDA East 2009 through 2006 sides will compete in both fall and spring sessions whereas the older, high school-aged teams will only participate in a spring season. Games for the younger teams are expected to commence in late August with schedules finalized by mid-August.
The GLA formed as a competitive, regional league for the 2016-2017 season but joined the National Premier Leagues (NPL) one year later (2017-2018), servicing more than 30 clubs in the Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania region. The league began to operate programming for under-13 through under-19 boys and girls but has more recently explored adding younger ages as well.
For more information on the RDA East and the Great Lakes Alliance, please visit https://www.riverhounds.com/training-academy-east and glasoccer.com, respectively.
