Press Releases

Ydrach called up for World Cup qualifiers

Pittsburgh Riverhounds defender Beto Ydrach has been called up to the Puerto Rico National Team for the nation's upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June. (Photo: Chris Cowger/Riverhounds SC) — *Hounds defender Beto Ydrach has been called up to the Puerto Rico National Team for the nation’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June. (Photo: Chris Cowger/Riverhounds SC)*

PITTSBURGH (May 28, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC defender Beto Ydrach has been called up once again for the Puerto Rico National Team to compete in the nation’s final two matches in the current round of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ydrach, who has made 13 appearances with one goal for Puerto Rico, leaves this week as El Huracán Azul begins the international window with a friendly against Nicaragua on June 1 in Pawtucket, R.I. That tune-up will prepare the team for two matches that will decide if Puerto Rico progresses to the final round of qualifying in the CONCACAF region.

Puerto Rico travels to face Suriname on June 6 in the Surinamese capital, Paramaribo, before returning home for its final group match on June 10, when it will host St. Vincent & the Grenadines in Mayagüez, P.R. The top two teams in each group advance to the final round, and Puerto Rico is in position to move on with four points through two matches and group-leading Suriname and third-place El Salvador scheduled to meet on the final match day.

Ydrach has appeared in all 10 league matches this season for the Hounds, starting nine of them, playing primarily as a center back and occasionally as a holding midfielder. He has one assist in league play, in addition to scoring a memorable first professional goal in stoppage time to defeat New York City FC of MLS in the U.S. Open Cup.

Vacter chosen for Team of the Week

Pittsburgh Riverhounds center back Guillaume Vacter cuts off Rhode Island FC striker Albert Dikwa in the Hounds' 1-0 win May 24, 2025 at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I. (Photo: Rhode Island FC) — Hounds center back Guillaume Vacter was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for the first time after his contribution to the team’s 1-0 shutout of Albert Dikwa (pictured) and Rhode Island FC. (Photo: Rhode Island FC)

PITTSBURGH (May 27, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC defender Guillaume Vacter was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 12, the league announced this afternoon.

It is the first such honor for Vacter, a first-year pro from Paris by way of the University of Connecticut, who was outstanding at center back in the Riverhounds’ 1-0 win at Rhode Island FC last Saturday. Joining him with a spot on the Team of the Week’s bench was goalkeeper Eric Dick, which marks the first weekly honor of 2025 for the reigning Goalkeeper of the Year.

Vacter won all three tackles and 8 of 11 duels overall against Rhode Island to earn his spot in the league’s best 11. He also added four clearances, won possession six times and contributed a key blocked shot from his spot in the Hounds’ back three.

That 90-minute weekend performance came just three days after Vacter logged 73 minutes in the midweek Open Cup loss at the Phildelphia Union, a match in which he had eight clearances, intercepted four passes and won 4 of 7 duels.

Also playing a large role in the shutout was Dick, who matched his season high with five saves against Rhode Island, including three in the first 17 minutes. It was his fifth clean sheet of the season in all competitions, and his 19th in a season and a half with the Hounds.

The Hounds are back at Highmark Stadium at 7 p.m. this Saturday. They will face Rhode Island FC for the second straight week, but this time, it will be in a USL Jägermeister Cup match.

Brittni Grenninger joins Academy coaching staff

PITTSBURGH (May 21, 2025) — The Riverhounds Academy welcomes a new addition to its coaching staff, introducing Brittni Grenninger as the club’s Entry Level Girls Director beginning with the 2025-26 competitive season.

Grenninger comes to the organization with a decorated coaching resumé at both the club and high school levels, and in addition to her academy role, she will serve as the Director of Operations for the Pittsburgh Riveters, the club’s Women’s First Team in the USL W League.

“Brittni is truly one of the top young coaches in Pittsburgh, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her leading RDA programming for U8-U14 girls. Her passion, expertise and dedication to player development make her the perfect fit for this role. I’m happy to welcome Brittni to our club,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said.

Grenninger most recently coached with Steel City FC, where she served as the club’s Foundation Phase Leader and Developmental Center Administrator. Steel City teams led by Grenninger captured multiple PA West Classic League titles and won prestigious tournaments, including the Jefferson Cup. Prior to Steel City, she also coached at the club level with First Coast Soccer Academy in Jacksonville, Fla. and Northern Crew SC.

At the high school level, Grenninger experienced success as the head coach at Freeport, North Catholic and Butler. With Freeport, she helped the Yellowjackets reach new heights, winning two section titles, the first of which came in 2016 when her team reached the WPIAL final and PIAA quarterfinals — both also firsts for the program. Her North Catholic team also reached the WPIAL final and PIAA semifinal in 2021, and the next year, she led Butler to a winning record and the WPIAL quarterfinals.

Grenninger entered coaching after a decorated playing career. A 194-goal scorer at Karns City High School, she went on to be a four-year starter from 2006-09 at St. Francis (Pa.) University. She also competed in the Women’s Premier Soccer League in 2005-06 with the Steel City Sparks, who reached the National Semifinals in 2005, and with Jacksonville club Florida Sol from 2010-13.

Date changed for Hounds match in Oakland

PITTSBURGH and OAKLAND, Calif. (May 13, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s USL Championship match against Oakland Roots SC has been rescheduled to Sunday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. at the Oakland Coliseum, the teams announced today.

The move was made to accommodate the addition of an international friendly to the schedule at Oakland Coliseum, where the Mexican National Team will play host to Japan in a high-profile friendly on Sept. 6 during that month’s international window.

All tickets for the Hounds match in Oakland, originally scheduled for Sept. 6, will automatically transfer to the new, Sept. 7. date. The match will air live in the Pittsburgh market on SportsNet Pittsburgh+ with re-airings to be announced.

Date, time announced for Hounds-Union Cup match

PITTSBURGH (May 8, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s match against the Philadelphia Union in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 will be played at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., the U.S. Soccer Federation announced this afternoon.

The live broadcast of the match will be streamed on Paramount+, while whip-around coverage of all six Wednesday night Open Cup matches will be live on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

It will be the first-ever meeting between the Hounds and the Union, pitting Pennsylvania’s oldest professional soccer club against the cross-state MLS club and three-time Open Cup finalists. The Hounds advanced to the Round of 16 with a 1-0 win over New York City FC of MLS, while the Union progressed by topping USL Championship club Indy Eleven on penalties, 5-4, after playing to a 1-1 draw.

This is the Hounds’ third overall trip to the Round of 16, and on both prior occasions, they advanced to the quarterfinals. In 2001, they defeated the A-League’s El Paso Patriots, 2-1; and in 2023, the Hounds topped eventual MLS champion Columbus Crew, 1-0.

To see the complete Open Cup Round of 16 schedule, visit ussoccer.com.

Hounds to host NYCFC in Open Cup Round of 32

(Updated 4/17 at 5 p.m. with match date, time & TV info)
(Updated 5/1 at 1 p.m. to add updated Ticketmaster link)

PITTSBURGH (April 17, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will once again welcome MLS opposition to Highmark Stadium after being drawn to host New York City FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday, May 7.

The match will be a 7 p.m. kickoff broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network and streamed live on Paramount+.

It will be the first-ever matchup between the Hounds, Open Cup quarterfinalists in 2001 and 2023, and NYCFC, which began play in 2015 and has also reached the quarterfinals twice, in 2019 and 2022. The Hounds have hosted MLS teams at Highmark Stadium two times previously — in 2023 when they defeated the Columbus Crew, 1-0, and in 2015, when they lost in extra time to D.C. United, 3-1.

Tickets for the match can be purchased through Ticketmaster and by contacting the Highmark Stadium Box Office at ticketing@riverhounds.com or 412-865-GOAL.

The Hounds reached the Round of 32 by winning its Third Round match Tuesday, 1-0 over Columbus Crew 2 of MLS Next Pro, while MLS teams are entering the competition this round.

The winner of the Round of 32 match will advance to face the winner between the Philadelphia Union and Indy Eleven. The Union would host that match, while the Hounds would host if they advanced to face Indy.

To see the complete schedule for the Round of 32, visit ussoccer.com.

Defender Vacter inks deal with Hounds

*Guillaume Vacter, a first-year pro out of UConn, signed with the Hounds for 2025. (Photo: Mallory Neil/Riverhounds SC)*

PITTSBURGH (April 11, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed defender Guillaume Vacter to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2026 season, pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

Vacter, 24, is a first-year pro out of the University of Connecticut who joined the Hounds in training near the end of their preseason, and he solidified his roster spot with his work in the team’s final preseason matches and in training.

“Gui is a physical defender who excels in 1v1 situations. He also reads the game well and makes good decisions on the ball,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “We’re glad to have him in Pittsburgh, and he will be a good addition to our team.”

Hailing from Paris, France, Vacter first arrived in the U.S. to play for Rider University in the Spring 2021 season, during which he started five matches and scored once for the Broncs. He then transferred to Connecticut, where he established himself as a pivotal player for the Huskies in the Big East Conference.

Vacter appeared in 64 matches, starting 56 of them, and he was among the top five in minutes played for the Huskies all four of his seasons there. He had two goals and an assist with Connecticut, and his defending helped the Huskies to a .500 or better record each year.

The Hounds will be back in action this Saturday, April 12, when they visit the Charleston Battery for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The match will be televised live on KDKA+ and the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Hounds to visit Crew 2 in Open Cup

(Updated with match details, 4/3 at 5 p.m.)

PITTSBURGH (April 3, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will be on the road to face Columbus Crew 2 out of MLS Next Pro in the Third Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a matchup revealed this afternoon during U.S. Soccer’s televised draw on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

The match will be the first of the Third Round to kick off with a 6 p.m. start Tuesday, April 15 at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. The match will be shown live on Paramount+.

This will be the first-ever competitive matchup for the Hounds against a team from MLS Next Pro, the third-division league that launched in 2022. The Hounds did face Crew 2 in this year’s preseason, taking a 1-0 win at a snow-covered Highmark Stadium on Feb. 16 behind a goal by Jorge Garcia.

The Hounds have faced Crew 2’s parent club, MLS’s Columbus Crew, twice previously in the Open Cup. The Crew came out on top 1-0 in Columbus in 2019, but the Hounds turned the tables to win 1-0 in Pittsburgh in 2023 to advance to the quarterfinals for only the second time in club history.

Winners from the Third Round will advance to the Round of 32, where the advancing teams will be joined by 16 MLS clubs entering the competition. The Round of 32 draw will be held Thursday, April 17.

To see the complete Third Round pairings, visit ussoccer.com/us-open-cup.

Ydrach named to Team of the Week

Pittsburgh Riverhounds defender Beto Ydrach was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 4 after his performance in the team's 2-0 win over Birmingham Legion FC on March 29, 2025, at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. (Photo: Chris Cowger/Riverhounds SC) — Hounds defender Beto Ydrach was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 4 after his performance in the team’s 2-0 win over Birmingham last Saturday. (Photo: Chris Cowger/Riverhounds SC)

PITTSBURGH (April 1, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC defender Beto Ydrach was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 4, the league announced this afternoon.

Ydrach assisted the Hounds’ second goal in their 2-0 win Saturday night over Birmingham Legion FC, slipping a well-weighted pass through the middle for Danny Griffin to apply a sliding finish. Spending most of the match at center back before moving to a holding midfield role, Ydrach also won all five of his aerial duels, claimed possession a team-high nine times and led the Hounds with nine clearances.

It is the first time in the weekly best 11 for Ydrach, a first-year pro who has started all four matches this season for the Hounds. It comes on the heels of a busy week in which he also suited up for the Puerto Rico National Team last Tuesday to make his 13th international appearance in a midweek friendly in the Dominican Republic.

Hounds midfielder Robbie Mertz also appeared in the weekly honors for the first time in 2025 by taking a bench spot after scoring the opening goal in the win over Birmingham. The Pittsburgh native also led the team with eight crosses and two chances created, and he won possession seven times, trailing only Ydrach for the Hounds.

The Hounds are off this weekend before returning to action with a visit to their longest-running rival, the Charleston Battery, in a 7:30 p.m. match Saturday, April 12. That game can be seen on KDKA+ and CBS Sports Golazo.

USL to adopt promotion and relegation system across leagues

TAMPA, Fla. (March 19, 2025) — The United Soccer League (USL) announced today that a supermajority of club owners voted to implement a promotion and relegation system, marking a groundbreaking decision that will reshape the future of professional soccer in the United States.

The USL becomes the first professional sports league in the U.S. to adopt this global model, creating an interconnected three-tiered men’s professional soccer system, where teams earn promotion to a higher division or face relegation to a lower division based on their performance during the season. With this historic step, the USL aligns with the world’s top leagues—including the English Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga—where promotion and relegation raises the stakes of every match, drives fan engagement, and elevates the overall competition of the game.

“A new chapter in American soccer begins. The decision by our owners to approve and move forward with this bold direction is a testament to their commitment to the long-term growth of soccer in the United States,” said Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League. “This is a significant milestone for the USL and highlights our shared vision with our team ownership to build a league that not only provides top-tier competition but also champions community engagement. Now, just as it is in the global game, more communities in America can aspire to compete at the highest level of soccer. It’s time.”

Last month, the USL announced plans to launch a new Division One league in 2027-28, a pivotal step in its vision to establish a fully integrated three-tier professional system. As defined by U.S. Soccer Federation sanctioning standards, Division One is the highest level of professional soccer in the United States. With the USL Championship (Division Two) and USL League One (Division Three) already providing a strong foundation for player development and competition, the addition of a Division One league completes the structure. All three leagues will be interconnected through a structured promotion and relegation system, where more matches matter, rewarding performance and unlocking new opportunities for clubs, players, and fans.

“Promotion and relegation transforms the competitive landscape of American soccer,” said Paul McDonough, President and Chief Soccer Officer of the USL. “With the 2026 World Cup and other major international events approaching, we have a unique opportunity to build on that momentum and create a sustainable future for the sport in the U.S. Fans and stakeholders have been clear—they want something different. They’re drawn to the intensity of high-stakes competition, where more matches have real consequences—just like we see in European leagues. This shift challenges the status quo and brings a level of excitement and relevance that can elevate the game across the country.”

More details about the implementation and structure of promotion and relegation will be shared in the coming months. For updates, please visit uslsoccer.com.

About United Soccer League

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

With multi-year national and international media rights agreements across various platforms including CBS Sports, ESPN and Peacock, the USL is the most widely accessible soccer league in the country.

Charly

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