Press Releases

PITTSBURGH (March 9, 2019) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced its inaugural Hall of Fame class today at a season ticket holder 20th anniversary kickoff event.

The members of the Riverhounds SC Hall of Fame inaugural class include former players Justin Evans and David Flavius, in addition to founder and former owner Paul Heasley, first-ever Vice President and General Manager Dave Kasper and first-ever head coach John Kowalski.

Evans, a native of Peters Township, played a total of six seasons (1999-01, 03, 08-09) with the club. Over the course of his Hounds career, the midfielder totaled 101 games played, 14 goals and 22 assists. The two-time All-League selection is one of four players in team history to have recorded at least 100 appearances and 50 points.

As a forward, Flavius is the club-record holder in numerous statistics, including games played (183), goals (58) and assists (25). He is the only player to have recorded at least 100 points (141) in club history. Like Evans, Flavius also was a two-time All-League selection over the course of his eight-season Pittsburgh career.

Founding the team on March 11, 1998, Heasley constructed and formed the foundation of Pittsburgh’s very own outdoor professional soccer team. Under his and Kasper’s leadership, Belle Vernon and Bridgeville natives, respectively, the Hounds won their first-ever playoff game in team history and were awarded USL A-League Organization of the Year honors during their inaugural season in 1999.

During this inaugural 1999 season, Kowalski served as the team’s field general and coached its high-scoring attack to 63 regular season goals, which still stands as the club single-season record today. He served as the Hounds’ head coach for two seasons (1999-00).

In addition to its Hall of Fame announcement, the club disclosed that a new turf-playing surface would be installed at Highmark Stadium. This installation is scheduled to be completed prior to Riverhounds SC’s home opener on April 13.

The team also unveiled its 2019 kits, featuring a brand-new white jersey and a special patch to pay homage to its 20th anniversary season.

Prior to the season ticket holder event, Riverhounds SC revealed its team beer, Session Copper Ale, which will be sold at Highmark Stadium, Full Pint Brewery in North Versailles and Full Pint Wild Side Pub in Lawrenceville.

PITTSBURGH (March 8, 2019) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed midfielder Ethan Kutler, defender Dani Rovira and defender Uchenna Uzo to one-year contracts with club options for the 2020 season, pending USL Championship and USSF approval.

All three players have previously trialed with the club. Rovira and Uzo have been on trial since mid-February whereas Kutler arrived in camp this past week.

“As the quality of our group has improved during our preseason, Ethan, Dani and Uchenna have demonstrated consistency and the ability to help us moving forward,” head coach Bob Lilley said.

Midfielder Ethan Kutler

Having prior MLS experience, Kutler arrives in Pittsburgh after spending 2017-18 with New York Red Bulls and New York Red Bulls II. Last year, he played four games and logged two assists with the MLS club and appeared in 26 games, posting two goals and one assist, with the USL Championship side.

“Ethan is a versatile player who can score goals and provide quality service for our forwards,” Lilley said.

Kutler made his professional debut against the Hounds on March 25, 2017, in a 3-3 draw. Including playoffs, he went on to appear in 18 games for Red Bulls II that season en route to one goal and one assist.

New York drafted Kutler with the No. 39 overall pick of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.

Prior to playing professionally, the Lansing, New York native played collegiately at Colgate University. He posted 73 games played (70 starts), 33 goals and 15 assists while with the Raiders. When he ended his Colgate career, his 81 points ranked second in program history.

Defender Dani Rovira

Playing his collegiate junior and senior campaigns at the University of Vermont from 2017-18, Rovira totaled 33 games played (23 starts) and two assists while at the school.

“Dani is a young, dynamic player with tons of energy who has grown quickly during preseason,” Lilley said.

The Bogota, Colombia native began his college career at Dean College, where he was named to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association All-America Second Team as a sophomore after finishing third on the squad with seven assists.

Defender Uchenna Uzo

Uzo has prior USL Championship experience, playing for Phoenix Rising FC from 2016-17. During his two seasons with Phoenix, he posted 24 games played.

“Uchenna is a physical presence with experience in this league who will add to our quality and depth at the center back position,” Lilley said.

The Houston, Texas native played three seasons collegiately, all of which at Coastal Carolina University. During his senior campaign, he started 22 of 23 games played en route to First Team All-Big South honors. As a junior, he started all 23 of his games played and was named Second Team All-Big South. He also was a mainstay on the Chanticleers backline as a sophomore, appearing in 25 matches and starting his final 23 games played.

Uzo, born in Lagos, Nigeria, was a member of the U-17 Nigeria National Team.

With these three additions, Riverhounds SC currently has 20 players under contract heading into the 2019 campaign.

Roster breakdown for 2019 season

Forwards (3): Neco Brett, Steevan Dos Santos, Christian Volesky

Midfielders (8): Mouhamed Dabo, Kenardo Forbes, Noah Franke, Sammy Kahsai, Kevin Kerr, Ethan Kutler, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Anthony Velarde

Defenders (7): Tobi Adewole, Jordan Dover, Joe Greenspan, Ryan James, Dani Rovira, Caleb Smith, Uchenna Uzo

Goalkeepers (2): Ben Lundgaard, Kyle Morton

PITTSBURGH (March 6, 2019) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has announced the acquisition of goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard via loan from Columbus Crew SC of MLS, pending USL Championship and USSF approval.

Lundgaard’s loan period is scheduled through the 2019 season.

“Ben is a big keeper with a lot of athleticism, and we’re excited to have him for the 2019 season,” head coach Bob Lilley said. “I expect him and Kyle Morton to give us a very strong goalkeeping tandem. We are appreciative of Columbus for this loan.”

Crew SC drafted the goalkeeper with the No. 21 overall pick of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He subsequently signed with the club on March 1, 2018. He did not make an appearance with Crew SC, which loaned his contract to Indy Eleven on March 7, 2018. He did not make an appearance with the USL Championship side in 2018.

Lundgaard, 23, had a standout collegiate career at Virginia Tech from 2014-17. As a senior in 2017, the Wilmington, Delaware native earned First Team All-Atlantic Coast and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Third Team honors. During his junior campaign, he posted a career-best .806 save percentage.

At the Atlantic Coast Conference school, he started all 70 of his career games played en route to a 1.28 goals-against average and .774 save percentage. He concluded his career with 312 saves, which ranked third most all-time for the Hokies. Furthermore, his 23 career shutouts ranked second most in program history.

With the addition of Lundgaard, the Hounds now have 17 players under contract heading into the 2019 season.

Roster breakdown for 2019 season

Forwards (3): Neco Brett, Steevan Dos Santos, Christian Volesky

Midfielders (7): Mouhamed Dabo, Kenardo Forbes, Noah Franke, Sammy Kahsai, Kevin Kerr, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Anthony Velarde

Defenders (5): Tobi Adewole, Jordan Dover, Joe Greenspan, Ryan James, Caleb Smith

Goalkeepers (2): Ben Lundgaard, Kyle Morton

PITTSBURGH (March 4, 2019) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed midfielder Sammy Kahsai to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2020 season, pending USL Championship and USSF approval.

Trialing with the team since the second week of preseason action, Kahsai spent three seasons (2015-17) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where he started every game during his senior campaign en route to five goals, two assists and America East All-Conference First Team recognition.

“Sammy was able to make an impression at our open and invite combines and has continued to grow in training camp,” head coach Bob Lilley said. “His technical ability and feel for the game are strong suits that will help him adapt to this level.”

In addition to starting all 18 of his senior appearances at UMBC, the Hyattsville, Maryland native also started all 17 of his games played as a junior. Over the course of his time with UMBC, Kahsai amassed 47 games played (39 starts), eight goals and two assists.

Prior to arriving at UMBC, Kahsai played at Washington Adventist University during his freshman campaign. While with the Shock in 2014, he led the team with 14 goals. Leading up to his collegiate career, he competed for the D.C. United Academy from 2013-14.

With the addition of Kahsai, Riverhounds SC currently has 16 players under contract heading into the 2019 season.

Roster breakdown for 2019 season

Forwards (3): Neco Brett, Steevan Dos Santos, Christian Volesky

Midfielders (7): Mouhamed Dabo, Kenardo Forbes, Noah Franke, Sammy Kahsai, Kevin Kerr, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Anthony Velarde

Defenders (5): Tobi Adewole, Jordan Dover, Joe Greenspan, Ryan James, Caleb Smith

Goalkeepers (1): Kyle Morton

PITTSBURGH (February 22, 2019) – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed defender Caleb Smith to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2020 season, pending USL Championship and USSF approval.

Smith first started with Riverhounds SC as a trialist during the team’s first week of preseason camp. Previously, he played collegiately at Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he started 17 of his 18 games played as a senior in 2018.

“Caleb is a technical left back who is comfortable on the ball, likes to get forward and does a solid job defending,” head coach Bob Lilley said. “He has had a good training camp, and we’re excited to have him for the 2019 season.”

Playing predominately at midfield, Smith accumulated 67 appearances (49 starts), three goals and two assists in his SMU career (2015-18). He fielded playing time from the start of his duration with the Mustangs, posting 16 starts and 22 games played as a freshman. He also was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team.

In 2014, the Arlington, Texas native was called up to the U20 National Team to compete in the NTC Invitational, where he tallied an assist in a 4-0 victory over Bermuda. In 2013, he was a member of the USA U17 National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida and participated in the 2013 USSDA National Championship match against Real Salt Lake.

With the addition of Smith, Riverhounds SC currently has 15 players under contract heading into the 2019 season.

Roster breakdown for 2019 season

Forwards (3): Neco Brett, Steevan Dos Santos, Christian Volesky

Midfielders (6): Mouhamed Dabo, Kenardo Forbes, Noah Franke, Kevin Kerr, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Anthony Velarde

Defenders (5): Tobi Adewole, Jordan Dover, Joe Greenspan, Ryan James, Caleb Smith

Goalkeepers (1): Kyle Morton