Team Announcements

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 16, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed defender Victor Souza, adding to their back line for the 2026 season. The deal includes a team option for 2027 and is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

Souza, 24, spent his first three professional seasons with New England Revolution II in MLS Next Pro after being drafted by the Revolution in the second round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Boston College, where he was a two-time All-ACC Third Team selection.

“After a successful college career in the ACC and three strong years in MLS Next Pro, Victor is well prepared for the demands of USL Championship soccer,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said. “He has everything we look for in a center back, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Pittsburgh.”

Across his three seasons with Revs II, Souza amassed 70 total appearances and led the team in minutes played in 2023, his first pro season. He had two goals and an assist in MLS Next Pro, and he also made one appearance with the MLS side, recording an assist off the bench against the Chicago Fire in this year’s U.S. Open Cup.

Hailing from the Ozone Park neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., Souza played in the New York City FC Academy as a youth player, helping them to a 2019 national championship before beginning his college career.

The Hounds continue to gear up for their USL Championship title defense in 2026, and season tickets and multi-match plans are on sale now. Visit riverhounds.com/tickets or call the Highmark Stadium Box Office at 412-865-GOAL to secure seats.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 13, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has hired Adam Mitchell as the team’s assistant coach for the upcoming USL Championship season.

Mitchell, 34, comes to the Hounds with a decade of coaching experience at the college level, including the past seven seasons at Duquesne University serving as an assistant under head coach Chase Brooks. During his tenure at Duquesne, the Dukes advanced to the Atlantic 10 Championship Final in 2021, hosted A-10 Tournament matches for the first time in 2022, and spent eight weeks in the Division I national rankings to end an 18-year drought without a Top 25 appearance. In that same span, the Dukes produced a total of 13 all-conference selections; the 2023 A-10 Midfielder of the Year, Ask Ekeland; and the first MLS Draft first-round pick in school history in 2024, Jayden Da.

“Adam is an intelligent, enthusiastic and tireless coach who we are delighted to have on board. He has hit the ground running since his arrival, and I am looking forward to the season ahead with him on our staff,” Riverhounds head coach Rob Vincent said.

“I’m grateful to Dan and Rob for giving me the opportunity to join the Riverhounds. I look forward to coming in, working with the players and helping the organization,” Mitchell said.

Originally from Brighton, England, Mitchell came to the U.S. to attend school, first attending Ashland University before moving to Notre Dame College (Ohio), where he helped the Falcons twice reach the NCAA Division II Tournament. As a junior in 2014, he led the Mountain East Conference with 14 goals and was a Third-Team All-American as selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

After his playing career, Mitchell began coaching at Lourdes University in Ohio, where he also completed his master’s degree in organizational leadership in 2017. From there, he coached two seasons at Tiffin University, where he helped the Dragons put together a 15-win season in 2018, during which they were finished No. 18 nationally and earned the top seed in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional.

Mitchell joined the Duquesne staff in summer of 2019, and in 2025, he earned his U.S. Soccer Federation B Coaching License. He began work with the Hounds’ First Team staff of head coach Rob Vincent and goalkeepers coach Jon Busch late last month, as they prepare the Hounds to defend their USL Championship title in 2026.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 9, 2026) — One of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ greats is headed back to Pittsburgh after the club agreed to terms with Rhode Island FC to secure the transfer of forward Albert Dikwa back to the Hounds for the 2026 season and beyond.

Dikwa, 28, was the 2023 USL Championship Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner with the Hounds, as his league-best 20 goals help the team bring home the Players’ Shield with the best record in the league. He spent the past two seasons with Rhode Island, scoring 19 goals and adding 10 assists across all competitions while helping the expansion club reach the USL Championship Final in 2024.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Albert back home to Pittsburgh!” said Sporting Director Dan Visser, who was the team’s top assistant coach during Dikwa’s first stint in Pittsburgh. “His familiarity with our club and our city makes this move a natural fit. He’s been a big part of our past and he’ll be a big part of our future.”

Dikwa already ranks among the scoring leaders in club history from his first tenure with the team from 2020-23. His 37 goals are the second-most all-time for the Hounds, and his 20-goal season in 2023 made him just the third player with at least 20 in a single season with the club.

“I’m extremely happy to be back home in Pittsburgh. I can’t wait to get back to work and representing my city again. Let’s go Hounds!” Dikwa said.

A native of Garoua, Cameroon, Dikwa attended high school at Florida’s Monteverde Academy before signing professionally directly out of school with Orlando City B, at that time a USL Championship club. In a career that includes stints with Orlando (2017), Saint Louis FC (2018-19), the Hounds and Rhode Island, he has scored 56 regular-season goals in the Championship and another seven in cup and postseason play.

Financial terms of the transfer are not disclosed, and the transfer is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

Dikwa and the Hounds will begin preseason training on Jan. 26, building up toward the team’s season opener on March 7 at the Charleston Battery. 2026 season tickets and multi-game flex packs are on sale now at riverhounds.com/tickets or by calling the Highmark Stadium Box Office at 412-865-GOAL.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 7, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed midfielder Eliot Goldthorp for the upcoming USL Championship season with a club option for 2027, pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval of the deal.

Goldthorp, 24, is a native of Leeds, England, who split last season in the USL Championship between Lexington SC and a loan spell with FC Tulsa. In total, he made 34 appearances with 14 starts across all competitions, scoring three goals and adding four assists.

“We’ve known Eliot since his college days at Hofstra and jumped at the opportunity to bring him to Pittsburgh this offseason,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said. “He’s a true footballer, and we’re excited about the quality he’ll add to our attack.”

Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or on the wing, Goldthorp spent most of his youth career with Leeds United before making the move to nearby Bradford City, where he made his senior-level debut in 2018, two months before his 18th birthday. 

After a series of loan spells from Bradford and three total seasons playing in the English leagues, Goldthorp moved to the U.S. to attend college. He played one season at Old Dominion before breaking out with two huge seasons at Hofstra, where he posted 25 goals and 21 assists in 43 matches and was a two-time All-American selection, including First Team honors in 2023.

Goldthorp was then selected by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the second round of the 2024 MLS Draft and made his pro debut with the Whitecaps 2 of MLS Next Pro. He scored 10 goals in 23 MLS Next Pro matches and also appeared once for the MLS side in a Leagues Cup match against Club Tijuana before making the move to Lexington before last season.

The Hounds are continuing to build their 2026 roster ahead of the start of this year’s preseason, with the first practice scheduled for Jan. 26. Season tickets and multi-game flex packs are on sale now at riverhounds.com/tickets or by calling the Highmark Stadium Box Office at 412-865-GOAL.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 2, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has acquired goalkeeper Nico Campuzano, bringing the former University of Pittsburgh netminder back to the Steel City on a deal for 2026 with a club option for 2027. The deal is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

“We got to know Nico during his time at Pitt, and we’re excited to welcome him back to the city. He’s an elite shot stopper and also very comfortable with the ball at his feet,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said.

Campuzano, 27, led the USL Championship with 84 saves for Monterey Bay in 2025, posting a .677 save percentage across 28 matches in his lone season in California. It was his fourth team in as many seasons in the pro ranks, having debuted in 2022 with FC Cincinnati 2 in MLS Next Pro, spending 2023 with New England Revolution 2 — where he recorded six clean sheets in 12 regular-season starts — and moving to USL League One in 2024 with Lexington SC.

Prior to turning pro, Campuzano had a strong college career that began at the University of Portland in 2018-19 before coming to Pitt as a graduate transfer. With Pitt, he was the starting goalkeeper for the team as it reached the 2020 NCAA College Cup semifinals (played in Spring 2021 due to the pandemic), and he twice earned All-ACC honors, making the First Team in 2020 and Third Team in 2021.

A native of Los Corrales de Buelna on Spain’s northern coast, Campuzano played his youth soccer with some of the country’s most prestigious clubs, including Racing Santander near his hometown to begin his teen years and finishing with two seasons at Barcelona and one at Villarreal.

The Hounds continue to assemble their 2026 roster ahead of the start of preseason training, which is slated to begin with the first practice on Monday, Jan. 26. 

PITTSBURGH (Dec. 24, 2025) — The Riverhounds’ hometown hero will be back on the field next season, after Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and midfielder Robbie Mertz agreed to a new two-year contract with a club option for the 2028 season. The deal is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

Mertz, 29, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of nearby Upper St. Clair High School, has been a mainstay for the Hounds since signing with his hometown club as a rookie in 2019. While he did have a short stint with Atlanta United 2 starting in 2021, he rejoined the Hounds via transfer midway through the 2022 season and will be entering his seventh season with the team.

“We’re excited to have Robbie back. He was instrumental in our playoff run, and representing his hometown, he continues to set the standard for what it means to play in Pittsburgh,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said.

Mertz made arguably the biggest play of the Hounds run to win the 2025 USL Championship with his game-winning goal in the team’s 1-0 victory over Rhode Island FC in the Eastern Conference Final at Highmark Stadium. That win propelled the team to the USL Championship Final, where Mertz was one of the five Hounds to convert his penalty kick in the decisive shootout.

“We’re coming off the first Championship in club history, so there is significant momentum right now with many people excited about the club and the direction we’re taking,” Mertz said. “It’s an honor to still be contributing to it after all this time. There’s a lot of work to be done and many moments to look forward to.”

An attacking threat as both a finisher and a playmaker, Mertz has 23 goals and 22 assists with the Hounds, making him one of only three players with at least 20 of each for the club in his career. His goal total and his 173 appearances for the Riverhounds — fifth in club history — are both the most all-time by a Pittsburgh native for the team.

Mertz becomes the 12th player from the 2025 USL Championship-winning squad under contract for the Hounds’ title defense next year, which will begin March 7 when the team travels to face the Charleston Battery in the 2026 season opener.

PITTSBURGH (Dec. 22, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will hold an open tryout for aspiring professional players on Friday, Jan. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis.

Players will have the opportunity to be evaluated by Sporting Director Dan Visser, Head Coach Rob Vincent, Goalkeepers Coach Jon Busch and other members of the Riverhounds’ technical staff during the tryout. Individuals selected from the tryout could be called back for further evaluation, receive an invitation to join the Riverhounds in preseason, and ultimately, earn a roster spot on the professional team.

The tryouts are open to players ages 16 and older. Previous professional, college or high-level amateur experience is recommended. Cost to register for the tryout is $150, but a special early-bird rate of $125 applies to those who register before Jan. 9.

Participants will be responsible for their own travel costs, lodging and food on the tryout date and the team is not offering assistance with visas of letters of invitation except on a case-by-case basis. For more information on the open tryout, please email rvincent@riverhounds.com.

To register, sign up using the button below:

PITTSBURGH (Dec. 19, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has named Rob Vincent the team’s head coach, after he successfully guided the side through the playoffs and to the 2025 USL Championship title in an acting head coach role.

With Vincent remaining at the helm, the club aims to maintain continuity from this season’s championship run, to best position itself to compete for trophies in the coming years and to continue toward its target of joining the forthcoming USL Division One league.

“It has been a privilege watching Rob lead the team over the last seven weeks of our season. He’s an outstanding young coach and quickly earned the confidence of players, fans and the entire Riverhounds organization,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said. “I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead with Rob at the helm in 2026 and beyond.”

Vincent, 35, has been a coach in the Hounds’ organization since 2018, after he retired from his professional playing career that began in Pittsburgh and later led him to MLS club DC United. After coaching in the Hounds Academy for six years and earning his USSF A-Senior Coaching License, he became the assistant coach for the Hounds’ pro team in 2024.

Working in collaboration the past two seasons with Visser, head coach Bob Lilley and goalkeepers coach Jon Busch, Vincent played an active role in all parts of the pro team’s operation, from player recruitment and logistics to opposition research and conducting some of the team’s training sessions. He served as the team’s acting head coach since Oct. 10, leading them victoriously through the USL Championship Playoffs and posting an unbeaten 3-0-4 record.

“I am delighted and honored to be named Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds,” Vincent said. “I want to thank Tuffy (Shallenberger, Hounds owner) and Dan for placing their trust in me to lead the club forward and build on our 2025 Championship winning season.”

Vincent takes the role last held by Lilley, who departs the club with 418 career wins to his name, more than any active coach in U.S. professional leagues. Of those wins, 131 came in Pittsburgh — more than any other stop in his decorated career — and he lifted the organization to the winning standard it holds today by making the playoffs in every year of his tenure, claiming the 2023 Players Shield and assembling the 2025 team that made history by winning the club its first league title.

The Hounds already have begun preparations for the team’s title defense, as the team is in the process of assembling its roster for 2026 under the leadership of Visser and Vincent.

PITTSBURGH (Dec. 18, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has agreed to a new contract with Danny Griffin, keeping the team’s captain and a crucial component of the Hounds success this decade in the Steel City for years to come.

The two-year deal includes a club option for 2028, which would make Griffin — a Connecticut-raised midfielder who joined the Hounds in 2020 as a rookie — the longest-tenured player in club history by seasons played at the end of the new contract. The deal is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.

“I’m super-excited and blessed to be back. Pittsburgh has become a home to me — my home is here, my wife is from here — it’s truly a special place for us,” Griffin said. “I’m really excited to build more on what we’ve done bringing trophies here to Pittsburgh, winning the regular-season title two years ago and winning the USL title this year, and we’re looking to add more trophies to the cabinet.”

Griffin, 27, has served as the captain of the Hounds for the past two seasons after establishing himself as a constant in the team’s midfield since his arrival. His 191 appearances for the team ranks fourth in club history, and he holds multiple club records for durability, including a team-record 3,055 minutes played (out of 3,060) in the 2022 regular season and the club mark for consecutive league matches played at 85.

The only Hounds league matches missed by Griffin came at the start of 2023, when he had a brief spell playing for Huntsville City FC in MLS Next Pro, and in 2024, when he missed two matches through injury to snap a personal streak of 134 straight league matches between the two teams.

In addition to his reliability as a holding player in the middle of the park, Griffin showed his attacking chops during the Hounds’ title-winning 2025 season with six goals and four assists in all competitions, both career bests. 

For his Hounds career, Griffin has 17 goals and 10 assists. Those goals include a pair of memorable U.S. Open Cup tallies: In 2023 at the New England Revolution and last year at Columbus Crew 2 — the reserve side of the MLS club that drafted him in 2020 — both of which secured 1-0 wins for the Hounds.

“Danny has been a massive part of our success over the last few years, both with his performance on the field and the leadership he brings to the group. Keeping him in Pittsburgh was a priority this offseason, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome him back,” Sporting Director Dan Visser said.

Griffin’s re-signing gives the Hounds 11 players confirmed back from the side that won the 2025 USL Championship. The club remains in talks to bring back additional players from last year’s team and to add new players for the team’s 2026 title defense.