Hounds Add Brazilian Striker to the Mix

The Riverhounds have been waiting to make one more player signing official. And sure enough, it’s a forward — 25 year-old Brazilian native Vini Dantas has signed, and will join the club when he is done playing for the Baltimore Blast this coming weekend in the MASL Championship series. He will likely be expected to join the Hounds next week, as the team prepares for its opener at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, March 28.
While he did score the first goal in the history of the NASL’s Ottawa Fury, he only registered one other goal in 26 appearances last season. The Riverhounds will be his fourth professional outdoor club in the past five years as he’s played in Finland, Norway, Canada and now the U.S.

Here’s some information from the Riverhounds release on the Dantas signing…
The Sao Paolo native first moved to the United States to play college soccer at Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles County, California. He joined Norwegian side Molde under its former head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2011. Dantas helped the club to win the Tippeligaen league championship in his first year before moving to Bodo/Glimt for the 2012 season.
Dantas spent 2013 with Lahti in Finland before moving to North American Soccer League (NASL) side Ottawa Fury. He scored the first goal in the Fury’s history in a 2-1 loss against Minnesota United last April and made 26 league appearances for the Canadians.
“Vini is a very technical striker who makes great runs in the box and has a knack for scoring big goals,” said Riverhounds head coach Mark Steffens. “He’s strong in the air and good at getting on the end of crosses.”
Dantas, 25, will join the Hounds at the conclusion of the Major Arena Soccer League season. He scored a hat-trick for Baltimore Blast in yesterday’s Eastern Conference Final win over the Missouri Comets to seal his team’s place in this weekend’s MASL Championship Series.

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).