#DCU acquire Rob Vincent from @Pghriverhounds
Welcome to the ⚫️&🔴, Rob!
Read: https://t.co/wZ14Illlydhttps://t.co/ZaQxWTxIAd
— D.C. United (@dcunited) February 17, 2016
Here’s the official announcement from the Hounds media release sent earlier on Wednesday:
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have transferred English midfielder Rob Vincent to D.C. United after agreeing terms with the Major League Soccer side.
Vincent, 25, enjoyed a spectacular 2015 season at Highmark Stadium. He led the Hounds with 18 league goals from his role on the left of midfield. Vincent was named to the United Soccer League’s All-League first team after twice being awarded ‘Player of the Week’ honors and earning seven ‘Team of the Week’ selections.
The Liverpool, England native also scored in each of Pittsburgh’s three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games last year including a converted penalty kick against D.C. United in the Hounds’ fourth round defeat.
“We’re thrilled that Rob has earned the chance to progress to the highest level of soccer in this country,” said Riverhounds head coach Mark Steffens. “And it has been earned.
“Rob’s dedication toward improving every facet of his game is phenomenal.”He has been a fantastic servant to the Riverhounds as a player and as a coach in our Academy. He is a superb role model for every aspiring young player in the Western Pennsylvania area to follow.”Vincent made 88 appearances and scored 28 goals in all competitions during his three years in Pittsburgh. He leaves the Hounds as the club’s leading regular-season scorer in the modern USL era (since 2011) with 24 goals.
Former Riverhounds head coach Justin Evans signed Vincent to his first professional contract in 2013 after he had played collegiately at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. Vincent’s steady performances earned him a regular starting slot before a change of role under Steffens gave him the freedom to pose a greater offensive threat.
Vincent’s form last year led D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen to offer him a training stint with the Black-and-Red at the end of the USL season. Vincent rejoined the MLS side last month for its preseason preparations in Bradenton, Florida. He becomes the third Riverhounds player to move to RFK Stadium in recent seasons after defender Greg Janicki and South African forward Thabiso Khumalo were transferred in 2008.
“Rob first impressed us during our U.S. Open Cup match against the Riverhounds last summer,” said Dave Kasper, D.C. United’s general manager and a former executive with the Hounds under club founder Paul Heasley. “He is a smart player who has the ability to create and score from wide midfield positions, and his tireless work rate and professionalism excite us.”
D.C. United’s season begins Feb. 23 when Olsen’s men travel to Mexico for the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal tie against Querétaro F.C.