#PGHSoccer Notebook: Hounds Release Bissue, Smith; Dallman Retires, Takes HS Coaching Gig

It was officially announced Monday that the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have mutually agreed to part ways with midfielder James Bissue and defender Karsten Smith.
Both new additions to this season’s club, Bissue joined the Hounds from the Montreal Impact, making six appearances, while Smith, previously competing for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, played in five matches this year.
Smith actually left halfway through Thursday’s long-delayed Riverhounds match with Richmond, after he was released, and had signed with Edmonton FC of North American Soccer League.
In addition to Bissue and Smith, the Riverhounds have now released or terminated contracts of six players from their opening day 2016 roster.  Additional players no longer with the team include:  Ryan Dodson, Caleb Postlewait, Isaiah Schafer, and of course, Romeo Parkes. 

DALLMAN RETIRES, TAKES HS COACHING GIG 

Matt Dallman was an exciting player for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds from 2012 through 2015 — where he roamed on the left flank making 51 appearances — tacking up assists at a record pace — especially in 2013.

After reaching age 31 this year — and moving back to Oregon where he grew up — Dallman has retired from playing professionally.

He was recently announced as head coach of boys soccer team at Dalles High School near his Fort Hood, OR, hometown.

“I was ready to retire,” Dallman explained to The Dalles Chronicle (OR).

“I got married a couple years ago, and I want to start the next chapter of my life.”

“For the last nine years I’ve played professionally, in Europe, Los Angeles and then Pittsburgh,” he said. “That has been my profession up until now.”

Dallman at 5-foot-5 — wasn’t the biggest player on the field — but he certainly made his mark in Pittsburgh.

In 2013, along with forward Jose Angulo, became a central figure in a memorable first season of Highmark Stadium, helping the Hounds reach the playoffs and scoring a USL record 12 assists.  Angulo won the USL’s MVP and Golden Boot scoring 15 goals — and had some big help from eight assists from Dallman that season alone.

Despite injuries that hampered his 2014 and early 2015 seasons, Dallman contributed and made numerous starts and played a key role in helping a resurgent Riverhounds team earn a playoff spot in 2015.

Here’s a player profile video with Dallman that the Hounds produced last year.

Dallman has settled back in Oregon — after a career that took him to a number of years playing in Europe for a number of clubs but primarily in Germany including Arminia Bielefeld where he made 31 appearances and scored eight goals for their second team. He then moved to Sportfreunde Siegen where he made 57 appearances and spent two and a half seasons with the club before being released and coming to Pittsburgh.

Dallman attended Hood River Valley High School and graduated in 2003. After that, he attended the University of Portland for three years, and then began playing soccer on a professional level.

Dallman pointed out to The Dalles Chronical, he knew that it was time to move on.

“It’s not a secure line of work,” Dallman said,

“and I wanted to put down roots and start a family. What better place to do that than in the gorge?”