Kerr excited to return for sixth season with Hounds

If there’s been one constant during the Riverhounds’ era of playing soccer at Highmark Stadium, it’s been Kevin Kerr.
The Scottish-born midfielder has become a fixture in the Steel City, and on Thursday, the club announced that they’ve re-signed the venerable 28-year old who is third all-time in appearances (135) and tied for sixth in goals (22)in team history.
Kerr, who has served as team captain the past two years signed a one-year deal with a club option for the 2019 season, pending USL and USSF approval.
There’s no one more excited to have Kerr back than the Hounds new coach, Bob Lilley.

“We’re excited to have Kevin back in the fold,” said Lilley. “He’s consistently been one of the better playmakers and passers in our league over the past four to five years bringing experience, leadership and a work ethic that I think is important for our younger players to look up to.”

The Scottish midfielder likes the prospects of club now that Lilley is here at the helm.

“I’m real excited to stay,” Kerr said. “I’ve had a few conversations with Bob, and I am excited about the future of the club.”

Kerr provided a steady presence for the Hounds in 2017, being one of only two players on the club to make an appearance in every league game and placing third in the Eastern Conference with 61 chances created.
He tallied three goals and five assists, most notably earning USL Player of the Week in late August after a four-point performance (1G/2A) in a victory over Bethlehem Steel FC.
In six years, Kerr has come up with many big plays in big moments.  Including scoring the game winner in the now legendary ‘Miracle on the Mon’ 6-5 come-from-behind win against rivals Harrisburg City Islanders in May 2015.
This year, despite not scoring a goal for much of the season, Kerr came up with this effort to break a 2-2 deadlock vs Bethlehem Steel FC.

In each of his five seasons with the Hounds, Kerr has played in no less than 20 games, including eclipsing 2,300 minutes the past two years. In addition, he’s tallied 20 assists – the second-most by a Hounds player dating back to 2013 – to go along with his aforementioned 22 career goals scored.
Kerr marks the fourth returner from 2016 to re-sign this offseason, joining the already-under-contract Chevaughn Walsh.
In addition, in what would be considered as ‘unofficial’ signing news — one of Lilley’s players in Rochester in 2017, Christiano Francios, a midfielder, made it known that he’s also signed with the Hounds, even though there’s been no formal announcement.

Hey Pittsburgh riverhounds fans I can't wait to meet you guys, it's going to be a special year 2018.. I can't wait to see the beautiful city and I'm happy to reunited with coach Bob Lilley special coach and person to me.. thankful for this opportunity.. pic.twitter.com/MuTaaRm4zB

— Christiano François[The Cheetah] (@Cheetahcf7) December 13, 2017

To recap — here’s where the Hounds roster stands after the Kerr signing:
Roster breakdown for 2018 season
Forwards (3): Kay Banjo, Romeo Parkes, Chevaughn Walsh
Midfielders (1): Kevin Kerr
Defenders (1): Tobi Adewole