Three weeks into preseason, Hounds hold off on signings, add more trialists

After all the hoopla and festivities surrounding the Riverhounds new crest and kit reveal on Friday, they’re back to business with another busy week of preseason.
The team has not yet announced the signings of any new players, holding firm with 13 signed players on the team’s roster.

• Forwards (2): Kay Banjo, Romeo Parkes
• Midfielders (4): Ben Fitzpatrick, Kenardo Forbes, Christiano François, Kevin Kerr
• Defenders (4): Tobi Adewole, Jordan Dover, Joe Greenspan, Raymond Lee
• Goalkeepers (3): Mike Kirk, Dan Lynd, Kyle Morton

Below is the latest list of players on trial. The players in bold have been added since week 1, and will continue to work to earn a spot on the roster as the competition remains fierce. Lilley said that he was hoping to be somewhere around 18 or 19 players toward the end of preseason. The veteran coach remains selective about what he wants.

• Neco Brett F 5-8 165 Kingston, Jamaica (Portland Timbers 2)
• Nijee Cooper M/D 5-8 – Wylie, Texas (Oklahoma Christian University)
• Mouhamed Dabo M 5-9 165 Senegal (Harrisburg City Islanders)
• Matt Danilack F 6-2 185 Rockville, Md. (Dartmouth College)
• Guillermo Delgado F 5-8 162 Tres Cantos, Spain (Chicago Fire)
• Ritchie Duffie D 6-3 178 Virginia Beach, Va. (Pittsburgh Riverhounds)
• Bakie Goodman M 5-9 145 Sarasota, Fla. (Detroit City FC)
• Nick Groenewold D 6-2 – Oak Brook, Ill. (Hume City FC)
• Joseph Holland M 5-10 170 London, England (Houston Dynamo)
• Kenroy Howell M 5-8 155 Manchester, Jamaica (Pittsburgh Riverhounds)
• Dom Oduro M/D 5-5 143 Ghana (FC Golden State Force)
• Todd Pratzner D 6-1 185 Lancaster, Pa. (Rochester Rhinos)
• Hugh Roberts D 6-4 170 Gaithersburg, Md. (Bethlehem Steel FC)
• Colin Stripling M 6-2 171 Scotch Plains, N.J. (Monmouth University)

There are some notable players that have been added to the group. One that Hounds fans might recognize is defender Hugh Roberts, who last played for Bethlehem Steel FC, and prior to that was with the Richmond Kickers, where he was named to USL All-First team in 2016.

After playing three years with the Hounds, and being on trial the past two weeks, Stephen Okai was not invited back for week three.
Although coach Bob Lilley indicated after week one that they could potentially sign some of the trailists who have performed well by week three or four, no announcements have followed since the Hounds underwhelming 1-0 scrimmage win over college side St. Bonaventure.
Hounds owner Tuffy Shallenberger also jumped the gun a little bit earlier in the week, initially sending out tweets indicating tha this club would be making a player signing announcement. Some unconfirmed reports were that it would be a player that has not been with the Hounds before.

????????Monday????

— Tuffy Shallenberger (@Tuffy_Shall) February 17, 2018

Even mentioning that the announcement would come on Monday at 2 p.m.

????????

— Tuffy Shallenberger (@Tuffy_Shall) February 19, 2018

But ultimately, no announcements would come.

Patience my friends!! To be fair I did not tell you which Monday!!???? We are having some International Clearance Delays! Stay Tuned!! pic.twitter.com/cXhzFEMlyN

— Tuffy Shallenberger (@Tuffy_Shall) February 19, 2018

Also, while some Hounds fans are hoping for the return of Rob Vincent, that currently appears unlikely anytime soon. Vincent was recently let go after being on trial with DC United in the second week of their preseason. Vincent, a midfielder originally from Liverpool, England, was with DCU during the previous two seasons, where he sustained a  knee injury last year, then battled with some blot clot issues.  It’s likely that Lilley has some reservations about Vincent’s knee. It’s likely that Vincent will be popping up on trial somewhere pretty soon, but not in Pittsburgh — not this week.
WEEK AHEAD: 
Riverhounds SC readies for two matches in week three, hosting the University of Charleston at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 and the University of Akron at 2 p.m. on Feb. 25. Both games will be played at Highmark Stadium and are free to attend for the public.
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