Jordan Dover will return for third season with the Hounds

Jordan Dover (5) in 2018 action for the Riverhounds. File Photo courtesy of Ed Thompson

While many players who were no longer under contract with the Riverhounds SC after the end of 2019 found opportunities to sign for other clubs, the club was able to re-sign and bring back one player, Jordan Dover.

Tuesday, the Hounds announced the re-signing of defender Jordan Dover to a one-year contract with a club option for 2021, pending USL Championship and USSF approval.

This will be Dover’s third straight year with the club and fourth professionally at the USL Championship level. He has played for head coach Bob Lilley for the entirety of his professional career.

“We’re very excited to bring Jordan back this year,” Lilley said. “His intelligence on the field and presence in the locker room have been a big part of our success the last two seasons, and we fully expect him to help push the organization forward in 2020.”

Starting 54 of his 55 career appearances with the Hounds, Dover has become a regular feature of the team’s starting 11. Over his two seasons in Black and Gold, the outside back has recorded a total of 92 interceptions and 73 clearances. On the offensive side of the ball, the 25-year-old has posted three goals and two assists with the club.

Beginning his professional career with the Rochester Rhinos in 2017, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay product started 19 of 23 appearances during his rookie campaign.

Dover has totaled 78 games played (73 starts), three goals and two assists in his USL Championship career.

This past year, the Ajax, Ontario, Canada native suited up for the Guyana National Team during the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, making his international debut against the United States on June 18. Eligible to compete for the squad due to family ties, he would register two caps in the tournament.

Takeaways from resigning of Jordan Dover

This is a good sign, despite the number of players who opted to sign elsewhere, that Dover will be returning to the fold.  The re-addition of Dover, a proven starter, provides continuity to a club that finished atop the Eastern Conference standings, to have yet another player who’s very familiar with, and is someone that understands Lilley’s scheme. He’s not a dynamic player at this position, but he’s productive and works hard defensively, which is imperative under Lilley’s command. Dover was among the team’s most steady, and reliable players in his position on the right flank. Dover also returns knowing that he must fight in preseason for his job, as the Hounds opted to pick-up the contract option for Dani Rovira, who can play a similar position depending on tactics and match-ups.

You can also read Mark Goodman‘s assessment of Dover’s 2019 performance in his review of Hounds defenders posted in late December.

Riverhounds 2019 Player Review: Defenders

Riverhounds SC now has 13 players under contract for the 2020 season.

Roster breakdown for 2020 season:

Forwards (3): Steevan Dos Santos, Lukas Fernandes, Mark Forrest

Midfielders (4): Kenardo Forbes, Robbie Mertz, Dani Rovira, Anthony Velarde

Defenders (5): Jordan Dover, Ryan James, Mark Lindstrom, Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Tony Walls

Goalkeepers (1): Anthony Mwembia