Hounds sign former UCF standout Louis Perez

Photo courtesy University of Central Florida Athletics

Riverhounds SC has signed midfielder Louis Perez to a one-year contract with a club option for 2022, pending USL and USSF approval, adding another talented young player to boost the side in the middle of the field.

Perez, 23, is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where the first-year pro had a decorated career as an outstanding playmaker for the Golden Knights.

“We are excited to welcome Louis Perez on board for the 2021 USL season,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said.

“He is a gifted passer who makes good decisions on the ball. His ability to find his teammates and generate goal-scoring chances will be an asset in the final third, and he is quite capable on restarts, as well.”

Here are a few of those sweet Perez set pieces.

44' | That crossbar is still shaking! @UCF_MSoccer's Louis Perez rocks one off the crossbar on a set piece in the final minutes of the opening frame.

UConn leads 2-0 at the end of one.

#AmericanMSoc Championship | Semifinal pic.twitter.com/ti9YRslBr5

— American MSoccer (@American_MSoc) November 9, 2018

SET PIECE SUCCESS! GOOOOAAALLL!

It's been a huge asset for @UCF_MSoccer this year, and it strikes again! Yoni Sorokin on the header from Louis Perez!

UCF 1, SMU 0 pic.twitter.com/aUVZGFieCa

— American MSoccer (@American_MSoc) October 7, 2019

In 2019, his last full season for UCF, Perez was the team’s second-leading scorer with four goals and 11 assists, one-off a school single-season record. The 11 assists were fourth in the NCAA and led to a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection and a listing in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s top 100 college players, where he currently ranks 66th. As a sophomore, Perez was named the AAC Midfielder of the Year and a third-team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches, all while leading the Golden Knights to the AAC regular-season title.

In three postseasons with UCF, Perez’s team reached the AAC final all three years and was selected for the NCAA tournament in 2018 and 2019, reaching the third round (Round of 16) in 2019, losing in overtime to Southern Methodist, 2-1.

Originally from Villennes-sur-Seine, France, Perez played his youth soccer with some of his home country’s top clubs. He competed for the Paris Saint-Germain U-17 side before finishing his youth career, playing three seasons with ESTAC Troyes, for which he scored five goals and four assists in the French U-19 national league.

With Perez added to the mix, the Hounds now have 15 players under contract for the 2021 USL Championship season, which is tentatively slated for a late-April or early-May beginning.

Look for more from Pittsburgh Soccer Now on this weeks signings including Perez, Ezra Armstrong and Chris Minnish later this week.

The last three recent college-grad central midfielders that Dan Visser and Bob Lilley have selected:

2020: Danny Griffin
2019: Anthony Velarde
2019: Robbie Mertz

Talent identification gurus, these dudes.#RiverhoundsSC https://t.co/vxgEGEgAUz

— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) February 17, 2021

RIVERHOUNDS SC 2021 ROSTER & DEPTH CHART 

	FORWARDS
F1	Russell Cicerone (M)
F2	Albert Dikwa
F3	Alex Dixon (M)
F4	Tommy Williamson
F5	Wyatt Borso
F6	Josh Gatt (out for season)
	M- also have played in midfield
	MIDFIELDERS
MF1	Kenardo Forbes (F)
MF2	Danny Griffin
MF3	Todd Wharton (D/OB)
MF4	Anthony Velarde (F)
MF5	Louis Perez (F)
	F- also played at forward
	D- also played as defender
	OB- also played as outside back
	WINGERS/OUTSIDE BACKS
OB1	Dani Rovira (M)
OB2	Ezra Armstrong
OB3	Jordan Dover (injury)
	(M) also played midfield
	CENTER BACKS
CB1	Shane Wiedt
CB2	Mekeil Williams
CB3	Preston Kilwien (OB)
CB4	Jalen Robinson
CB5	Jelani Peters
CB6	Tom Judge
CB7	Casey Bartlett-Scott
	OB- also played at outside back
	GOALKEEPERS
GK1	Danny Vitiello
GK2	Jake Leeker
GK3	Chris Morrish