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Pittsburgh Riverhounds

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.

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.

RIVERHOUNDS SC 2021 ROSTER & DEPTH CHART 

  
FORWARDS
F1Russell Cicerone (M)
F2Albert Dikwa
F3Alex Dixon (M)
F4Tommy Williamson
F5Wyatt Borso
F6Josh Gatt (out for season)
M- also have played in midfield
MIDFIELDERS
MF1Kenardo Forbes (F)
MF2Danny Griffin
MF3Todd Wharton (D/OB)
MF4Anthony Velarde (F)
MF5Louis Perez (F)
F- also played at forward
D- also played as defender
OB- also played as outside back
WINGERS/OUTSIDE BACKS
OB1Dani Rovira (M)
OB2Ezra Armstrong
OB3Jordan Dover (injury)
(M) also played midfield
CENTER BACKS
CB1 Shane Wiedt
CB2Mekeil Williams
CB3Preston Kilwien (OB)
CB4Jalen Robinson
CB5Jelani Peters
CB6Tom Judge
CB7Casey Bartlett-Scott
OB- also played at outside back
GOALKEEPERS
GK1Danny Vitiello
GK2Jake Leeker
GK3Chris Morrish

 

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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