Riverhounds SC sign goalkeeper Jake Leeker

From Riverhounds SC report

Riverhounds SC has signed goalkeeper Jake Leeker to a one-year contract with a club option for 2022, pending USL and USSF approval. Leeker, 25, comes to the Hounds for his fourth pro season after debuting in the USL Championship in 2018 with Real Monarchs and spending the past two seasons with Portland Timbers II.

“We look forward to bringing Jake into our team for the 2021 USL Championship season. He is a very capable shot-stopper with athleticism and length that we feel will grow in our system,” Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley said.

“Along with Danny Vitiello and Chris Moorish, our goalkeeping group is young and talented and will continue to develop during the course of the season.”

A native of St. Louis, Leeker played his college soccer at the University of Memphis, where he recorded ten shutouts in his 47 matches for the Tigers from 2014-17.  Undrafted out of college, he signed with Real Monarchs as a free agent and had a successful rookie campaign with six shutouts in 17 starts, as he split time in net and helped the Utah club to fourth place in the Western Conference and a playoff berth.

Leeker then made the move to Portland, where he was a teammate for one season of newly acquired Hounds midfielder Todd Wharton. During his two years in the Pacific Northwest, Leeker made 25 appearances, recorded two shutouts, and made 90 saves for a Timbers 2 side that missed the playoffs both years and especially struggled defensively in 2020. In addition to his USL experience, Leeker has a big asset in his size at 6-foot-5, which makes him the tallest player on the Hounds’ roster currently.

Riverhounds Roster and Depth Chart (2021 Season) 

	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