Riverhounds sign former Charleston Battery defender Patrick Hogan

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced on Tuesday the signing of Patrick Hogan, a defender who spent the first two professional seasons with the Charleston Battery, to a one-year deal, with a club-option for 2024.

Hogan has been among the non-invitees training with the Hounds since preseason began on January 30.

In 37 appearances with the Battery in his first two professional seasons, Hogan, 25, played more than 2,400 minutes, scoring two goals.

Standing at 6-foot-4, Hogan is a central defender who was signed out of college by the Battery in 2021.

At UNC Charlotte Hogan earned Conference USA Defensive MVP and all-conference, first team United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region as a senior and was on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, an annual award given to the nation’s top collegiate player.

Hogan, who scored nine goals for the 49ers, started 63 of his 64 appearances in college.

Takeaways from Patrick Hogan signing 

For the second consecutive season, Bob Lilley has snatched up a former Charlston Battery player, as last year, the Hounds signed Angelo Kelly-Rosales.

Lilley has always valued tall, athletic center backs who are versatile and can play in any spot along the back line and into his schemes.  The Hounds head coach said in the offseason that he was hoping to build a team that would be younger and more athletic.

With the departures of Shane Wiedt, Mekeil Williams and Jelani Peters, the addition of Hogan along with Arturo Ordonez, the Hounds are starting to look younger on the back line.

Hogan adds value as a proven commodity at this level for the Hounds, as it’s very likely we will see him paired along side Ordonez and the veteran of the group, Joe Farrell, as the Hounds will often play with three center backs.

At 6-foot-4, Hogan is currently the tallest Hound of the 12 players on the roster, and has shown he’s scored a few goals in his professional career.

Current Riverhounds roster

• Goalkeepers: Jahmali Waite, Christian Garner
• Defenders: Arturo Ordóñez, Nate Dossantos, Luke Biasi, Joe Farrell
• Midfielders: Dani Rovira, Marc Ybarra, Robbie Mertz, Kenardo Forbes.
• Forwards: Albert Dikwa. Edward Kizza

More on the 2023 Riverhounds SC 

• As of today, the Hounds have 12 players under contract for the season, and additional signings will be announced soon. Other non-roster invitees will be taking part in practice on a trial basis.

• Last season, the Hounds went 16-9-9 in the USL Championship — fifth in the Eastern Conference — and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals before being eliminated by Louisville City FC in a penalty shootout.

• With five straight seasons qualifying for the postseason, the Hounds hold the second-longest playoff streak in the USL Championship (trailing only Louisville’s eight) and the second-longest playoff streak among Pittsburgh professional teams (trailing only the NHL’s Penguins with 16).

• Head coach Bob Lilley is entering his sixth season leading the Hounds. He has an 83-35-45 record leading Pittsburgh, and the USL Hall of Famer has not missed the postseason in 22 seasons as a head coach at the pro level.

• Team captain Kenardo Forbes was a Second Team All-USL Championship selection last season after posting a career-best 10 assists. He has been an All-USL player all five seasons since joining Pittsburgh in 2018.

• The Hounds’ current roster includes one Pittsburgh native (Robbie Mertz) and two players who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh (Arturo Ordóñez, Edward Kizza).

• The club is entering its 24th season of play after initially debuting in 1999, which makes it the second-oldest team in the USL Championship behind only the Charleston Battery (1993).