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Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2024 Roster Updates and Club News

File photo courtesy Ed Thompson

Now that we are on the precipice of the start of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds preseason, we will be updating roster moves and updates here for PSN’s 2024 Riverhounds Signing Updates and Club News.

Here’s the most up-to-date information:

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2024 Roster Updates, News and Rumor Tracker

January 30, 2024

Update (9:50 a.m.) – Nate Dossantos signs with Charleston Battery

The final shoe dropped from the list of Riverhounds SC players from 2023 who were out of contact, when Charleston Battery announced the signing of Nate Dossantos, who spent his first two seasons as a professional in Pittsburgh.

Dossantos featured in 56 matches for the Hounds across all competitions from 2022 to 2023, recording three assists while developing into a regular starter along the back line. He registered 54 clearances, 38 interceptions, 26 tackles won and 115 duels won in 29 Championship games in 2023.

The Canadian played collegiately at Duquesne before transferring to Marshall, where he helped the Thundering Herd win a National Championship in 2020-21.

January 26, 2024

UPDATE:  (11:30 a.m.) – Hounds sign former Pitt standout Jackson Walti and Louisville Cardinal Bradley Sample

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds signed former Pitt men’s soccer midfielder Jackson Walti to a one-year deal on Friday, bringing the player back to a place where fans know him best.

In addition, the Hounds added Bradley Sample.  Both players were signed to one-year deals, making it two midfielders they signed on Friday.

Sample played for Louisville for the past five seasons, 2019-23. Like Walti, he played almost every game, missing just one, and started 85 of 90 matches with 7,736 minutes played. He finished his college career ranking second in matches and third in minutes played in program history.

He also played as a holding/defensive midfielder like Walti, scoring four goals and seven assists with the Cardinals.

Riverhounds sign former Pitt standout Jackson Walti

January 25, 2024

UPDATE (3:15 p.m.) – Hounds sign forward Babacar Diene and defender Jake Lent-Koop; Also announce release of DZ Harmon

Riverhounds sign forward Babacar Diene and defender Jake Lent-Koop plus announce release of midfielder DZ Harmon

January 23, 2024

UPDATE (2:01 p.m.) – Hounds, USL announce start times for regular season matches.

Once again, the Riverhounds will be kicking off all home matches at Highmark Stadium this coming season, at 7 p.m. (ET).

The Hounds play a 17-game home schedule beginning with their Saturday, March 16 home opener against Orange County SC. Today’s announcement confirmed that all 16 Saturday matches, as well as the Wednesday, June 19 contest against Louisville City FC, will remain evening affairs.

The 7 p.m. starts were also the case in 2023, when the Hounds smashed their overall attendance record by averaging more than 5,000 fans per match while selling out 13 of 17 regular-season games on the way to a 13-1-3 home record and the USL Championship Players’ Shield.

Also revealed today was the Hounds’ season opener on Saturday, March 9 at New Mexico United will be an afternoon contest kicking off at 4 p.m. Eastern Time (2 p.m. locally in Albuquerque). The Hounds’ second road match is also a 4 p.m. start on Saturday, March 23 at Louisville, and the team has two late-night kickoffs on their Western Conference trips this season — a 10:30 p.m. start on April 20 at Phoenix and an 11 p.m. start on Aug. 3 at Sacramento. One match, the team’s June 29 at Las Vegas, remains with a kickoff time to be determined.

Preseason training for the Hounds’ 25th-anniversary season begins this Monday, with the first preseason match at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 6 against Indy Eleven at Highmark Stadium.

January 22, 2024

UPDATE (3:30 p.m.) – Hounds announce signing of two keepers, veteran Eric Dick and Jacob Randolph

Keepers on Board: Riverhounds sign veteran Eric Dick and first-year pro Jacob Randolph

January 19, 2024

UPDATE (1:35 p.m.) — Hounds Sign Pair of Defenders, Pierre Cayet & Sean Suber

Fort Highmark Reinforcements: Hounds add promising defenders Pierre Cayet and Sean Suber

January 18, 2024

UPDATE (1:35 p.m.) — Hounds Re-Sign Luke Biasi

The one-year deal includes a team option for 2025 and is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.   Pittsburgh’s roster increases to 12 players — all returning from last year’s squad.

Biasi, 24, spent his first two professional seasons with the Hounds and grew into a regular role playing as both a left back and right back. He made 42 league appearances in his first two seasons, including 28 in 2023 as the Hounds finished with the best record in the USL Championship.

“Luke had a very strong season in 2023 and continues to mature as a player,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “His work ethic and versatility are greatly valued by the club, and he is capable of making those around him better.”

UPDATE (12:35 p.m.) — USL Championship expansion side, Rhode Island FC sign Albert Dikwa

January 17, 2024

UPDATE (3:50 p.m.) — Albert Dikwa announces he is not returning to Pittsburgh

Diwka has not announced where he’s moving on — but simply stated that ‘the time has come to open a new chapter in my career.’

Steel Army on X: “Chico by the numbers: 👕90 appearances ⚽️ 37 goals 🤝 7 assists 2023: – Players Shield Champion – USL Best XI – Steel Army Player of the Year – USL Golden Boot – USL Player of the Year Beyond that, an amazing person with a smile that can steal a room. Be good, @DikwaAlbert. https://t.co/nXJADJq2aV” / X (twitter.com)

PSN’s John Krysinsky posted this piece earlier this month, speculating the options the 2024 USL Championship Player of the Year has as he moves on after four seasons in Pittsburgh, with the last his most productive and successful, scoring 20 goals in league play, plus another one in US Open Cup action.

Where will reigning USL Championship Player of the Year Albert Dikwa land?

Hounds Announce International Soccer Brand CHARLY USA as new Kit & Apparel Provider

With preseason camp set to begin January 29, Riverhounds announce partnership with new kit provider, CHARLY USA

January 4, 2024

Jahmali Waite signs with El Paso

Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer: Search begins for new RMU women’s coach; Waite’s the latest Hounds’ keeper to move on

December 14, 2023

Marc Ybarra signs with expansion Rhode Island FC

Marc Ybarra signs with expansion Rhode Island FC

December 1, 2024

Arturo Ordonez announces he’s signing elsewhere (signs two days later with Louisville City FC)

USL Championship’s Defender of the Year, former Pitt standout, Arturo Ordonez, will not be returning to Riverhounds

November 29, 2023

Hounds announce contract options picked up for seven players, bringing roster total to 11 for 2024

Strong Core Remains: Riverhounds pick up contract options for seven, bringing 2024 roster to 11 players

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2024 Roster by Position

Defenders
Pat Hogan
Dani Rovira
Mike DeShields
Luke Biasi
Illal Osumanu
Pierre Cayet (New Addition) (New England Revolution II/MLS Next Pro)
Sean Super (New Addition) (Huntsville City FC/MLS Next Pro)

Midfielders
Danny Griffin
Junior Etou
Kenardo Forbes
Robbie Mertz
Jackson Walti (New Addition) (Austin FC II/Colorado Rapids II/MLS Next Pro)
Bradley Sample (New Addition) (Louisville/Division I)

Forwards
Edward Kizza
Langston Blackstock
Babacar Diene (New Addition) (Rider/Division I)
Jake Lent-Koop (New Addition) (Messiah/Division III)

Goalkeepers
Eric Dick (New Addition) (Minnesota United/MLS)
Jacob Randolph (New Addition) (UNCW/Division I)

Riverhounds 2023 Rostered Players who became free agents

  • Albert Dikwa (Forward — Reigning USL Championship MVP)- Signed with Rhode Island FC
  • Arturo Ordonez (Defender –  Reigning USL Championship Defender of the Year) – Signed with Louisville City FC
  • Jahmali Waite (Goalkeeper) – Signed with El Paso 
  • Nate Dossantos (Defender) – Signed with Charleston Battery 
  • Luke Biasi (Defender/Midfielder) – Re-Signed with Pittsburgh
  • Marc Ybarra (Midfielder) – Signed with Rhode Island FC 

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2023 Rostered Players who did not have contract options picked up

  • Burke Fahling (Midfielder)
  • JC  Obregon (Forward)
  • Trevor Zwetsloot (Midfielder)
  • Tony Lopez  (Midfielder)
  • Jonathan Gomes (Goalkeeper)
  • Christian Garner (Goalkeeper)
  • Tola Showunmi  (Forward) – Signed with Louisville City FC 
  • Joe Farrell (Defender) – Signed with Hartford Athletic FC 

DZ Harmon (after picking up his contract option for 2023, the club and Harmon agreed upon a mutual release)

 

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