Bertin Jacquesson returns to Pittsburgh; Real Salt Lake forward will be on loan with Riverhounds for remainder of season

Looking to fortify the roster before mandated roster freeze on September 9, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced on Thursday that they’ve added former Pitt standout Bertin Jacquesson, on loan for the remainder of the season from Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.

Making moves⚡️

We have acquired forward Bertin Jacquesson from Real Salt Lake for the remainder of the season!💪 Join us in welcoming the former Pitt Panther back to Pittsburgh!💥

Read more here: https://t.co/1iudJYFRxK
#HOUNDTAHN pic.twitter.com/wMoW4IoK3c

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) September 5, 2024

“Bertin is a dangerous attacking player with pace and the ability to score or set up teammates. We are excited to have him back in Pittsburgh and look forward to having him available for the remainder of the season,” Bob Lilley, Hounds Head Coach said.

Jacquesson, 22, will be returning to Pittsburgh after playing collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh, where he played three seasons and helped the Panthers twice reach the NCAA College Cup semifinals. He was the 2020-21 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and finished his time at Pitt with 19 goals and 23 assists.

In 2023, Jacquesson was the 16th overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake, signing with the team and making his professional debut that April.

Real Salt Lake draft Pitt’s Bertin Jacquesson at No. 16 in 2023 MLS Superdraft

Over the past two seasons, he has split time between Real Salt Lake and their reserve side in MLS Next Pro, Real Monarchs.

He has 13 appearances for RSL with one assist in all competitions, and another 18 for Real Monarchs, scoring two goals and adding two assists.

With the Hounds, Jacquesson will be reunited with his former college teammate, midfielder Jackson Walti, as well as another Pitt alumnus, forward Edward Kizza.

Jacquesson was part of Pitt men’s soccer’s most successful teams, as a key attacking threat to teams that made two College Cup appearances and another National Quarterfinals appearance in that three year span.

It was in the 2022 NCAA Tournament where Jacquesson took his game to another level.

He scored twice against Cleveland State in a 2-1 victory at home in the First Round and then scored an incredible strike for an 87th minute winner over No. 1 Kentucky in the Sweet 16 on the road. Jacquesson also created the assist for Noel who scored the go-ahead goal in the second period of extra time of their Elite Eight victory over Portland.

The Hounds are back home to begin September, hosting Rhode Island FC on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Highmark Stadium and will be without two of its key players.

In fact, Lilley alluded in an exclusive interview with Pittsburgh Soccer Now last week that if the right move was there — the Hounds would go for it.

Also, from my interview, when asked about his squad rotation with 8 matches remaining, @RiverhoundsSC HC Bob Lilley's said:

"(Roster Freeze) deadline is Sept 9. We haven't ruled out adding player or two. But it's got to make sense. Because our group is settled, playing well." https://t.co/VVc3gS5Pd9

— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) August 29, 2024

Though the Hounds have been relatively healthy, they will be without two key regulars in the lineup for this Saturday’s match vs Rhode Island FC, Junior Etou and Pat Hogan.

Hogan was sent off early in the match last week at Indianapolis, with a red card, and will be serving a one-match suspension this week.

Etou was selected for the Congo National Team ahead of their upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Sudan and Uganda.

Etou, 30, has previously been in camp with the Congolese squad but has yet to make his senior international debut. That could come Thursday in the team’s match at home in the capital, Brazzaville, against South Sudan, or on Monday when the team travels to Kampala, Uganda, for their second qualifying match.

The Red Devils, as the Republic of Congo’s team is known, are seeking to qualify for the 2025 edition of Africa’s biennial continental championship, which they last qualified for in 2015.

A native of Brazzaville who moved to Paris as a youth, Etou has been a constant in the Hounds lineup during his two years with the team, playing primarily as a left-sided wing back or midfielder. This season, he is second on the team with 2,089 minutes played with two goals and two assists, and he was named the USL Championship Player of the Week for the first time in his career during the week of July 8-14.

Etou will miss the Hounds’ match this Saturday against Rhode Island FC, but he will be back in the fold for the team’s Sept. 14 match at the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

John Krysinsky

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).