Riverhounds Notebook: Down to the last week of preseason, more roster signings expected

The Riverhounds SC are down to the last week of the preseason, with two more scrimmages remaining against USL Championship competition, Loudoun United FC (Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Highmark Stadium) and at Lexington FC (Friday at 6 p.m. in Lexington, KY).

On Friday morning, the Hounds won another preseason contest, this time against a Pitt squad getting it’s first competition of the Spring.

The Hounds dominated in the 3-0 victory, as they scored two early goals, then added another late tally.

Strong start propels Riverhounds to 3-0 preseason win vs Pitt

Winning Matters, Even in Preseason

At the start of the preseason, Hounds midfielder and team captain, Danny Griffin was asked about the team’s goals in the preseason.

One thing that stood out in Griffin’s response.

“I don’t want to lose any preseason games. I don’t want to lose any games at all, so that has to be the mindset from the start.  Doesn’t matter if we’re playing a college team, or, Columbus Crew this weekend, we don’t want to lose any game, Griffin stated.

“That has to be the mentality going into it.”

While winning matches in the preseason isn’t always paramount, Griffin and his teammates, especially those who experienced a bumpy preseason and start to the regular season a year ago, have determined to have a strong start to the 2025 campaign — and coming away with positive results has clearly been a goal.

“The quicker we get up to speed, the better.”

A year ago, after not quite finding its footing in the preseason (including 2-0 loss to WVU), the Hounds started the regular season with a 0-3-0 mark.

This clearly has been at for the forefront of the minds of the coaching staff and returning players alike, most whom have acknowledged the need to get off to a strong start in 2025.

Through the first four weeks of the preseason this year, they have won each match they’ve shared results (4-0-0). At request of Columbus Crew, they didn’t share results from Feb. 1 encounter in Ohio, but the Hounds undefeated string includes wins against Duquesne (3-0), Indy Eleven (2-1), Columbus Crew 2 (2-0) and Pitt (3-0).

What has to be the most encouraging sign for the club and for its supporters has to be that they’ve been in control of just about every match while working to improve in possession.

Riverhounds Notebook: Versatile midfield core becomes focal point of shift to improve possession

Griffin was pleased with the team’s effort in the 3-0 win on Friday.

“It was another good performance,” The team captain said shortly after the match.

“We started well. To keep a clean sheet, score some goals. To win 3-0 against a good Pitt team is well done.”

Roster Updates: Expect Signings to come this week or early next week

As far as the Hounds’ roster, things remain the same with only a little bit of movement among trialists coming in and out of camp, as indicated at the start of preseason by Riverhounds Head Coach Bob Lilley.

Looking to round out their roster, as they still have 17 players officially signed at the moment, look for more signings to be announced this week.  The Hounds still have a handful of trialists in camp (see current list below), most who are recent college players (four former Big East players, two who played at Virginia Tech and two who are from Pittsburgh).

When preseason started, Lilley said he didn’t expect to have much movement with non-roster invitees.

“You know I really like the group of players that are in now some years we’re shuffling a lot of guys in and out for for three weeks,” Lilley explained.

“This year I think there will be some guys that popping in, maybe in weeks two and three, but I don’t anticipate in years as much of a revolving door, which hopefully will let us have a little more stability.”

One interesting thing from a quick glance at the group, there are no forwards on the list.

Is Bob Lilly comfortable with the forwards on the current roster (Augustine Williams, Bertin Jacquesson and Brigham Larsen — along with Pablo Linzoain, who’s under USL Academy contract).

On the other hand, for a team that’s made a concentrated effort to become better on the ball, having a few more midfielders to choose from, is understandable in what the team’s been saying and doing this preseason, with more creative and versatile contributors in the mix complementing high line attackers, shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

As the club shared this week’s schedule, we also officially received a list of the unsigned players (trialists) who will be with the team this coming week.  That list is at the bottom of this article.

Riverhounds 2025 Roster (as of 2/24/2025)

1. Danny Griffin MF (signed through 2025)
2. Kenardo Forbes MF (signed through 2025)
3. Robbie Mertz MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
4. Eric Dick GK (picked up 2025 contract option)
5. Jackson Walti  MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
6. Luke Biasi MF / D (picked up 2025 contract option)
7. Sean Suber D (picked up 2025 contract option)
8. Bradley Sample MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
9. Aidan O’Toole MF (picked up 2025 contract option)
10. Jacob Randolph GK (picked up 2025 contract option)
11. Junior Etou MF (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
12. Illal Osumanu D (re-signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
13. Bertin Jacquesson F (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
14. Charles Ahl MF (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
15. Brigham Larsen F (signed for 2025-26, contract option for 2027)
16. Augustine ‘Augi’ Williams F (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
17. Max Broughton D (signed for 2025, with contract option for 2026)
18. Pablo Linzoain M, F (USL Academy Contract)

Riverhounds Projected Depth Chart

Unsigned Players / Trialists 

Perrin Barnes Defender, Aurora, Ill. (Grove United)

Hailing from the same hometown as Wayne Campbell and Garth Algor (No Way!), Barnes played with Grove United (NPSL) in 2024. Previously was teammate of Riverhounds captain Danny Griffin when playing with MLS Next Pro side Huntsville City FC. Prior to signing for Huntsville, Perrin starred at Butler University

Jason Bouregy Midfielder, Paramus, N.J. (Villanova University)

New Jersey native (excelled at Don Bosco Prep and played with NY Red Bulls U23 squad) who has featured mostly as an attacking midfielder.  Played collegiately at Rutgers and American, transferred to Villanova as a graduate student, with one year of eligibility in 2024.  In his lone season on the Main Line, Bouregy scored four goals and had eight assists.

Jorge Garcia Midfielder, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Villanova University)

Another player who stood out at Villanova, playing all four years on the Main Line.  Known for his passing vision and strengths on the ball, is yet another potential player who could boost the Hounds’ ability to control possession and improve passing accuracy.

Ethan Hackenberg Midfielder, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Virginia Tech)

Former Seneca Valley standout who played his club soccer with Cleveland Internationals and also trained and competed with Steel City FC who scored seven goals and had three assists in his four seasons in Division I soccer (Coastal Carolina and Virginia Tech).

Ben Martino, Goalkeeper, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Nashville SC)

A former Hounds Academy product who at one time attended Allderdice High School and played his youth soccer with Pittsburgh Dynamo SC, Martino left Pittsburgh to train with Philadelphia Union Academy, where he also signed on to play with Bethlehem Steel FC (in 2019) which became Union 2 (in 2020) when they were still competing in USL Championship.  Two of the three matches Martino started for Union 2 in the 2020 campaign came against the Riverhounds (Hounds won 6-0, 2-1 in those matches).  After two years at Virginia Tech (34 appearances), Martino’s contract Philadelphia was picked up by Nashville SC, who loaned him to MLS Next Pro club Huntsville, where he made over 30 appearances in 2023-24.  Martino is yet another former Huntsville teammate of Danny Griffin.

Guillaume Vacter Defender (Center Back) Paris, France (University of Connecticut)

Former UConn defender and team captain is a native of France.  Vacter played one season at Rider, before transferring to Storrs, CT.

Beto Ydrach, Defender, Orlando, Fla. (University of Akron)

Another recent former Big East player who finished up his NCAA Division I career at Akron as a Graduate Student, where he started in 19 of 20 matches in 2024.  Previously played at Central Florida.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now’s coverage of the Hounds this week will continue as we’ll have coverage of Tuesday’s scrimmage at Highmark Stadium.