Hounds ink former UConn defender Guillaume Vacter

24-year-old defender impressed on trial in preseason and training, secures first pro contract

Ahead of a long stretch of road matches, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have bagged a reinforcement for their already-strong defense – completing the signing of centerback Guillaume Vacter on a one-year deal plus an option for 2026.

Vacter is a familiar face to those who have followed the Hounds this off-season. The Paris, France native joined the squad late in the preseason on trial, making several appearances and training with the squad through the team’s first few regular season matches. After starting his collegiate career at Rider University in 2021, Vacter transferred to UConn, where he spent the last four years as a constant member of the Huskies defensive line – starting 56 matches out of 64 appearances.

Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley was impressed with Vacter’s physicality and the chance to add it to a Hounds defense that has already proven as tough to crack in 2025 as it was in 2024. After some visa-related delays, he’ll get his chance to see that physical ability in action on the pitch.

“Gui is a physical defender who excels in 1v1 situations. He also reads the game well and makes good decisions on the ball,” said Lilley in the team’s press release. “We’re glad to have him in Pittsburgh, and he will be a good addition to our team.”

Despite this being his first pro contract, Vacter is already a veteran on the field in terms of playing time. His tenure with the Huskies was impressive, with the team securing a .500-or-above record every year he was on the roster. Logging 15+ games every year and over 4,000 career minutes, Vacter also racked up two goals and an assist in his time in the Big East.

With the Hounds already through four games this season, Vacter joins a back line that has heavily featured returning veteran Sean Suber and first-year rookie Beto Ydrach. Fellow returners Illal Osumanu and Luke Biasi have also seen time, as have rookies Max Broughton and Perrin Barnes. The Hounds have regularly featured a two-man centerback pairing this year, a chance from last year’s typical three-at-the-back set-up for Lilley and company – though often supplemented by a deeper midfielder such as Jackson Walti dropping centrally as needed.

Including their midweek U.S. Open Cup match in Columbus and a Jagermeister Cup game in Detroit, the Hounds will play the next five matches on the road, not returning to Highmark Stadium until May 3rd. They’ll then return on the road for another three consecutive matches before finally returning to Highmark for a three-game homestand starting on May 31st.

With that type of travel strain and no bye weeks after this past weekend until later in the year, it’s no surprise Lilley wanted some extra bodies and rotational flexibility, particularly on the back line where the Hounds base so much of their success. While Lilley likes to work new players in slowly, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Vacter make some initial substitute appearances sooner than later on this run of matches.

The Hounds will kick off this segment of their road trip tomorrow, Saturday, April 12th, as they visit a Charleston Battery side that knocked them out of the first round of the playoffs in 2024. The match will stream at 7:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Colton Coreschi