PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are entering their fourth USL season at Highmark Stadium with a quiet optimism and a strong foundation for continuing to grow the game and the team’s following in the city.

The Hounds are currently in their preseason, which consists of playing some high ranking college soccer programs such as Michigan and Ohio State. They beat the Buckeyes 3-0 at Highmark Stadium, with goals from returning midfielder Stephen Okai and new forward Romeo Parkes.

There have been many changes to the Riverhounds and the league itself since the end of the 2015 season, which saw the Hounds fall to the New York Red Bulls reserves in the USL playoffs.

There has been a somewhat high roster turnover for Pittsburgh this offseason, a new affiliation with MLS Eastern Conference champion Columbus Crew and some new staff off the field.

Also, this offseason has seen a rapid expansion in new teams joining the ever-growing USL. The league has grown to 31 teams, including six new teams. Three of them are MLS Reserve squads.

Let’s start with how the Riverhounds’ roster is shaping up with some new faces coming in and some old favorites moving on.

The biggest move of the offseason was the departure of Rob Vincent, who moved onward and upward to the top tier of American soccer. After a trial last month, Vincent gained a roster spot with D.C. United. Vincent was Pittsburgh’s leading goal scorer last year with 20 goals in all competitions. One of his goals came against D.C. United when the two met at Highmark Stadium in a U.S. Open Cup match.

That goal and Vincent’s performance in that match got D.C.’s attention. Riverhounds coach Mark Steffens is not surprised Vincent was able to make the jump and said that it was definitely earned.

“We’re thrilled that Rob has earned the chance to progress to the highest level of soccer in this country,” said Steffens. “And it has been earned.”

Vincent has already made two appearances and started for D.C. United in their two-leg CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal loss against Mexican side Querétaro F.C.

Also departing, but staying with the club in another capacity, is defender Sterling Flunder. The 30-year-old defender is calling it a playing career, retiring after six seasons with Pittsburgh. He made 123 appearances on the Hounds’ backline.

Sterling will now move into the next phase of his life and career, joining the team’s Academy coaching staff. It’s an opportunity he is grateful for.

“I’m also very appreciative of the Riverhounds for providing me with a platform to develop young people through coaching,” he said.

Also on the way out is Jamaican goalkeeper Ryan Thompson who moved on to USL side St. Louis FC. Thompson was a fan favorite despite missing the majority of the season with injury, or due to international duty with Jamaica. He made some headlines starting in their 2-1 win over the United States at the Georgia Dome in August.

So, let’s take a look at some of the new faces for the Riverhounds. A familiar face will be returning to Highmark Stadium to help fill the void between the pipes.

Hunter Gilstrap is returning after a year in the NASL with Carolina. Goaltender Mauricio Vargas is also joining from FC Wichita. Joining those two fighting for time in net is local signing Brenden Alfrey, who played collegiately at Robert Morris University.

Also coming in from the NASL to help fill the goal scoring void left by the departing Vincent is Corey Herzog and Zak Boggs from Tampa Bay.

Herzog has a local connection having played at Penn State. He was a draft pick of New York Red Bulls in the MLS, but has spent most of his time in the lower divisions.

Boggs has also spent time in the MLS with the New England Revolution, but like Hertzog, has played mostly in the USL and NASL.

Filling out the newcomers on the front line is Jamaican Romeo Parkes, who is coming in from most recently playing professionally in Central America.

Highlighting the returning core for the Hounds is midfielder Kevin Kerr, who was the other half of the dynamic duo that produced so much of the team’s offense last season.

Kerr is looking to build on last year’s breakout totals of 10 goals and 9 assists and is looking to step up as the team’s on-field leader.

Along with Kerr in midfield will be Stephen Okai and Lebo Moloto, who both will be looking to build on the success they had in their first year for the Hounds.

Meloto had a decent opening campaign, specifically coming on strong late as the Hounds made the push for the playoffs, notching 6 goals and 7 assists.

Okai is more of a defensive, holding midfielder, but will look to get in on the offense when he can. Okai has already bagged a goal in the preseason win over Ohio State.

Rounding out the returning roster for the Hounds are defenders Willie Hunt and the versatile Mike Green.

Green has played all over the field in his 88 appearances for Pittsburgh, playing both on the front line and as a fullback last season. Hunt originally signed with Tampa Bay in the offseason, but is returning to Pittsburgh after an off-field incident.

“Willie is a good person, who put himself into a bad position by associating with the wrong crowd and I’m a strong believer in second chances,” Steffens said.

The Riverhounds made news off the field by aligning with the Columbus Crew for the 2016 season. The affiliation means the Crew can loan players to the Riverhounds to get more playing time, or rehab players coming off injury.

Affiliating with MLS teams is a growing trend in the USL. One could argue the benefit of a partnership with an MLS side is a chance for some higher quality talent to come through Pittsburgh. After all, Columbus was the Eastern Conference Champion last season.

Personally, I saw really no difference between the seasons of 2014 – when Pittsburgh had partnered with Houston Dynamo – and last year’s campaign in which the Hounds had no affiliation. Really the coming and going of new players throughout the season can be seen as a hindrance to some. One could say that was the case in 2014 with the Houston deal. There will be some players coming in from Columbus, but that has not been announced yet and should be in the near future.

The real key for the Riverhounds is avoiding getting off to a slow start, which has unfortunately become a little bit of a habit for the Hounds since moving to Highmark Stadium.

In Highmark Stadium’s inaugural season, the Hounds did not get a win until the eighth game of the season. In 2014, it was 11 games into the season before they got their first victory.

Last year was a little better, but was too inconsistent. The Hounds hovered around the Eastern Conference final playoff spot, before earning a postseason berth on the final day with a win in Harrisburg. That win also earned the Hounds their first piece of silverware in team history and some local bragging rights.

The Keystone Cup is earned by the team with the most points at the end of the USL regular season between the two Pennsylvania teams.

The 2015 season produced some nice moments for the Riverhounds. It also gave fans a taste of what success can be like for this organization on and off the field. Though, 2015 on the whole was a bit of a disappointment, flaming out in the first round of the playoffs. It also did not meet the expectations of the front office or the supporters.

A truly successful 2016 would see a deep playoff run, including Highmark Stadium hosting its first USL postseason game, a nice U.S. Open Cup run and the continued growth and recognition throughout the city and its sports fans.

The Riverhounds’ home-opener against Rochester is slated for April 2 and it is approaching fast.

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