It was only last November when the Pittsburgh Riverhounds played in the United Soccer League Championship against Tulsa FC. The game, played at Tulsa, Oklahoma’s ONEOK Field, was an instant classic.
In an incredible defensive battle, where both teams failed to score in regulation, a shootout determined who would take home the USL championship. The Riverhounds prevailed by a score of 5-3 and brought another championship to the City of Pittsburgh.
In winning the USL championship, the Hounds made league history by not conceding a regulation goal throughout the entirety of the playoffs.
Though the Riverhounds experienced great success defensively last season, defending a championship is never easy. The Hounds will enter the 2026 season under the leadership of head coach Rob Vincent, who took over the position during the last quarter of the 2025 season.
Vincent will now be able to garner his success from last year and apply it to an entire USL season. The Riverhounds will also be bringing back a strong base of players who led them to their championship season.
The club already has played four preseason games, the latest coming in a 2-1 win over Duquesne University Wednesday. The Hounds will next take on Lexington FC at noon Saturday, Feb. 21, at Highmark Stadium.
The following is a look at the team’s roster:
Midfielders
Danny Griffin, Robbie Mertz, Jackson Walti, Junior Etou, Charles Ahl, Bradley Sample, Jorge Garcia
Defenders
Beto Ydrach, Perrin Barnes, Guillaume Vacter, Illal Osumanu
Forwards/Strikers
Brigham Larsen
The returning champions are led by Griffin, the team captain; Mertz, the Upper St. Clair native; and Walti, who helped the University of Pittsburgh reach the College Cup tournaments in 2020 and 2022.
Though a solid core returns, there were some key departures, namely goalkeeper Eric Dick, forwards Augie Williams and Bertin Jaquesson and defender Luke Biasi. Sporting Director Dan Visser ventured into the free agent market and signed six players to add to the championship core.
Joining the fold were defender Victor Souza, formerly of the New England Revolution; midfielder Eliot Goldthorp, who played for both Lexington FC and FC Tulsa a year ago; and midfielder Warren Agostoni, who hails from the Riverhounds’ own development academy.
In addition, Visser made a key acquisition by signing goalkeeper Nico Campuzano, who was the starting goalkeeper for Monterey Bay FC last season and led the USL with 84 saves. Campuzano also played collegiately at Pitt and helped lead the Panthers to the College Cup Tournament in 2020.
Possibly their most important additions are the signings of forwards Trevor Amann (Sacramento Republic FC/FC Tulsa) and Albert Dikwa. Amann is a known goal scorer, proven by the fact that he holds the record for most goals in a USL season (23).
Dikwa, who was member of the Riverhounds from 2020 through 2023, returns after playing for Rhode Island FC for the past two seasons. A fan favorite, Dikwa was a major force for the Hounds, especially during the 2023 season when he was named the USL’s Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot Winner (most goals-20), as well as the Championship Player of the Year. His play also helped Pittsburgh win the Players Shield award in 2023 for best overall record.
The additions of Dikwa, Amann and Goldthorp are expected to provide the Hounds with improved offensive capabilities. In addition, the Hounds have several players participating during the preseason as trialists, who will be looking to fill the remaining roster spots.
The Riverhounds open the regular season with a home game against the Charleston Battery at 6 p.m. Friday, March 6, but the preseason is already underway. Results of completed games and the full preseason schedule are as follows:
- Feb. 2 – Riverhounds vs. Richmond Kickers – AHN Montour Sports Complex –Coraopolis
Final Score: Pittsburgh 2, Richmond 0
Riverhounds’ Brigham Larsen scored both goals in the win.
- Feb. 6 – Riverhounds vs. Indy Eleven – Westfield, Ind.
Final Score – Pittsburgh 3, Indianapolis 0
Pittsburgh’s goals were scored by Albert Dikwa, Eliot Goldthorp and Bradley
Sample.
- Feb. 13 – Riverhounds vs. Loudon United FC – AHN Montour Sports Complex – Coraopolis
Final Score – Pittsburgh 2, Louden United FC – 1
Pittsburgh’s goal was scored by Trevor Amann and their second goal was due to an
inadvertent deflection of a Loudon defender into his own net.
- Feb. 18 – Riverhounds vs. Duquesne University – Highmark Stadium.
Final Score – Pittsburgh 2, Duquesne 1
Amann tallied both of the Hounds’ goals while Cody Da found the net for the Dukes.
The remaining preseason schedule:
Lexington FC – Feb. 21/ 12 p.m. – Highmark Stadium
West Virginia University – Feb. 27/ 7 p.m. – Highmark Stadium
University of Pittsburgh – Feb. 28/ 6 p.m. – Ambrose Urbanic Field – Pittsburgh
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