Returning Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC signing made 30 appearances for Hartford Athletic in the Championship a season ago. | Photo courtesy Chris Cowger / Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced on Wednesday it had signed defender Ray Lee for the remainder of the 2020 season, pending league and federation approval.
Lee, who played for the Hounds during the 2018 campaign, last suited up in the Championship for Hartford Athletic in 2019. This will be his third different season playing under head coach Bob Lilley. Across five seasons at the USL Championship level, Lee has appeared in 93 matches.
To begin 2020, Lee competed for Chattanooga FC of the National Independent Soccer Association. He played one match for the club before its spring season was canceled.
While with Hartford in 2019, Lee started all 30 of his appearances for 2,663 minutes. Both his start and minute totals were the second-most for the club. The 27-year-old also finished third on the team in clearances (53), blocks (10) and interceptions (36) while recording one goal and four assists.
During the defender’s first stint in Pittsburgh in 2018, he started 24 of 28 games played for 2,146 minutes. In addition to his 60 tackles and 60 clearances defensively, he added three assists on the offensive side of the ball.
In 2017, Lee suited up for Lilley with the Rochester Rhinos. Including his two postseason appearances (both starts), Lee registered 25 tackles and 22 interceptions in 16 games played (11 starts). The defender also recorded an assist in the Rhinos’ 2-1 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals win against the Charlotte Independence.
Prior to signing with the Rhinos, the Kansas City, Missouri native played for FC Tulsa during the 2016 season. He logged 1,459 minutes and four shots on goal in 19 games played for the USL Western Conference squad.