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Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2021 Season Preview

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/19/21, 5:00PM EDT

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At home at Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is looking for its fourth consecutive trip to the USL Championship Playoffs under Head Coach Bob Lilley in 2021. | Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC


2021 Outlook

For the first time in Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC history, the club earned its third consecutive trip to the postseason in 2020, but the enthusiasm around that achievement was somewhat dimmed as a late-season home loss to Hartford Athletic cost the Hounds first place in Group F and ended up with an early playoff elimination at the hands of Louisville City FC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

The early part of the offseason wasn’t that kind, either, with established center back Thomas Vancaeyezeele (San Diego Loyal SC), wing back Ryan James (Birmingham Legion FC), midfielder Robbie Mertz (Atlanta United 2) and forward Steevan Dos Santos (Tampa Bay Rowdies) among the free agency departures.

But, as always, it would be foolish to write off a side coached by Bob Lilley, who has consistently shown the ability to re-tool and attract established and potential talent throughout his career. Two former members of Saint Louis FC in Todd Wharton and Russell Cicerone have made the move to Highmark Stadium, while Alex Dixon has reunited with Lilley from their days in Rochester after spending the past two seasons with Hartford Athletic. Most importantly, though, the Hounds re-signed midfield talisman Kenardo Forbes. Teamed up with Wharton, Pittsburgh could have one of the best midfield tandems in the middle of the park this season, and that could help secure a fourth consecutive trip to the postseason.


Notable Arrivals

Todd Wharton, Midfielder: Helped lead Saint Louis FC to postseason in 2020

Russell Cicerone, Forward: Notched 10 goals over past two seasons in Saint Louis

Mekeil Williams, Defender: Trinidad & Tobago international brings experience to back line

Josh Gatt, Forward: Former U.S. Men’s National Team forward seeks comeback trail in Pittsburgh


Notable Arrivals

Thomas Vancaeyezeele: Signed with San Diego Loyal SC

Ryan James: Signed with Birmingham Legion FC

Steevan Dos Santos: Signed with Tampa Bay Rowdies

Robbie Mertz: Signed with Atlanta United 2


Notable Departures



Jamaican midfielder Kenardo Forbes has been named to the Championship's All-League Team in four of the past five seasons after his First Team honor in 2020. | Photo courtesy Chris Cowger / Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Kenardo Forbes, Midfielder

It might have taken a while, but most people around the Championship have been fully aware of what Kenardo Forbes brings to the table for a while now. That’s resulted in three consecutive Championship All-League selections in the past three years, and four overall for the Jamaican veteran’s career. The 32-year-old is going to be a central figure again for the Hounds after signing a new contract this offseason as he looks to add to his 39 career regular-season assists, the most in the Championship’s history.

Danny Vitiello, Goalkeeper

Coming in midway through the regular season as starter, Danny Vitiello made the most of his opportunity to narrowly claim the Championship’s Golden Glove with a 0.50 mark as he conceded only four goals in eight games. The former Nashville SC shot-stopper’s underlying numbers were also impressive – he outperformed his Expected Goals Against total by 1.82 xG. Now it’s a question of whether the 25-year-old can perform at the same level for a full season.


Coach



Head Coach Bob Lilley has led Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC to the postseason in three consecutive seasons for the first time in its history. | Photo courtesy Chris Cowger / Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Bob Lilley (Fourth Season)

There’s no real big secret to what Bob Lilley does. Get the best talent you can, fit the pieces together, form a cohesive, hard-working unit and go out and win games. That doesn’t make it any less impressive, though, and the results he’s produced over his first three season in Pittsburgh have been the best stretch in the Hounds’ history. There’s more significant turnover this year than maybe in seasons past, but that’s not going to keep Pittsburgh from being in the mix for the playoffs once again.


Key Number


144Over Bob Lilley’s first three seasons in Pittsburgh, the Hounds have scored 144 goals, good for sixth-most in the Championship over that span. If the club can maintain its average of 1.63 goals per game in the new season, it should be firmly in contention for a fourth consecutive trip to the postseason.


Possible Lineup




Projected Finish: Fourth, Atlantic Division

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