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Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2022 Season Preview

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/03/22, 5:00PM EST

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2022 Outlook

It should come as no surprise to longtime USL Championship observers that the tenure of Head Coach Bob Lilley over the past four seasons has turned Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC into a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference. What the Hounds have this season, however, is a level of continuity that it hasn’t always had in the past, and as a result the potential to break through for its first silverware in the Championship era.

The Hounds return their top five minutes leaders from the 2021 season, including goalscoring leader Russell Cicerone, who bagged a career-best 16 goals as well as eight assists, assists leader Alex Dixon, and the Championship’s all-time assists leader Kenardo Forbes, who earned his fifth Championship All-League selection last year. It also has seven players that recorded at least 1,900 minutes, with Trinidad and Tobago international Mekeil Williams and Shane Weidt back to lead the defense and minutes leader Danny Griffin re-signed in midfield.

The big question for the Hounds going into training camp was who will end up between the sticks. The departure of goalkeeper Danny Vitiello for Sacramento Republic FC left a key position unfilled, but the new arrivals the club has made elsewhere has meant a serious buzz for Pittsburgh as a contender. Among those new faces is the Championship’s all-time leading scorer in Dane Kelly, who enters his 12th season only one regular season goal shy of the century mark. Add in young Trinidad and Tobago defender Jesse Williams and the experience of Angelo Kelly-Rosales from the Charleston Battery, and there should be plenty to look forward to at Highmark Stadium this season.


Notable Arrivals

Dane Kelly – The Championship’s all-time leading scorer will bolster an already formidable attack

Jesse Williams – 20-year-old defender has already made four appearances for Trinidad and Tobago

Angelo Kelly-Rosales – Former Charleston Battery player will add strong workrate in center of midfield

Nathan Dossantos – First-year pro joins after strong college career at the University of Marshall


Notable Departures

Danny Vitiello – 2020 Championship Golden Glove winner made move to Sacramento Republic FC

Preston Kilwien – Reliable defender headed south to join Charleston Battery

Anthony Valverde – Midfielder returned to home region to sign with League One expansion side Central Valley Fuego FC

Todd Wharton – Veteran midfielder announced retirement after six seasons


Two to Watch


Dane Kelly

Dane Kelly, Forward

As one of the handful of players still competing in the USL Championship that saw action in its first season, Dane Kelly has achieved almost everything he could. The league’s all-time leader with 99 regular season goals has been voted Most Valuable Player and has won the title – 10 years ago with the Charleston Battery – but as he arrives in Pittsburgh the aim will be to try and help a side that has been close to its first silverware in the Championship era under Head Coach Bob Lilley to the goal it has sought over the past four seasons. Kelly will join an attack that returns 2021 standouts Russell Cicerone and Alex Dixon among others and will not only expect to become the first player to 100 regular season goals in the league, but potentially add another title to his remarkable resume. 

Kenardo Forbes

Kenardo Forbes, Midfielder

As influential as Head Coach Bob Lilley has been since taking the helm at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in 2018, Kenardo Forbes has served as his on-field general. The veteran Jamaican is still the Championship’s all-time leader with 45 regular season assists but his ability to set the tempo for the side in midfield has set him apart as one of the league’s top players, as recognized by his fourth consecutive selection to the Championship All-League Team in 2021. Since the start of the 2018 season, Forbes ranks fifth in the Championship in Goals Added at +29.56 percent with a margin of more than +10 separating him from his nearest competition at the central midfield position in Tampa Bay’s Lewis Hilton. Forbes will turn 34 this season, but his mind and vision seem set to continue to keep him one step ahead of the game. 


Coach


Bob Lilley (5th Season)

A Championship legend on the sidelines, Bob Lilley is set to become the league’s all-time winningest coach this season as he enters the campaign with 128 wins, two behind former Charleston Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. The continuity Lilley has with this year’s squad could offer a chance at the postseason success Pittsburgh has been aiming for after four consecutive playoff trips since his arrival.


Key Number


18.9Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has become one of the most clinical teams in front of goal in the Championship over the past three seasons, and last campaign posted a shot conversion rate of 18.9 percent which was second only to Miami FC (19%) in the regular season.

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