PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced on Monday it had signed goalkeepers Eric Dick and Jacob Randolph to one-year contracts with a team option for the 2025 USL Championship season. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

Dick joins the Hounds having spent the past two seasons with Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer. The 29-year-old has spent the past six seasons with top-flight clubs, having previously been selected in the First Round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City while also competing for the Columbus Crew.

The 6-foot-5 native of Carmel, Ind., made his MLS debut as a rookie with Kansas City, but he also spent time in the USL Championship on loan, most notably backstopping Sporting Kansas City II to the Western Conference Semifinals while making 15 appearances for the team in 2018. He has also appeared for Phoenix Rising, FC Tulsa and Indy Eleven on separate loan stints in the Championship.

“Eric is a seasoned pro who still has his best soccer in front of him,” said Hounds Head Coach Bob Lilley. “He is an exceptional athlete with good size that is capable of the game-changing save, as well as delivering good performances in the big games. We look forward to working with him in 2024.”

Randolph enters the professional ranks after completing his college career at UNC Wilmington last fall. Randolph allowed just 15 goals and posted seven shutouts while starting 15 of the Seahawks’ 16 games in the 2023 campaign.

A 6-foot-4 native of Metairie, La., Randolph began his college career at Division II Barton College in North Carolina, posting 10 shutouts in 20 career starts while leading the team to the Conference Carolinas Final in the Spring 2021 season.

“Jacob is a first-year pro with huge upside,” said Lilley. “He was quite good in our December combine and demonstrated his ability to dominate in the air, as well as be good with his feet and a good shot stopper.”

Analysis

With the departure of Jahmali Waite to El Paso Locomotive FC this offseason, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has found a goalkeeper for the present and one potentially for the future. Dick has made 31 appearances previously in the Championship, predominantly for SKC II sides that could be defensively challenged but has still posted a 68.8 save percentage all-time while averaging almost four saves per game.

Randolph looks the more intriguing prospect, however, with the 22-year-old having posted a 75.8 save percentage last fall on 47 saves. Given the launching point the Hounds starting position has proven in past seasons – no only with Waite but also for Danny Vitiello and Kyle Morton – the first-year pro could be one to watch closely as he competes for playing time.