TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced on Tuesday that Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Eric Dick had been voted the USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year following a stellar first season for the Hounds in which he played a key role in the club’s defensive success.

The 2024 USL Championship Awards were voted on by club management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market following the conclusion of the 2024 USL Championship regular season.

“I’m honored and grateful to receive this award,” said Dick. “First, I must congratulate [Sacramento Republic FC’s] Danny [Vitiello] and [Hartford Athletic’s] Renan [Ribeiro] for outstanding seasons and all of the goalkeepers that make up one heck of a talented USL Goalkeeper’s Union.

“I truly give all the glory to God for it is through him and for him that I play this game.”

Bringing extensive experience from both Major League Soccer and the USL Championship following his offseason arrival from Minnesota United FC, Dick claimed the league’s Golden Glove award with a 0.69 goals-against average across 26 appearances as he tied for the league-lead with 14 shutouts.

The 30-year-old also recorded a 79.1 percent save percentage – the highest mark among Golden Glove-eligible goalkeepers this season – while recording 68 saves. He also posted a league-best 10.44 Goals Prevented mark per Opta, allowing only 18 goals on an Expected Goals on Target Conceded mark of 28.44xGOTC. That helped the Hounds lead the USL Championship as the side overall conceded only 28 goals in the regular season, a key factor in the side reaching the USL Championship Playoffs for a seventh consecutive year.

“The front office, coach Bob Lilley and the rest of the coaching staff took a chance on me,” said Dick. “My GK coach Jon Busch along with Jacob [Randolph] and Gabriel [Perrotta] made up the best dang GKU in the league. Thankful to the athletic training staff and strength staff for keeping myself and everyone healthy and strong.

“My teammates, who were the ones doing the hard work, running around, cutting out far more chances than those that ever got to me. They made my job so easy by being the best defense in the USL. I am an extension of them all.”

Dick earned the award with 49 percent of the ballot. Sacramento Republic FC’s Danny Vitiello finished second on 36 percent after finishing tied with Dick on 14 shutouts in the regular season while recording 88 saves at a save percentage of 74.6 percent, while Hartford Athletic’s Renan Ribeiro finished third on 15 percent as he tied for the league-lead with 102 saves on a 76.3 save percentage.