PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC announced on Monday the club had signed defenders Perrin Barnes and Beto Ydrach each to one-year contracts with a club option for the 2026 USL Championship season. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

Ydrach joins the Hounds having most recently completed his college career as a graduate transfer at the University of Akron, where he was named the Big East Conference Defender of the Year while leading the Zips to the conference’s best record in the regular season and an NCAA Tournament berth.

Prior to Akron, Ydrach played in his Orlando hometown at the University of Central Florida, where he helped the Golden Knights to a pair of NCAA appearances and the Spring 2021 American Athletic Conference Tournament title.

Ydrach also brings international experience after making his debut for the Puerto Rico National Team as a 21-year-old. He has made 12 appearances for El Huracan Azul, the most recent on June 12, 2024, when he scored his first international goal in a World Cup qualifying match against Anguilla.

“Beto impressed at our first combine in December and has adapted quickly since the start of preseason,” said Hounds Head Coach Bob Lilley. “He is comfortable on the ball and makes good decisions when defending.”

Barnes hails from Aurora, Ill. and began his professional career in 2023 with Huntsville City FC in MLS NEXT Pro, where he made 16 appearances and recorded one assist from his outside back position, playing on a back line with current Hounds teammate Sean Suber.

Last season, after recovering from injury, Barnes made it back on the field with Grove United in the National Premier Soccer League before joining the Hounds at the start of preseason.

Prior to turning pro, Barnes played four years at Butler University, where he was a Big East Championship All-Tournament selection and a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American for the Bulldogs.

“Perrin is a tremendous athlete who is very good in 1v1 defending and takes pride in shutting down opposing attackers,” said Lilley. “We are looking forward to working with him in 2025.”