PITTSBURGH (August 13, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have added goalkeeper Zack Steffen on loan from Columbus Crew SC. Steffen, who recently signed with Columbus on July 22, 2016, joins the Hounds roster on a game-by-game basis for the remainder of the 2016 season.
Formerly of the University of Maryland, Steffen began his professional career with the German club, FC Freiburg, of 2. Bundesliga, signing in December of 2014. The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, native made his debut on the club’s reserve side on August 1, 2015, registering a clean sheet against Saarbrücken in the Regionalliga Südwest. In all, Steffen made 14 appearances in his time with SC Freiburg II, registering three shutouts.
In international play, Steffen has been a fixture with the United States youth National Teams, most notably for the Under-20s. In 2015, he served as the primary goalkeeper for the U-20s at both the CONCACAF U-20 Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. Steffen started five of the six matches at CONCACAF, keeping clean sheets in three of those contests, while also helping the US to the Quarterfinals at the World Cup.
Before turning pro, Steffen competed for the University of Maryland in 2013-14, playing every minute in goal for the Terrapins during those two seasons and recording 17 clean sheets. Most notably, Steffen’s freshman year saw him earn both NCAA Championship Most Valuable Defensive Player and ACC All-Freshman honors.
Steffen will wear No. 30 for the Hounds.