PITTSBURGH (November 11, 2016) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have made their first roster addition of the offseason, signing goalkeeper Keasel Broome to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2018 season pending USL and USSF approval.
Broome joins the Hounds after spending the past season with fellow USL club and in-state rival, the Harrisburg City Islanders. The keeper made two starts against the Hounds in this time, helping the City Islanders capture the Keystone Derby Cup in the process with a 2-1 win in Pittsburgh in July and 1-1 draw at home in the August finale.
“Having to play against Keasel and have him deny us our scoring opportunities home and away that were really good, especially away in Harrisburg, I got to know him better as a player,” said head coach Dave Brandt. “I really like him as a goalkeeper. He’s athletic, a very good shot-stopper, and just a great kid. I’m really pleased we’re bringing him in.”
Compiling a 5-4-4 record with the City Islanders in 2016, Broome split starting goalkeeper duties with Nick Noble, starting 13 games to Noble’s 17. Broome stopped 36 of 58 shots on the season for a .621 save percentage and 1.69 goals against average.
Though Broome’s professional career didn’t officially kick off until this past season with Harrisburg, he originally was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the third round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Unable to reach a signing agreement with the MLS side, Broome then signed a one-year deal with the NASL’s New York Cosmos for 2015, registering no appearances, before moving onto Harrisburg.
A native of Claymont, Delaware, Broome has experience on the international stage competing for the Barbados national team. He started in a pair of games during World Cup qualifiers in 2015, recording shutouts in each.
Broome brings an impressive pedigree at the amateur level to the Hounds. Collegiately, Broome competed at Providence College, starting in all 45 matches for the Friars in his final two years competing and holds the school record for the most minutes played in a single season with 2,131 in 2014.
In all, he compiled a 31-18-8 record with the Big East side, recording 14 shutouts in 59 starts and holding a 1.20 goals against average.
Broome’s most notable season came during his senior year in 2014, where along with serving as co-captain, he helped the Friars to their first Big East title in school history. He notched eight shutouts on the year, including two against top-five ranked schools in the regular season and two-straight in the NCAA Tournament to eventually lead Providence to the College Cup Semifinal.
Broome also had short stints in the USL’s Premier Development League with the Ocean City Nor’easters, Reading United and the Real Boston Rams while competing for the Friars.
Prior to his time with Providence, Broome was a star keeper at Caravel Academy in Bear, Delaware, ranking as the No. 2 player and best goalkeeper in the state. He helped Caravel to a state title in 2009, posting a 16-2-1 record and 0.40 goals against average, earning regional All-American honors in the process.
Broome joins captain Kevin Kerr and forward Chevaughn Walsh as the current players officially under contract for the Hounds heading into the 2017 season.