PITTSBURGH (May 17, 2024) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has signed Riverhounds Academy midfielder Pablo Linzoain to a USL Academy contract for 2024, adding him to the First Team roster ahead of this Saturday’s match against North Carolina FC, pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval.
Linzoain, 17, is a junior at Fox Chapel Area High School and plays for the RDA’s 2005/06 Boys team in the Elite Clubs National League, coached by former Hounds All-USL player Kevin Kerr. He has played for the Hounds Academy for the past four years after coming over from the D.C. United Academy, and he has had opportunities to train with the First Team the past two years as part of the Pathway Program.
“We’re excited to be welcoming Pablo into the First Team environment. He has worked hard and matured as a player since he first trained with us, and the academy coaches have done a good job with him,” Hounds head coach Bob Lilley said. “He is very quick, dynamic and an attacking threat that will continue to evolve training regularly with the First Team.”
Linzoain is the third player to sign with the Hounds on a USL Academy contract after Wyatt Borso (2021-22) and Anders Bordoy (2023). He is the second to be homegrown through the Hounds Academy after Bordoy.
Under the USL Academy contract, Linzoain is able to play for the Riverhounds’ First Team in the USL Championship. He also can play for the Hounds in youth competitions, and he maintains his amateur status and eligibility for high school and collegiate competition.
The Hounds host North Carolina at 7 p.m. Saturday at Highmark Stadium. Tickets for the match are available through Ticketmaster and at the Highmark Stadium Box Office.
