Fox Chapel junior Pablo Linzoain has become the second homegrown player to sign a USL Academy contract with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Linzoain, 17, has been with the Hounds Academy for four years and plays for the 2005/06 team in the Elite Clubs National League. He was one of the top players in the WPIAL last season, earning all-WPIAL, all-state and Trib HSSN Fab 15 honors after leading Fox Chapel to the district semifinals from his midfield spot.
On a USL Academy contract, players can appear in a USL Championship game while still taking part in youth competitions and maintaining amateur status and eligibility for high school and college.
Kiski Area grad Anders Bordoy was the first homegrown player to sign such a contract. He played for the Riverhounds in a US Open Cup match against Maryland Bobcats FC on April 25, 2023.
“We’re excited to be welcoming Pablo into the First Team environment,” Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley said in a statement. “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. He is very quick, dynamic and an attacking threat that will continue to evolve training regularly with the First Team.”
The Riverhounds expect to add Linzoain to the first team roster before Saturday’s home match against North Carolina FC, pending league and U.S. Soccer approval. He has trained with the first team at times over the past two seasons.