The Riverhounds are baaack!!!

Although the team has been gone for the past year on a hiatus, team officials are hoping the Riverhounds haven't been forgotten. They have returned under new ownership with the same coach, Gene Klein, and will again compete in the United Soccer League's Second Division. A number of the players from the 2006 team that was 8-6-6 and reached the second round of the playoffs are on the current roster.

The Riverhounds, who opened the season with a 2-1 loss Saturday at Cleveland, play tomorrow night at Baltimore and Saturday night at Real Maryland.

The Riverhounds have a 20-game schedule that runs through August. All 10 home games will be played on weekends at Chartiers Valley High School in Bridgeville. The Riverhounds' home in 2006 was Falconi Field in Washington, Pa.

"We're a lot closer to the city now," Klein said. "That should help make it easier for people to get to our games."

Klein and other team officials helped keep the identity of the Riverhounds alive the past 12 months by conducting camps and clinics throughout the area.

"I can't remember the last time I had a day off," Klein said. "We certainly have to continue to sell soccer and carve our niche in the sports community. We really want to see the game grow and want the Riverhounds to be here a long time. We've had a lot of feedback from people who are excited we're back."

The Riverhounds, whose first season was 1999, averaged approximately 2,000 fans per game in 2006.

"We think we can exceed those numbers," Klein said of the Riverhounds, whose first home game is Saturday, May 3, against Hartford. "Our league is very good and people shouldn't underestimate the quality of soccer. There are a lot of good young players in our league."

The Riverhounds' roster comprises players between the ages of 21 and 28 who receive paychecks only during the season.

"We don't have any $1 million players," Klein said with a laugh. "Most of our players are either looking to move up or are playing because they want to continue playing at a high level."

Three former Duquesne University players are expected to play prominent roles this season: Midfielder Travis MacKenzie and fullbacks Nathan Salsi and Jason Kutney. Salsi and Kutney are veterans who were with the Riverhounds before the hiatus and MacKenzie is a rookie. In addition to playing, Kutney is part of the new ownership group as the teams' director of youth soccer development.

"We want to maintain a soccer image here in Western Pennsylvania and give the younger players in the area some soccer role models," Klein said. "There are a lot of people playing soccer -- kids and adults -- and it's our job to get them to come out and see the Riverhounds play. I think if people give us a chance, they'll be entertained and enjoy the aggressive style of soccer we play."