Riverhounds bring back Upper St. Clair's Robbie Mertz, work to shape roster in free agency

One of Pittsburgh’s own will be back with the Riverhounds for 2023.

Robbie Mertz, an Upper St. Clair grad, was one of seven players that the club announced will be returning for next season.

Mertz, a midfielder, came to the Hounds via transfer from Atlanta United 2 in July. It was his second stint with his hometown club. He played for the Hounds from 2019-20.

Six other players had their contract options picked up for 2023: goalie Jamali Waite, defenders Arturo Ordonez, Nate Dossantos and Luke Biasi, midfielder Marc Ybarra and striker Albert Dikwa.

They were part of a team that finished 16-9-9 and lost to Louisville City FC in penalties in the USL Championship Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Waite won the starting goalkeeper job, making 23 starts with seven shutouts.

Ordonez was a starter in the backline. Dossantos was also a starter for most of the year until he was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury.

Dikwa scored 11 goals after missing most of last season due to a groin injury.

Ybarra and Biasi mainly saw minutes as reserves.

The Hounds declined contract options for goalkeepers Chase Vosvick and Kevin Silva, defenders Toby Sims and Jesse Williams, midfielders Angelo Kelly and Luis Argudo and forwards William Eyang and Dane Kelly.

There are several key members of last year’s team who became free agents as their contracts expired.

One of them has already joined a new club.

Russell Cicerone, who led the Hounds in goals each of the last two seasons, has signed with Sacramento Republic FC. He had 30 goals in 66 appearances with the Hounds.

Team captain and all-time USL Championship assist leader Kenardo Forbes is one of the free agents. Forbes has played for Hounds coach Bob Lilley since they were in Rochester together in 2015. Midfield stalwart Danny Griffin, who set the record for minutes played in a single season last year, is also a free agent.

Other free agents are defenders Jelani Peters, Shane Weidt, Mekeil Williams and Dani Rovira, midfielder/winger Alex Dixon and forward Edward Kizza.

Like Forbes, Dixon has a long history with Lilley dating to Rochester.

Kizza came to the Hounds on loan from MLS side New England Revolution and became a playoff hero. He scored twice after coming on as a substitute and netted the game-winner in penalties in the Riverhounds’ first-round win at Birmingham Legion FC.

The Hounds said, in a press release, that the club is having ongoing discussions with free agents from last year’s team as well as ones from outside the club.