Riverhounds sign high-scoring forward

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds struggled to find the back of the net at times last season, finishing 15th in the 24-team USL Championship with 41 goals scored in 34 games.

They made a major acquisition Monday aimed at changing that.

The Riverhounds signed former All-Star forward Augustine Williams, a striker who ranks fifth in goal scoring in the league’s modern era with 76 career goals.

Williams, 27, was one of 25 players in the league to hit double-digit goals last season, scoring 10 for the Indy Eleven. Before that, he scored 31 goals over two seasons with the Charleston Battery.

“Bringing a player like Augi to Pittsburgh is a major signing for our organization. It highlights the growth, ambition and investment that (owner Tuffy Shallenberger) continues to infuse into our club, the community and Western Pa. soccer,” Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley said in a statement.

“Augie is a dangerous striker that can score in a variety of ways, and he is a well rounded player who fits our system. His ability to hold the ball and link play will make players around him better, and his willingness to work for the team make him a very valuable addition.”

In his career, Williams also has played in MLS for the Los Angeles Galaxy and in international competition for his home country of Sierra Leone.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and get to meet my new teammates that I will be going to war with,” Williams said in a release. “I’m excited to be part of a team that has a great history and an amazing fan base. I can’t wait to get started and to be able to help the team to achieve our goals this year, which is to win the USL Championship and bring a trophy to Pittsburgh.”