Former Pitt goalkeeper Dan Lynd set to face Panthers with Pittsburgh Riverhounds

The Pitt men’s soccer team is set to face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the United Soccer League in a preseason matchup Friday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field, and the Riverhounds will feature a familiar face, as former Pitt goalkeeper Dan Lynd signed with the team in December and has been seeing regular playing time in goal for Pittsburgh’s pro team.

Lynd visited Ambrose Urbanic Field ahead of the exhibition game and discussed his homecoming.

“It’s just weird being back. It’s gonna feel weird playing a game here. I didn’t think I’d play another game here, but it’ll definitely be fun,” Lynd said. “And to see some of the guys that I played with … will be a lot of fun. So it’ll be a very challenging game, and I think it’ll be good for both teams.”

Friday’s match will mark the start of Pitt’s spring schedule, which also includes exhibition tilts with Sigma FC, Michigan, Duquesne, Maryland and Penn State.

The Riverhounds, on the other hand, are entering their fourth week of preseason action and have played to a 5-0 record. All of their wins have come over NCAA competition, with their most notable opponent being Akron.

Despite a decent preseason, the Riverhounds finished 13th out of 15 teams in the USL’s Eastern Conference in 2017, and goalkeeping was an issue for them, as they posted just eight clean sheets in 32 games. Lynd has played in four of the Hounds’ five games thus far, holding St. Bonaventure and the University of Charleston scoreless.

Lynd played for Pitt from 2012 to 2015 under former head coach Joe Luxbacher. He took part in 51 games for the Panthers, recording 230 saves and 15 shutouts during his four-year collegiate career.

The match between the Panthers and Riverhounds will get underway Friday at 7 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field.