Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com
Monday, March 24, 2014
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are proud to announce that three Houston Dynamo players – Anthony Arena, Jason Johnson and Bryan Salazar – will join the club for the start of the USL PRO season, pending USSF approval.
The three players will join the Riverhounds ahead of their season opener on Saturday at Orlando City. The Dynamo and Riverhounds formed an affiliate partnership for the 2014 season last November. Pittsburgh spent a portion of its preseason training at Houston Sports Park and played the Dynamo in a preseason scrimmage on Feb. 19.
Arena, 23, was selected by the Dynamo in the 2013 Supplemental Draft out of Wake Forest University. The central defender made his MLS debut at Columbus last June and also appeared in a 2-0 win over FC Tucson in the U.S. Open Cup. The Kenmore, Wash. native appeared in 79 games in four seasons at Wake Forest.
Johnson is also in his second professional season after the Dynamo selected him with the No. 13 overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft out of Virginia Commonwealth University. A member of Generation adidas, Johnson appeared in 13 regular season games (four starts) and scored one goal last season. The 23-year-old has made three appearances for the Jamaica national team, including two appearances last November. Johnson also made five appearances (four starts) and scored one goal in the CONCACAF Champions League and added two more starts in the U.S. Open Cup last season.
Salazar signed as a Homegrown Player from the Dynamo Academy last February and joined the club full time in June after graduating from Fort Bend Bush High School in Houston. Salazar, 19, made his professional debut against FC Tucson in the U.S. Open Cup last May. Prior to signing with the senior team, Salazar spent six years in the Dynamo development program, progressing from the Junior Academy at age 13 to the U-18 squad.
The Riverhounds kick of the start of the 2014 season this weekend with a match against defending USL PRO champions Orlando City. The Hounds’ home opener at Highmark Stadium is set for April 12 against the Wilmington Hammerheads. For tickets and stadium information, go to Riverhounds.com.