Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy to join ECNL in 2017

PITTSBURGH (Via Riverhounds Development Academy) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy Girls (RDA) have officially been invited to join the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) of US Club Soccer for the 2017 season. Expected to be announced formally by the ECNL tomorrow, the RDA Girls join the highest level of play for youth female soccer players in the United States.

“This is a very proud moment for our Club, but beyond that, it is a positive step for soccer in our area,” said Academy and Youth Development Director, Jason Kutney. “We have strived to help stimulate opportunities through the MLS-USL Academy Initiative on the boy’s side and now, ECNL on the girl’s side. Our goal remains the same – we aim to contribute to soccer in a meaningful way. Female players will have an unparalleled opportunity to compete against the best in the country and we are extremely pleased to help bring this to Pittsburgh.”

+Read: Tennessee SC to join ECNL as member club beginning in 2017-2018 season

A milestone achievement in the advancement of the RDA competitive team platform, the Academy Girls will join an elite league of competition featuring only 84 clubs nationwide that showcases female players in front of an enormous audience of college coaches across the country in highly exclusive events. Of the now four clubs in Pennsylvania, only the RDA is located in the western part of the Keystone State – the other three are in Downingtown, Richboro and Westown, respectively.

Competition in the ECNL for the RDA Girls will start fully in fall of 2017, but the Academy may be involved in select events throughout the current 2016-17 year.