When Lasse Kelp went unsigned by D.C. United after becoming the team’s third-round pick in the MLS SuperDraft, the young center backs’ future looked incredibly unclear.
Months later, and Kelp has found a temporary home that he has every chance of making permanent. He signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds that has an option to be extended into 2027.
Kelp had a stellar season for Maryland in 2025, where he was named a first-team All-American by United Soccer Coaches and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy — effectively, he was seen as one of the top 15 players in college soccer.
The Riverhounds are the reigning champions of the United Soccer League — an American soccer league independent of Major League Soccer that is often seen as the secondary competition in the country. Pittsburgh finished fourth in the USL’s Eastern Conference during the 2025 regular season season, but it stormed the table in the playoffs thanks to a rock-solid defense that did not concede a goal across its last 632 minutes of play.
That type of clean sheet streak should make Kelp feel right at home — he led a Maryland backline that went over 450 minutes without conceding a goal at one point last season. He could have an important role to play in his new team’s title defense.
In other news
Defensive lineman Lavon Johnson has officially re-signed with Maryland football.
Maryland saw three wrestlers place in the final regular season rankings.
Maryland men’s basketball played in the fifth-most watched college basketball game of the year so far.
Maryland short-distance runner Taylor Riley ran a 1:31:31 600m dash at the first day of the Big Ten Championships.
Maryland women’s soccer released its spring schedule.
Former Maryland football star Jalen Huskey is holding out hope he’ll be drafted by one of his hometown teams.
Five Maryland women’s lacrosse alumni will compete in the WLL Championship Series.
Maryland men’s basketball alum Selton Miguel had a strong performance for the Angolan national team.
Maryland football extended an offer to three-star class of 2027 recruit Jesiah Fields.
