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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Riverhounds Add Three Columbus Crew Sc Loanees

August 10, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have added three Columbus Crew SC loanees to their roster on a game-by-game basis. Joining the club will be midfielders Cristian Martinez and Rodrigo Saravia for the first time this year, while defender Chad Barson returns after playing one match earlier in the season against the Charleston Battery.

In their first year of an affiliate partnership with Crew SC, the latest MLS additions join defender Marshall Hollingsworth as current Crew SC loanees for the Hounds. Columbus midfielder Ben Swanson also started the 2016 season with Pittsburgh, but recently hit the Season-ending Injury List after undergoing successful right shoulder surgery at the end of July.

Barson, Martinez, and Saravia all come to the club at a crucial time for tonight's Montreal tilt, as the Hounds will be without captain Kevin Kerr due to travel visa issues, as well as Mike Green (red card) and Lebo Moloto (card accumulation) due to respective card infractions from last week's match against Louisville City FC. Including defender Sergio Campbell, who remains questionable with an upper-body injury sustained in Wilmington, Pittsburgh could be without four of the six players to have registered 1,300-plus minutes played this season with the club - Corey Hertzog and Willie Hunt being the other two.

Barson, who made his Hounds debut in a 1-1 tie at Charleston on April 30, recording one shot on goal, has played in five matches this season for Crew SC. In total, since joining Columbus in 2013 as a Homegrown Player signee, Barson has played in 48 matches, including 32 starts, tallying two assists.

Prior to his time with Crew SC, Barson was a standout at the University of Akron, starting in all but two matches in his collegiate career. The Columbus, Ohio native was part of the 2010 National Championship squad and served as team captain for two seasons.

Currently on loan from Chorrillo FC as of earlier this May, Martinez has registered one goal in two appearances for Columbus. The El Chorrillo, Panama City, Panama native joined Chorrillo FC's youth ranks beginning at the Under-9 level, eventually progressing through the system to make his debut for the first team in 2012 at the age of 15.

The midfielder has also registered two caps each for the Panama National Team and the Under-20 team this year.

Lastly, Saravia has played eight matches, including one start, in his first season with Crew SC. He was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, by Columbus in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft after an impressive collegiate career at Florida Gulf Coast. The Guatemala City, Guatemala native started in 65 of 67 appearances for the Eagles, earning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year honors in 2015.

On the international level, Saravia has notched four caps for Guatemala, including two FIFA World Cup qualification matches - starting both.

Barson will wear No. 29, the same number he wore against Charleston, while Martinez and Saravia will don No. 34 and 35, respectively. For more information on the three loanees, visit ColumbusCrewSC.com, while fans can follow Pittsburgh's match against FC Montreal tonight at 7 p.m. live via USL Match Center.

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