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USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Riverhounds Sign Eric Ongao and Paul Dolinsky

March 26, 2003 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release


PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh RIVERHOUNDS® have signed two players with exceptional international experience to bring the roster total to 16 during the first week of training camp. Coach Tim Carter added Eric Ongao on defense and Paul Dolinsky to the midfield. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Ongao joins the HOUNDS® after one season with Park University and one for Mid Continent College and earning 24 caps for the Kenyan National Team. The 2002 NAIA Player of the Year helped to lead his team to a 21-2-2 record and a spot in the NAIA National Championship game and the best season in the school's history. In one season with the Pirates, Ongao amassed 20 points on eight goals and four assists from his defensive position. Four of his goals were game winners.

The Nairobi, Kenya, native was the first student-athlete at Park University to be named NAIA Player of the Year in any sport. In addition to that honor, Ongao, 25, was named to the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference team, the NAIA All-Region IV team and the NAIA Region IV Defensive Player of the Year and was named an NAIA First Team All American.

The computer science major left behind two years of college eligibility to join the RIVERHOUNDS®, but his college coach, Efrem Shimlis, believes that Ongao will make a smooth transition. "We have decent players at Park," he said. "But, when Eric plays with better players, he will play better. I haven't seen the best of him yet. I expect him to be a difference maker. It's going to be fun to watch."

After finishing second in this year's NAIA national championship, Shimlis will miss his team captain's production and leadership. "I realized in the third or fourth game of our season what Eric's impact was," he said. "Eric did not play due to a muscle strain. We won the game, but it was an entirely different game. It was easy for us when he was in the game. He had everything to do with our success."

Ongao looks forward to making the transition to his "dream" job. "My brother is playing professionally in South Africa, and he is the captain of the Kenyan National Team," he said. "It's always been my dream to play professionally. I decided to come to Pittsburgh because Coach Carter is a good guy and he can help me improve my talent."

Carter is thrilled to have the opportunity to coach Ongao. "Eric is a very talented player," he said. "He is composed on the ball and an excellent passer. He has great individual technical skills but is very much a team player who will fit in well with the way we play."

Adding depth to the midfield is 20-year-old Dolinsky. The Carmel, Ind., native left high school when he was 16 to pursue a soccer career in Europe. He played a season and a half for the Dutch first division club, Feyenoord. He completed his second and third seasons in Holland with Heerenveen, another first division side. He returned to the United States last year and played for the A-League's Indiana Blast where he logged 1262 minutes in 20 games notching five assists.

The RIVERHOUNDS® are a new beginning for him after returning from Holland due to the financial constraints on Heerenveen to retain a foreign player. "Last year wasn't the greatest of years," Dolinsky said. "Indiana didn't have a stellar year, and neither did I. The RIVERHOUNDS® are on the rebound as well, so I plan to bring 100 percent effort to training and to be a very valuable asset to the team."

Carter and assistant coach Joel Harrison were familiar with Dolinsky from Olympic development teams and youth national teams. They believe he will fit in well with the RIVERHOUNDS® system. "Paul is a talented young player," Carter said. "He benefited tremendously from the time he spent overseas. He has good insight and technical skills. He is a fine addition to the team."

The RIVERHOUNDS® open their 2003 home schedule on May 3 at 7:35 p.m. against the Toronto Lynx at Bethel Park Stadium. For more information about tickets or official RIVERHOUNDS® merchandise, call 412-381-GOAL (4625) or visit www.riverhounds.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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