Riverhounds acquire Pa. native, defender Farrell from Rising FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC made its first addition of the offseason by acquiring veteran defender and former All-League selection Joe Farrell on a transfer from Phoenix Rising FC, the teams announced Thursday.
Financial terms of the transfer, which is pending USL and U.S. Soccer approval, were not disclosed.
Farrell, 28, joins the Hounds after five seasons with Phoenix, where he appeared in 128 matches — second-most in Rising history. During that time, the 6-foot-2 center back helped anchor a defense that won the Western Conference in 2018 and 2020 and finished with the USL Championship’s best record in 2019.
In his first pro season in 2016, Farrell was a finalist for USL Rookie of the Year and a second-team AllLeague selection.
In addition to his defensive work, he has scored 15 goals in his seven years as a pro.
Farrell is a native of Blue Bell, and played his college soccer at La Salle University from 2012-15. While in college, he also played in the amateur NPSL for the New York Red Bulls U-23s.
Hockey
Minnesota freshman Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice and the United States rebounded from a loss to beat Switzerland 5-1 in the world junior hockey championship.
West Mifflin native Logan Cooley had a goal and an assist, captain Luke Hughes and Tyler Boucher also scored and Trey Augustine made 18 saves. Coming off a 6-3 loss to Slovakia on Wednesday, the Americans improved to 2-1 in Group B.
In the first game of the day at Avenir Centre, Finland beat Latvia 3-0 to keep the Group B lead with two victories and an overtime loss. In Group A in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sweden beat the Czech Republic 3-2 in overtime to remain first, and Canada earned its second win, topping Austria 11-0 in the night game.
The United States will finish group play Saturday against Finland.
Tennis
Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys gave the United States a 2-0 lead against the Czech Republic at the new United Cup mixed teams tournament. Fritz broke Jiri Lehecka’s serve in the ninth game of the second set and went on to beat the Czech player 6-3, 6-4. Keys followed that up with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Marie Bouzkova in the next Group C match at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Winter sports
Austrian skier Matthias Mayer, who won gold at three consecutive Olympics, announced his retirement with immediate effect. Mayer surprisingly made the announcement shortly before a men’s World Cup super-G in an interview with Austrian TV after he returned from the course inspection and said he would not compete in the race.
MLB
The Chicago Cubs finalized a $6.5 million, two-year contract with Gold Glovewinning catcher Tucker Barnhart.