NPSL ALUMS BAKIE GOODMAN, NECO BRETT SIGN WITH PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC
Bakie Goodman, formerly of Detroit City FC, and Neco Brett, formerly of Fort Pitt Regiment FC, both signed on with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC ahead of the 2018 regular season campaign.
“It’s exciting, (I’m) definitely very excited for the opportunity,” Goodman said. “I’m very happy and grateful.”
“Honestly, it feels really good,” Brett said. “To be here, representing the city where I know so many great people, it’s amazing.”
Brett, a Jamaican international, first came to Pittsburgh for college, where he played for Robert Morris. In his time with the Colonials from 2012-15, Brett was a prolific goal-scorer, leading all Division I in goals his junior season with 15, and leading Division I in total scoring in his sophomore campaign with 36. Overall, Brett left Robert Morris after notching 42 goals and recording 16 assists in 67 appearances.
Before his massive junior season, Brett spent the summer with Fort Pitt Regiment FC, an experience Brett said helped prepare him for his professional career.
“That experience was really good, it was like one more level up from college, it was faster and there were a lot of professionals on that team as well,” Brett said. “It was great to work with Coach Kowalski and I really could get a look at what it would be like as a professional because he has so much experience at that level.”
Now that he’s back in his “home away from home” as a member of the Riverhounds, Brett wants to show the city what he can do.
“I want to have a good season, do my very best and see how far we can go,” Brett said. “It’s good to be back, it’s a wonderful feeling and I want to do my thing.”
Midfielder Bakie Goodman also joined the Riverhounds, after spending the 2017 NPSL season with Detroit City FC. Goodman graduated from Georgetown in 2016, where he was a four-year anchor in the Hoyas midfield. Overall, Goodman appeared in 80 games, started 71, and helped lead Georgetown to three NCAA tournament appearances.
Once he graduated from Georgetown in 2016, Goodman joined Detroit City FC and helped lead the squad to a memorable friendly victory over Italian Serie B side Venezia FC and Detroit City FC’s first ever Midwest Region championship. Overall, Goodman had a great experience with DCFC.
“I can’t say anything but good things about them,” Goodman said. “The fans, the club, the team, coaching staff were all amazing, it was all good.”
Playing in front of the Detroit City FC crowd at Keyworth Stadium is an experience Goodman won’t soon forget, with one moment sticking out above all the rest.
“Winning the regional final was incredible,” Goodman said. “Celebrating with the fans after they rushed the field, that was my favorite moment by far, that was amazing.”
Playing for Detroit was not only a positive experience for Goodman on a personal level, but on a professional one as well.
“All the clubs pretty much know about Detroit City at this point,” Goodman said. “It was a great foundation because (the clubs) know it’s good soccer, a good team, so they knew I was still playing on a high level.”
Now that he’s with Pittsburgh, Goodman is looking to help the team in possession and show what he can do right away.
“I just want to take a step forward, improve myself as a player,” Goodman said. “I don’t have any statistic goals or anything. I just want to play the best I can and make an impact. If I can do that, hopefully the team can go far.”
With the number of accolades and vast amount of experience shared between these two players, the Riverhounds added a great deal of talent to their roster ahead of the 2018 USL season. Brett has already gotten off to a fast start, scoring the Riverhounds lone goal in their 1-0 exhibition victory against Pitt, and Goodman has seen time as a substitute to hold down the midfield.
