Rider senior signs with professional soccer team

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Rider University men's soccer forward, senior Babacar Diene, has signed a professional contract with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, a United Soccer League (USL) team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

"Babacar brings power and pace to our front line and combines well with players around him," says Riverhounds Head Coach Bob Lilley. "He has the ability to make defenders uncomfortable, and we look forward to working with him in 2024."

Diene led the Broncs with an impressive 13 goals and 29 points as the team won the 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), and was named a United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I All-East Region Third Team and All-MAAC First Team honoree.

In the Broncs' final seven games of the season, Diene scored eight times, including a hat trick against Saint Peter's in the regular-season finale, the first goal in the Broncs' 3-1 MAAC quarterfinal victory over Marist, the game-winner in the 83rd minute of the MAAC Championship game at Iona and the Broncs' tally in the NCAA Tournament first round at Vermont. 

He concluded his Rider career with 16 goals and 37 points over 37 games played in two seasons. 

Diene joins the ranks of other Broncs who have turned pro, including Jose Aguinaga ’18, who joined Red Bulls II for their 2018 season, and Florian Valot ’16, who has played for three MLS teams — the New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati and Miami FC — and currently plays for Loudoun United FC of USL Championship.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds open preseason training next week as the team gears up for the USL Championship season, which begins March 9.