{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Sounding Off on Soccer with John Krysinsky","title":"Robbie Mertz on evolving into Riverhounds' mainstay and club's most tenured player from Pittsburgh area ","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1653,"description":"More than halfway through his seventh season as a professional soccer player, spending nearly all of his career playing for his hometown club, Upper St Clair native Robbie Mertz is poised to become the Riverhounds all-time appearances leader for a player from the Pittsburgh region with his next appearance.  Mertz, who is also tied for the team lead in goals and is the team's runaway leader in chances created, is currently tied with club Hall of Famer, Gary DePalma (1999-2004) for the all-time appearances.  With 157 matches played for the Hounds, Mertz is tied with DePalma for fifth in club history.  This week, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky caught up with Mertz to discuss this milestone and many other topics on the latest episode of Sounding Off on Soccer, including:His evolution as a player from when he came into USL Championship in 2019 to now  The differences in the league since he began his pro soccer journeyCarrying tradition of local players who have been with the club and the relationships he has with some of the past players who had an influence on him Thoughts on this year's team and the importance of finishing strong His role in generating chances, scoring goals and the team's approachHow has the club evolved and prospered under the direction Head Coach Bob Lilley since 2019Looking at this week's match-up vs Orange County SC and opportunities that lie ahead, including home matches vs Charleston and Louisville Adjusting to becoming a new father in the middle of the season and whirlwind in the days leading up to and after his child's birth And much more.  ","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/kkhsdsv30OCfc_M73OxdoLtC7Pvevq5VCsWv-bJuBGE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzMxMTQxLzE2NjU4/NTQ0MDktYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}