TAMPA, Fla. – Former Slippery Rock University men's soccer standout Jeremy Deighton capped his first season as a professional by earning Rookie of the Year honors in the United Soccer League-Second Division.

Deighton, who graduated last May after finishing one of the most decorated careers in Slippery Rock history, helped lead the Pittsburgh Riverhounds into the USL-2 playoffs this season as a rookie.

He was named USL-2 Player of the Week on two occasions and finished the year by being named to USL-2 second team All-League honors.

The Rookie of the Year honor is the final positive of a rookie season that was filled with ups and downs, including having to sit out a month after suffering a head injury during a game in the first half of the season.

Deighton returned from the injury to lead the team down the stretch, finishing the year with a team-high 28 shots on goal. He tallied five goals in 13 appearances to finish second on the team in scoring.

The USL-2 is the third-tier of professional soccer in the U.S., following Major League Soccer (MLS) and the USL-Division I.

For more information on the Riverhounds, visit: www.riverhounds.com