Former High Point University men's soccer player Matt Tuttle has signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of USL-2. Tuttle is the first HPU men's soccer player under head coach Dustin Fonder to sign a professional contract after leaving the Panthers.

“We are very excited for Matt Tuttle,” Fonder said. “It is a great sign for our program that we are starting to produce players that can compete at the next level. I am extremely proud of Matt because he really improved over his four years at High Point. We wish him great success in the pro ranks.”

“It is a big relief to finally sign a professional contract,” Tuttle said. “I am really excited to take my game to a new level and play professional soccer. It is something that I have wanted to do since I was a little kid. I am very fortunate and glad that the Pittsburgh Riverhounds gave me this opportunity.”

Tuttle was named first team All-Big South and was selected to the selected to the 2009 NSCAA/adidas South Atlantic All-Region third team after leading High Point with a team-high six assists and 14 points. He was one of four players to start every game for the Panthers as HPU achieved its best season in 11 years of DI competition. Tuttle leaves HPU as the career leader in assists with 16 in four seasons. He also finished his career tied for fourth on the career points list with 38 and sixth on the career goals list with 11.

“Being a part of the High Point family helped me prepare for the professional atmosphere. The coaches helped me a great deal with the structure of practices and by pushing me to be the best I could day in and day out both on and off the field. Following my senior season the coaches remained active and supportive in my quest for a professional contract and I am thankful for that.” 

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds play in the USL Second Division, the third tier of the American professional soccer. Last season, the Riverhounds went 6-10-4 and finished eighth in the league for the second consecutive season.