Highmark Stadium
, 7PM
Match Officials, as assigned by PRO
REF: Mr. Charles Murphy
(Last seen 9/6/14 vs. Arizona)
AR1: Mr. Ross Kleinstuber
AR2: Ms. Kathryn Nesbitt
4TH: Mr. Corey Yerace
Morning Line Odds via Bet 365
Pittsburgh +130
Draw +220
Harrisburg +175
September 6 of last year sucked. Really, really sucked. The Hounds had been on a roll and had clawed their way back into the playoff picture. With a positive result in the last game of the season, home against Arizona, the outlook of sneaking into the final spot was very real. Then… well, I’m sure you remember. Definition of crapping the bed.
That’s how last season ended. Since then, it’s been an off-season of immense change. Over half the roster is new, almost completely younger, with a mix of professional experience.
As a comparison, take a look at the 2014 opening night roster and their current team status, as the Hounds opened the season in Disney World.
Hunter Gilstrap – Gone
Rob Vincent – Still with club
Brian Fekete – Gone, probably surfing somewhere and saying ‘bro’ a lot.
Sterling Flunder – Still with club, may miss due to injury
Jason Johnson – Gone (was Houston loanee)
Andrew Marshall – Unsigned, but reportedly training in Pittsburgh, recovering from injury
Danny Earls – Still with club, still not taking crap from anyone!
Jose Angulo – Gone
Matt Dallman – still with club, injured
Anthony Arena – Still with club, signed in off season after being a Houston loanee in 2014
Anthony Obodai – Gone
Of the 11 men the started the season last year, three have a reasonable chance to start today. Three.
Beyond the turnover in roster, the coaching staff has changed as well. Mark Steffens, formerly of the Charlotte Eagles has installed a Dutch system of quick, steady ball movement, and flexible formations as the team transitions from offense to defense and back.
The results of these changes were positive, if judging from the preseason. Only two goals conceded and no losses. Even in spells of poor performances, the team would only let the poor play last for so long before making the changes necessary to be successful. No game long funks, which became almost routine, last season.
However, all those preseason games came against college teams. Their first taste of professional opposition comes today against the City Islanders.
Today’s starting XI is a bit of a mystery, due to injuries and an international call-up, the Hounds could be down by four or five players. Furthermore, there has been no public announcement of a team captain. Danny Earls wrestled the armband away from everyone else midway through last season. Will he retain the privileged or will Steffens look in a different direction?
Harrisburg, which reached the USLPro final last season, has essentially gutted their roster. The top five goal scorers from last season are gone, leaving Garrett Pettis and his three goals in 2014 as the team’s biggest returning goal scorer. Even the team’s roster is a bit of a mystery, when the Islanders had a big reveal earlier in the week, they introduced 17 players, three of which were goalkeepers. Only four defenders are listed on the roster. It is assumed that the City Islanders will (and have??) received four players from their affiliation with the Philadelphia Union, but those names still have no come out.
Tailgate
Vesty has given a complete rundown of all things tailgate.
Six months of waiting are over. Six months of action begins. It’s time to get loud, get a little goofy, and get behind the squad with everything you’ve got. No early season malaise this year. The plastic fans can stay home when it’s cold out, it just gives the Steel Army more room in the parking lot.
#UNLEASH
