Hounds let up the late goal and drop two points.

Insert definition of insanity quote.

For the fourth time this year the Hounds let up a 90+ minute goal which lead to either a draw or a loss. Instead of getting 11 points from those games they got 3. Let that 8 point swing sit there for a minute. The Hounds could be comfortably in 3rd place right now. Instead we’re going to be lucky to get 6th. This is just not a team built to finish. When they were lighting up the scoreboard earlier in the season it didn’t matter. Unfortunately they haven’t been doing that lately, and with Vincent out serving a yellow card suspension it was an even taller order. Much like with Louisivlle last week the Hounds had to be strong defensively and capitalize on the few chances they would get. For 90 minutes they did. The Hounds got lucky last week with a couple close misses. Not so much this week. Lady luck giveth, lady luck taketh.

As deflating as Saturday’s draw was the Hounds are still in this. They sit only 4 points out of 4th place, and have a game in hand on Charleston. 5th place Richmond is only one point ahead of the Hounds and we have a game against them as well. The Hounds are doing their best to make it as hard as possible, but it’s still do able. We have three games to go. If they win out they’re in. Really they just need 5 points to have a 78% chance per sportsclubstats.com. Worst team in the league Wilmington is next week. That better be a win. After that it’s Rochester and Harrisburg. Rochester already has 1st locked up, maybe they’ll have their foot off the gas. We know how to beat Harrisburg. Eyes on the prize. We have one home game left this year. It’s a big one. No matter what happens the Steel Army is going to finish this season as rocking as we always are.

The Hounds travel to Wilmington this Saturday for a 7 pm kick off. The game is on Youtube. The Hounds return home on Wednesday September 16th for the final home game of the year. Kick off is at 7 pm. Tailgate starts whenever you get off of work.

Notes

• God save the queen. God save our livers.

What They’re Saying

Matt Gajtka – DKonPittsburghSports.com

It was eminently clear just how hard some of the Riverhounds took this result.

Defensive midfielder and team captain Danny Earls sat on the field for several minutes after the final whistle, staring blankly into the distance. On the other end of the emotional spectrum, midfielder Kevin Kerr had to be pulled away from forward Amara Soumah by Okiomah. Kerr appeared to be chiding the substitute Soumah for mishandling a chance that might’ve led to an insurance goal.

“It’s all a team effort, right?” wing back Tyler Pasher asked rhetorically. “Sometimes it’s just a little lack of concentration.”

The demonstrative defender Willie Hunt went to his knees in the wake of Chang’s equalizer, pounding the turf several times. Moments earlier, he had appeared to save the Riverhounds’ second consecutive 1-0 win with a lunging breakup of a dangerous Charleston cross.

“I don’t know,” Pasher said when asked why the Hounds continue to concede critical late goals. “Unfortunate circumstances and outcome.”

John Krysinsky – Pittsburgh Soccer Report

After a hard fought first half, which the Riverhounds controlled possession and had a few decent chances against a formidable Charleston defensive unit, they broke through in the beginning of the second half.

After the Hounds cleared a Charleston corner kick in the 52nd minute, Lebo Moloto made a nice run through the midfield and into the left side of the attacking third. As Moloto tried to play a ball to Tyler Pasher, it appeared that he was pushed in the back by the Battery’s Navion Boyd. Moloto then collided hard with Pasher, and referee Bernhard Hosu, awarded a free kick to the Riverhounds.

Former USL assist leader Matt Dallman lined up alone on the ball, on the left side about 35 yards from goal, sending an in-swinging, bending ball toward the far side of the goal that Kevin Kerr headed into the goal.

“We talked about it before the goal a couple of times. He (Kerr) said he would make a run to the middle of the goal, and I was fortunate to find him,” said Dallman.

Around the League

• Charlotte and Harrisburg also drew, making the drop points sting even more.
• Rochester has 1st place and the best overall record locked up.
• Louisville clinches a playoff spot in their first year.
• The West has 5 of 6 spots locked up. OKC, Colorado, LA II, OC Blues, and Sacramento in that order as of today.

Playoff Watch

Don’t forget Steel Army PoTY polls are live in the members only section.

#UNLEASH