In a shocking turn of events the Hounds played in Rochester in dry conditions and on a good field. In less shocking events the Hounds came home with another loss. Just when the Hounds get their feet back under them with a win, this season knocks them down again. It’s always a tough matchup against Rochester. Historically they have our number. Underneath my pessimism there was part of me that was thinking the Hounds could pull the upset. Rochester isn’t particularly strong this season and maybe the Hounds would start heading into the other direction after a nice home win. Sadly it wasn’t the case. I guess the bookies know what they’re doing when the opening line is +400.

I’ve said it before in other recaps and I hate being a broken record, but the frustrating part of the loss is there were times where the Hounds looked pretty good. After the early goal against in the first half the Hounds settled down and showed us they can play a very strong midfield game. Rochester wasn’t able to get much done in the middle of the field and for a while looked outright bad. They gave the ball away to the Hounds through several unforced errors and errant passes. It wasn’t just Rochester shooting themselves in the foot either. The Hounds were very well positioned to take advantage of Rochester’s mistakes. They didn’t need to over extend themselves to make the play. They were just there in the right spot. Once they got the ball out and moved out of the midfield though, things fizzled out as they tend to do this year.

The Hounds loan goal was a thing of beauty. A set piece goal (something we haven’t seen much of this year) starting with Kerr’s free kick into the box. Branson got a good head on it, and instead of sending it towards the net and probably into the keeper’s chest, he has the sense of mind to send it across the box to a diving Hertzog. Not sure if it was a designed play, but it was the sort of goal you tend to see from a confident and composed squad, not one floundering at the bottom.

For all the positives in the first half, it never seemed like the Hounds got their footing in the second. Brandt has mentioned fitness being an issue in the past. I can’t help but wonder if some of that showed up here. A bad defensive breakdown lead to a scrambling back line and Rochester’s second goal. Hollingsworth left injured again. Russell was the always fun sub who got subbed less than 30 minutes later. Nothing really clicked. The Hounds did have a disallowed goal off of another set piece in the 75th minute. The ref decided there was a foul on Hunt and Bissue running into Rochester’s keeper. Having some time between the match and this post I can’t get myself too fired up over it. I feel like those kind of calls go either way, and maybe Bissue getting his arm up around the keeper’s head is what pushed it over the line in the ref’s head. Who knows with the spotty officiating is at this level.

Finally, welcome back Danny Earls who not only started but went a full 90 in his first game of the season.

The Hounds have a couple extra days of rest this week in preparation for the July 4th match on Monday. We go from one rival to another as the Harrisburg-Lancaster City Islanders Baseball Club come to town. This will be the first of three match ups this season after the April 9th game was weathered out. While it might be about time to write off the USL Cup, the Keystone Cup is still very much up for grabs. Etching our name on it again would be a small victory in this otherwise stinker of a season. Let’s get it done boys. Kickoff is at 7 pm. The 4th of July tailgate starts way, way earlier.

Also don’t forget the 3rd Annual Steel Army Footgolf Open is quickly approaching. July 16th at Cabin Greens Golf Course. More details and sign up here.

#UNLEASH

*Header photo from the Rochester Rhino’s Facebook page.