With the Hounds needing a win just to keep their hopes alive in the Jäägermeister Cup and coming off a fixture just 7 days earlier the cautious, measured approach in the first half isn’t surprising. After the feeling out period ended the chancers started to come for both teams.
The teams trading corner kicks and set pieces, to no avail. The Hounds had great opportunity in the 17th minute when MF Robbie Mertz took a cross with his head right at the goal, it struck the crossbar and dribble down the goal line harmlessly out for a goal kick. Two minutes later Rhode Island scored off a Hounds error, as former Hounds forward and current forward for Rhode Island Albert Dikwa sent a back heel touch to MF Jolea Kwizera, who buried it into the back of the goal for a 1-0 lead. The rest of the half the Hounds had several corners and a free kick in the 34th minute that sailed over the crossbar. The Hounds owned the stat sheet but not the scoreboard. With Rhode Island’s defense holding firm, the Hounds needed to find a way to convert their chances in the second half. The Hounds first chance came early in the second half,
F Augustine Williams left footed shot from outside the box was saved in the bottom right corner by Gk Jackson Lee from Rhode Island. As the half progressed, Rhode Island took advantage of their lead by easing in to every re-start much to the chagrin of the Hounds. The Hounds continued to press and speed up the pace of play which led tumor chances however, nothing of quality to threaten Rhode Island. The counter attacks from Rhode Island kept the Hounds in check and limited their numbers forward. In the 69th minute a gorgeous back heel pass from F Augie Williams to a streaking MF Danny Griffin who buried it in the back of the net, was negated by an offside call, dashing the Hounds hopes of an equalizer. Despite multiple substitutions, the Hounds found themselves chasing the tying goal until time expired leaving them with a 1-0 loss. Coach Lilley wasn’t happy with the loss but found some small signs of improvement throughout the game. The Hounds host Detroit City in a week at Highmark, as they return to regular USL play and look to make it 2 wins in a row against teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings.
