A Revival with Rochester: Hounds to host Western NY’s MLS Next franchise in U.S. Open Cup second round

One time Rochester Rhino, and current Hounds captain Kenardo Forbes competes in 2017 USL Championship match between the longtime rivals. File Photo courtesy Rochester Rhinos

On Thursday, United States Soccer Federation released the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup second round pairings and host sites as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC learned that they’ll be facing an opponent from Rochester, NY for the first time since longtime rival Rochester Rhinos suspended operations in late 2017.

The date and time are still yet to be announced, but the game will have to be played in the second round window, between April 4-6.

The Hounds will host Rochester New York FC, who compete as an independent franchise in MLS Next Pro, but maintain its connection to the original Rochester Raging Rhinos (who later dropped the Raging).

The Rhinos have a storied history in the Open Cup, as they were the last second division club to win the tournament.

Second Round Pairings are in 🔥

Let the Cupsets begin #USOC2023 » https://t.co/rGziQJJ32T pic.twitter.com/9zrgooGFh5

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) February 16, 2023

In 2021, the club went through an extensive makeover as part of the club’s rebirth, as the Rhinos rebranded as Rochester New York FC or RNYFC for short.

However, there is some uncertainty hanging over this potential match.

If true that they may not be able to field a team, it’s a sad current state for pro soccer in Rochester, which fielded the last lower division team to win the US Open Cup in 1999.

And if true, a potential ‘free pass’ to the 3rd round for @RiverhoundsSC ? https://t.co/qKQWA2KpKj

— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) February 17, 2023

There has been very little, if none, activity from RNYFC since the first week of 2023, as it appears that they are a club in danger of folding again.

The Hounds last faced the Rochester Rhinos on October 7, 2017 at Highmark Stadium, when its current Head Coach, Bob Lilley and midfielder and captain, Kenardo Forbes, were part of the Western NY outfit.  Lilley and Forbes led the Rhinos to USL Cup Playoff victory in 2015, capping a remarkable season when they lost just once.

The playoff-bound Rhinos defeated the Hounds, 2-0, to take the season series, 1-0-2 on that day.  The series ended between the two clubs with Rochester holding the decided edge, 24-6-7 in all competitions.  The Hounds faced Rochester four times in the Open Cup through the years, with the Western NY side holding a 3-0-1 advantage.

Another slow start dooms Hounds in 2-0 loss to Rochester

The First Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – U.S. Soccer’s annual national championship – kicks off with 14 First Round games across the country between March 21 and 23.

The 14 contests of the First Round feature nine teams that advanced from the fall’s Qualifying Rounds, 10 teams from United Soccer League (USL)’s League Two, eight more from the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and, finally, reigning national amateur champions Bavarian United of Wisconsin.

The full field of non-MLS professional teams — including the Riverhounds SC — enter the competition in the Second Round.  The full list of second round matches can be found here.

US Open Cup 2023 first round is set; Riverhounds will begin play in second round in early April

Rochester New York FC completed its first season in MLS Next Pro with a 10-8-6 overall record, and they qualified for the league playoffs, where they lost in the quarterfinal round.