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Riverhounds Notebook: Injuries, road challenges mount as Cup competitions, League schedules intertwine

When they started the week, the Riverhounds SC needed to bounce back quickly after a disappointing loss at Charleston on Saturday which dropped the club’s overall record in USL Championship to a meddling 2w-1d-2L (seven points).

At Charleston, the Hounds underperformed and were outplayed for most of the match against their Old Guard rival.

However, they quickly regrouped and bounced back with an Open Cup, 1-0, victory in Columbus against MLS Next side on Tuesday, the Hounds continued its full month-long road schedule — earning a spot in US Open Cup’s Round of 32 — where they learned on Thursday that they’ll be hosting Major League Soccer’s NYCFC on May 7.

US Open Cup Round of 32 Draw: Riverhounds to host NYCFC in early May

The excitement and boost from the Open Cup result and news should provide the players and coaches with an added hop in their step while they continue to embark on a challenging April and early May schedule that has them traveling to Virginia this Saturday to face Loudoun United FC — who — yes you are reading this correctly — are sitting in first place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference standings.

Look for more to come on that match-up in our Scouting Report and Preview feature, as Loudoun are the highest scoring team in the USL Championship this season.

Right now, Head Coach Bob Lilley’s focused on getting the best and healthiest 11 to 18 men on the field as the Hounds face this unique and unprecedented stretch of play.

“We had to be selective when we pressed with some guys. We would not have been able to make it with our five subs for even 90 minutes if we did not manage this game for some players,” Lilley told TheCup.us reporter , on Tuesday after the win.

“We had a balance of some experienced players today that also played in Charleston. It is a bit of a sacrifice because now we have to wonder how much they will have in their legs for Saturday in Loudon (Virginia), who is in first place.

“The league is very important to us as well. It is difficult how they schedule these weeks. It would be easier if we had a couple of home games but when they are all on the road, it is a challenge.”

With Open Cup win, Lilley moves up in tournament’s modern-era coaching wins table

With the victory, Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley earned his 23rd career US Open Cup win as a coach. He now moves into a tie for fifth place on the Modern Era’s coaching wins table with Adrian Heath.

In the Bob Lilley era, the Hounds are 9-5 in the Open Cup, with losses coming to FC Cincinnati (in 3rd Round in 2018, 3rd Round in 2022, Quarterfinal Round in 2023) and Columbus Crew (in 4th Round in 2019). Wins have come versus Erie, Dayton, Indy Eleven (2019), Maryland Bobcats (2022 & 2023), Rochester (2023),  New England (2023), Coulmbus (2023) and Columbus Crew 2 (2024).

Not only has Lilley won 23 US Open Cup matches in his impressive coaching career, but the Hounds’ gaffer also had success coaching Canadian clubs in National and Regional competitions, the Voyageurs Cup and Cascadia Cup, respectively, winning both trophies with both Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2000s.

Riverhounds injury report: Etou and Larsen join others

For the Hounds, health is the biggest concern. Trending in the right direction are Bertin Jacquesson (hamstring) and Charles Ahl (ankle), both of who have returned to training on a limited basis.

But after Junior Etou left Tuesday’s win at Columbus early and with multiple players having already logged 180 minutes since last Saturday, Lilley has those concerns to weight against the need to get a result on the road.

Those three, along with forward Brigham Larsen (knee), are all listed on the club’s injury report as questionable ahead of the match at Loudoun United FC.

After the match on Tuesday, Lilley shared some concerns about the prospects of Etou’s injury (listed as hamstring) after initial evaluations were not positive.

“It does not look good. I think he is probably going to be out for a while,” Lilley said.

Squad rotation should be pretty heavy for Saturday’s match and as long as he has a full 18 to use — it’s likely that Lilley will likely be using his full allotment of subs at Loudoun.

Schedule Updates: Two League Matches Intertwine with Cup Competitions

After the Hounds complete their three matches in eight days stretch, the schedule shifts with the following three matches in three different competitions.

Over the course of this week through early May, the Hounds will play a league match (at Loudoun United FC), then their first Jägermeister Cup match (April 26 at Detroit City FC), then return home for a league tilt vs North Carolina FC on May 3, before hosting Major League Soccer’s New York City FC on May 7 in the Open Cup’s Round of 32.

The Hounds roster depth is being put to the test during this stretch, but Lilley has been able to spread out minutes and starts among the group.

Including the Open Cup match, Sean Suber, Jackson Walti, Danny Griffin have played every single minute this year, while Augustine Williams, Robbie Mertz, Beto Ydrach and Luke Biasi have also each started every match.

Two players who made their first appearances and starts this year for the Hounds on Tuesday were goalkeeper Jacob Randolph and defender Perrin Barnes.  Max Broughton, though he’s made some appearances off the bench, also made his first start in the Open Cup match.

Randolph, who started four matches in his first season with the Hounds in 2024, earned his first pro victory in the Open Cup match.

Randolph made three crucial saves in the second half to maintain Pittsburgh’s advantage.

The netminder was grateful to earn his first career win with the Riverhounds.

“It’s huge. Last year I played in a few games and got my first career shutout. This is my second one but more importantly it is my first win,” Randolph told TheCup.us . “I take great pride in that. Especially in such a historic competition like the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.”

Though it was his second shutout, it was his first pro win, as the previous clean sheet came in a 0-0 draw last June 22 at North Carolina FC.

 

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John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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