Riverhounds Notebook: Bob Lilley doesn’t think his squad or any team in USL Championship has luxury to drop intensity of play

The Riverhounds hit the final week of June now in the midst of a four-match homestand, as this week’s upcoming contest vs Westchester SC in USL Jagermeister Cup group stage will provide an opportunity for Bob Lilley’s club to stay sharp and earn points for the first time in the USL’s tournament.

Without a point in the competition, the Riverhounds’ chances of advancing in the competition are now extremely slim as they have two matches remaining in four-match group stage play.

Both of those matches will come again USL League One clubs, Westchester SC and Portland Hearts of Pine.

A Closer Look at Saturday’s Match vs Westchester

While the Hounds and Westchester are both without a point in the competition, neither side is mathematically eliminated from the competition after each dropped their first two matches, but it would require two wins — and a fair share of favorable results elsewhere — to advance to the Cup’s knockout rounds.

But regardless of their odds to move on, the Hounds will want to maintain their momentum at home after winning their last two league matches at their home ground.

Coming off a 2-1 win in which they blitzed the Tampa Bay Rowdies early with two goals in the first 20 minutes, the Hounds will also try to take the game to a Westchester team that has only four wins on the season, two of which came against lower-league opposition in the U.S. Open Cup.

Westchester, a first-year club, is still getting its footing but has its share of talented players, led by top scorer and former Hounds forward J.C. Obregón (6 goals) and veteran playmaker Conor McGlynn (4 goals). Their team is coming off a 10-day layoff since their last match, but they have a little momentum of their own after claiming a 2-1 road win at Forward Madison behind goals by Obregón and another Championship veteran, Prince Saydee.

Lilley Doesn’t Think His Team or Any Team in USLC Can Afford Luxury of Dropping Intensity 

Following Saturday’s 2-1 victory vs Tampa Bay at Highmark Stadium, the veteran head coach provided lots of great insights, plenty of great quotes, adding some humor while addressing his thoughts on the match itself, but also the Hounds’ current run of form and on the state of USL Championship — particularly how difficult competition is in the Eastern Conference from top to bottom.

It was a lot to absorb and include in some of our post match content, but for many Riverhounds fans, this is worth a listen if you want to watch a big portion of it — in the YouTube clip below.

The Head Coach used an explitive to describe his team’s loss the previous week in Indianapolis, the Hounds got things in order in their house, playing on the front foot enough to walk away with an important three points.

If there was one thing that was gnawing at Lilley after the match, it was how his team still needs to put the hammer down, keep pressure going and not let up.

“Even at the end of game (with a 2-1 lead), we got all the way to the end line and we we’re lazy,” Lilley remarked.

“We have to know who we are,” Lilley stated.

“I think we do. I don’t think every player on every roster is a perfectionist sometimes when it’s going well, you take your foot off the gas, that’s human nature. We have to avoid doing that.”

As always, the veteran coach pointed to a moment where the Hounds could have slammed the door on the match, but failed to do so.
“We don’t all need to run into the end line we don’t all need to argue with the referee and they the game’s pretty much over and they turn the ball in their end line hit a long ball and Danny (Griffin)’s running and pressing him and Jackson (Walti) needs to recover for second ball like they literally whack the ball up the field and earned a free kick. If they tie the game on that free kick to me we didn’t transition well at the most critical moment in the game so to me some of it is, it’s hot, we’re tired, you got subs you, we have to manage these moments. Last year we gave too many points away. This year we we’ve held on to some tight wins here at Highmark, so hopefully that continues.”Then the veteran coach turned sarcastic.

“No one said we should stop at two (goals). We could have set a record, and got three tonight.”

Despite that frustrating moment at the end of the match vs Tampa, overall, Lilley was encouraged by his team’s persistence to chase a third goal in the second half vs Tampa Bay.

“We didn’t sit the whole second half i thought we we created some good chances obviously they’re throwing more and more into their attack,” Lilley added.

“I would always want to get the third goal rather than try and sit in for a whole half against anybody but certainly a team as experienced as Tampa you know they’re bringing someone forward causing problems and now they’re bringing in fresh wing, backs flying up and there’s some big bodies up top that are physical and athletic and you know they really tested our back line today. I thought the guys held up pretty well.”

Two players who will continue to draw the most scrunity unless they’re scoring goals with regularity, Augustine Williams and Bertin Jacquesson, had promising performances against Tampa Bay.

Williams scoring his first goal since the season opener and Jacquesson turning things up a notch in generating chances early in the second half after getting recharged after the break.

“Augi has to get in more dangerous areas and get on the end of more crosses,” Lilley said.

“Just because he scored tonight, I still expect more from him.  I thought he had opportunities.  The space was there. There were a few times, we won the ball, he standing.  He needs to spin out and get into spaces. To me, you have to get better, they’re open. They were pushing (forward).  They weren’t even marking Augi. This is a game where I want to see guys hungry to score more.  Hungry to create more clear-cut chances.”

As for the attacking midfielders below Williams in the last match, notably Jacquesson and Charles Ahl, who hasn’t played a full 90 minutes yet this season but started in place of Danny Griffin who was used as reserve due to illness for much of the week, Lilley noted their stuggles in covering ground — a critical component of his teams to keep pressing —  in the hot conditions in the first half against Tampa.

This affected the entire team.

“We had a good start, but it’s hot. Charles can’t cover the same ground because he hasn’t played 90 minutes every week. Bertin can’t cover the ground, so now, guys are having to do more.  They can’t get there. So, they’re saying, I can’t get there, so lets sit.”

Then, Lilley paused, put his hands up, then put his fingers in a pinching position.

John Krysinsky

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).