The Pittsburgh Riverhounds lost their third-straight match against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Sunday night. Harrisburg was the same team that the Riverhounds, three matches ago, recorded their first shutout against.
The Riverhounds head coach, Dave Brandt, was not pleased with the performance, despite some positive plays from Kevin Kerr and Mauricio Vargas.
“Frustrated, disappointed, upset, all the above,” Brandt said following the loss. “We can start with that. We can get better. We just aren’t there yet.
“The only thing this team can do right now to keep fighting,” Brandt continued. “It’s a group of guys who want that, no one wants to stop fighting. But right now it’s human nature and we just have to keep fighting it. It’s a leadership issue, but the leadership is me, it’s Kevin, it’s Danny, its Mike, it’s the older guys, it’s everybody. Everybody has to step up.”
He also stated that he thought the culture of the team was a “very un-USL culture, a very un-pro soccer culture, it’s where you’re not all buddy-buddy and friends.”
“But it’s about absolute unity and humility,” Brandt said. “It’s not about you. You’re a part of something bigger than yourself. The team, the league, the club. It’s about passion. Sometimes pros struggle with that. I’m asking for these guys to not be too cynical, form a strong brotherhood.”
Seemingly forming a decent partnership is captain Kerr and forward Corey Hertzog. Hertzog found Kerr in the box and Kerr put it past Islanders’ goalkeeper Keasel Broome in the 60’ minute. However, the Islanders were the ones to get their goals on the board first, starting with Dante Leverock’s goal (29’) and Jose Barril’s goal (33’). Barril was the one who assisted Leverock’s goal, and Barril’s goal was unassisted.
The Riverhounds almost had a two-point deficit, but goalkeeper Vargas saved Bobby Warshaw’s penalty kick in the 78’ minute. Vargas, who made his second straight start even after Brandt publically said that he and Hunter Gilstrap were to be on a rotation, made three saves the entire match.
As for misconduct, two Riverhounds players and one Islander player were shown yellow cards. Kerr earned the first yellow card in the 62’ minute and was followed by teammate Conor Branson in the 79’ minute. Cardel Benbow was shown the yellow card for the Islanders in the 80’ minute.
The Riverhounds have another home game against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday, July 18.
A roster note for the Riverhounds includes that the team released defender Karsten Smith this week, who has now signed with FC Edmonton in the NASL. Smith announced the news on his Instagram and Twitter page, and made his debut for FC Edmonton on Sunday against the Ottawa Fury FC. The team also parted ways with James Bissue.
