Rockville, MD - On a cool sunny June evening; the Riverhounds (1-3-4) and Monarchs (2-3-5) finish their second meeting of the season the same as their first, scoreless. The match was played in front of a crowd filled with supporters for both Clubs.

The two sides opened the match just as predicted; the Riverhounds were composed and simple on top of the ball while the Monarchs were direct in nature, playing driven balls into the channels.  Neither side produced any close range threats in the first half, as the majority of play was held in the middle third of the field.

The Riverhounds best scoring opportunity in the first half came off of Tommy Gray’s foot. A set piece was awarded to the Hounds in the 38^th minute of play and Gray blasted a low bending ball moving away from the Monarchs goal keeper Brian Levey. The shot required Levey to dive to his left to prevent the ball from reaching the back of the net.

The second half was filled with the same battle of possession in the middle third of the field. The play began to open up in the 65^th minute as the Riverhounds midfield started winning the one on one tackles and threatening down the flanks. The remaining twenty-five minutes of the match saw the Riverhounds bombard the Monarchs penalty area with multiple scoring opportunities.

The first dangerous opportunity for the Riverhounds was a combination from forwards Chad Severs and Alex Weekes. Weekes played Severs a slotted ball through the Monarchs defense but Severs’ left footed touch slid just wide of the back post.

The Monarchs would concede a corner in the 75^th minute to the Hounds. Gray’s cross was headed back across the goal mouth by Nate Salsi to an on running Weekes. The bouncing ball was difficult for Weekes to control as he softly redirected Salsi’s header right at Levey.

Two minutes later, Gray slid a ball back to the top of the eighteen for Shintaro Harada. The on rushing Harada took a preparation touch and fired a shot on frame, but Levey was in position to pluck the ball out of the air with ease.

The Riverhounds only worry was the counter attack. Twice the Monarchs would counter, but Riverhounds goal keeper Hunter Gilstrap was in position to thwart the opportunities. The first was a diving save from Gilstrap and the second was an easy pick up at the near post.

In the 89^th minute the Riverhounds were awarded a set piece deep in the right corner of the pitch. Gray drove a brilliant cross to the near post to connect with a diving Adam Gazda. The diving header attempt from Gazda was pushed upward by Levey and deflected off of the crossbar and out for a corner. The resulting corner was driven by Gray into the goal mouth and came bouncing out of the traffic to a wide open Weekes. The bouncing ball was in an awkward position for Weekes as he tried to pass it into the back of the net, but Levey was in position to collect the shot.

The Riverhounds return to action this Friday as they round up their 3-game road stretch against the Harrisburg City Islanders (1-5-3). Kick-Off for the match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Skyline Sports Complex on City Island.