The return from the most recent halt to play came just in time for the 2002/03 and 2004 RDA Boys sides, as they got to leave behind the cold weather of Pittsburgh to take part in the ECNL’s first big showcase of the new year.
Those two sides competed last weekend at ECNL Florida, based in the central Florida city of Sanford, which pit each team against a trio of challenging opponents from the Sunshine State and the rest of the Southeast.
For the 02/03 Boys it was a nearly perfect weekend, starting with a 3-1 victory Friday against the Florida Kraze. The Kraze was content to sit back in the match, forcing the Hounds to work to break them down.
After a goalless first half, Drew Kemper’s header from a corner kick put the RDA on the board, and Lucas Hammerle headed in during the run of play for a 2-0 lead. The Kraze pulled a goal back, but a third headed goal, this one from Phil Iozzi, sealed the win.
Saturday brought a second win for the 02/03 team, 4-0 over FC Alliance (Tenn.). Again, the first half was scoreless, but goals by Sam Farner and Will Sangpachatanaruk got things rolling for the Hounds.
The team kept up the pressure and earned two penalty kicks later in the half, and Gabe Norris and Hammerle converted to make up the final tally. Anthony Shin and Matt Lucas led the defensive effort that secured the clean sheet.
The team finished the weekend unbeaten after a 1-1 draw with Florida Premier FC. Again, first-half scoring was hard to come by, but Farner was able to convert one of many team chances for a 1-0 lead. The Floridians pulled level from a corner kick, and a second goal wasn’t in the cards for the Hounds, who finished 2-0-1.
The 04 Boys ran into some tough matchups, beginning with a 1-1 draw against fellow USL Academy side Charlotte Independence. After a slow start and a long-range strike by the Independence, Bubby Towns finished a Caden Carpenter cross to level the score, and center backs Mason Day and Sev Dengel solidified the back line to ensure the result.
The next day saw the side beaten by Miramar United (Fla.), 5-0, but goalkeeper Kameron Rock stood tall despite the scoreline, stopping a penalty kick and posting double-digit saves.
The weekend concluded with a second 1-1 draw, this time against Florida Elite. The Hounds again trailed in the match, but Carpenter netted the equalizer to bring his team’s mark to 0-1-2 for the event.
Follow along with the RDA as its teams compete throughout the year by going to the Live Results page on www.riverhounds.com, which can be found HERE.
