This continues a series of features highlighting the biggest Riverhounds moments over the past 12 months. Earlier entries on the list are linked at the bottom of the story.
The Riverhounds entered the 2022 season with a strong core of returning players, but perhaps the biggest acquisition of the offseason was the addition of Dane Kelly, the USL Championship’s all-time leading scorer.
Kelly, a former league MVP and Golden Boot winner, came to the Hounds as a free agent with 99 goals to his name, putting him one shy of the century mark. But with a returning attacking group that included Russell Cicerone, Alex Dixon and Albert Dikwa, how Kelly would fit into the group was something of a mystery, even after the Jamaican veteran bagged a couple of preseason goals.
But when the Hounds’ lineup sheet was turned in for the team’s season opener at Memphis on March 12, there was Kelly leading the line.
The whistle blew for the first 45 minutes on a below-freezing Tennessee night, and there was no shortage of drama even before Kelly got involved, as first-year goalkeeper Chase Vosvick turned in an early penalty stop, and Memphis defender Graham Smith was sent off after going in for a reckless tackle after already being booked.
But just as it looked like the game was going to hit the halftime break with no score, there was Kelly with a history-making two touches to finish.
The heads-up run between defenders to get on the end of Dixon’s pass was vintage Kelly, as was the calm finish around the goalkeeper from close range. That goal sent the Hounds on their way to a 3-0 win to open the season, which in turn sparked the team to a club-best 4-0-1 start to the season.
Kelly finished the season having run his USL Championship total to 106 goals — a total that likely will lead the league for years to come, as no player is within 25 of that mark — but it will be his first goal as a member of the Riverhounds that will remain memorable as the milestone marker.
Previous Best of 2022 features
#5 — Cup Clash in Cincy
