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.
It’s not a singular moment that makes up the third entry in the Best of 2022, but rather an undefeated summer month that propelled the Hounds back toward the top of the top of the table and provided thrills throughout.
The Hounds entered this past July riding a three-game skid — the longest in the Bob Lilley era — and had given up nine goals during that stretch. But it was almost as if flipping the page on the calendar brought a new beginning for the Hounds, who plowed through the competition with five wins and a draw in six matches during the month.
First up was a 3-0 win on July 1 at the New York Red Bulls II behind a pair of goals by Russell Cicerone. And while the result was somewhat expected against the last-place Baby Bulls, finishing off a clean sheet got things moving in the right direction entering a critical homestand.
A Wednesday matchup with Indy Eleven — always a close match throughout the series’ history — seemed headed for a scoreless draw until Albert Dikwa came off the bench to net a 79th-minute winner in front of Jahmali Waite‘s second straight shutout. But even with the momentum of a two-game win streak, it would’ve been hard to predict the offensive outburst the home crowd was treated to three days later.
Fellow playoff team Miami FC came to Highmark Stadium, and a near-sellout crowd of 4,703 had plenty to cheer about on a day of set-piece domination. Jelani Peters scored twice by heading in a corner kick and blasting home the rebound off a training-ground free kick — marking only his second and third goals with the Hounds. Shane Wiedt closed the Hounds’ scoring with another headed set-piece finish as the defenders shone brightest in a commanding 4-1 win worth watching again.
It’s harsh to call a road draw at one of the better teams in the Western Conference a disappointment, and the Hounds’ 1-1 tie at New Mexico United was a good result on July 16, despite ending the team’s winning streak. More good news rolled in that week, as two valuable new additions joined the Hounds: forward Edward Kizza on loan from the New England Revolution and midfielder Robbie Mertz returning to his hometown team on a transfer from Atlanta United 2.
Both players would make their Hounds debuts off the bench July 23 in a road match at Hartford Athletic, and while the run of play saw the Hounds in command, the team trailed by a goal on a world-class strike in the second half by Conor McGlynn.
Mertz was on the field less than a half-hour before making his impact, as he set up Cicerone for a game-tying goal in the 74th minute. Yet the game still looked like it was headed to a draw until an unlikely hero emerged in stoppage time.
Wiedt’s second goal in three games brought the Hounds home with three points and a world of momentum, and a sellout crowd of 5,073 turned out to close out the month with a July 30 meeting against FC Tulsa. While the match against Tulsa wasn’t a seven-goal thriller like the teams’ previous meeting, the Hounds’ defense posted a third July shutout to make Dikwa’s goal stand up for a 1-0 win.
In total, the 16 points from 18 games moved the Hounds from sixth place to third in the Eastern Conference, and the crowds for the matches at Highmark Stadium helped the team have its best-attended season in 10 years on the South Shore.
Adding all those moments together, the good times of July were clearly some of the Best of 2022.
Previous Best of 2022 features
#5 — Cup Clash in Cincy
#4 — Great Dane hits 100
