Next up in our look at the Hounds’ Atlantic Division opponents for 2021 is a team very familiar to Hounds fans but with very few familiar faces, New York Red Bulls II.
The Baby Bulls actually rank second behind Charleston for the most matches played against the Hounds by an Atlantic Division opponent with 14 meetings since New York joined USL in 2015. The Hounds are 6-7-1 in those matches, but are 5-2-0 in the past three seasons under Bob Lilley.
Despite massive roster turnover, the one unchanged thing is head coach John Wolyniec, who has been in charge of Red Bulls II since its inception. He again will be tasked with the development of the young players provided to him while also fielding a competitive side — something the 2016 USL Cup winners have a history of doing, despite missing the postseason for the first time a year ago with a 5-11-0 record.
The cast of returning players is small, but forward Omar Sowe, who led the team with seven goals in 2020, is one of the three returning starters. Forward Jake LaCava and midfielder Kyle Zajec also are back, while the team added forward Jeremy Rafanello, most recently of Indy Eleven. LaCava scored in their season opener, a 3-2 loss to Hartford Athletic, while Sowe and Rafanello both started.
The youth movement is alive and well in New York, as 15-year-old defender Curtis Ofori became the club’s youngest signing ever to a professional deal. Ofori trained with the team a year ago and was an unused substitute in NY’s season opener, so his debut seems imminent.
After playing last season back at Red Bull Arena due to the pandemic, Red Bulls II has returned this year to to the MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, N.J. as their home field. The Hounds will make their first trip to the Garden State on Friday, May 28, and the teams will take turns playing host, as they meet in Pittsburgh on June 25, in New Jersey on July 23 and to close the season series at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 1.
