The hounds scored twice for the second consecutive game, but this time they held on for a 2-1 win, before 2,307 at Falconi Field on Saturday on another beautiful evening.
The win helped the hounds improve their chances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, now earing 4 points, although they will be missing head coach Gene Klein and Matt Mehler for their game in Cincinnati, on Saturday.
The hounds coach was ejected for protesting to the official about a hounds goal that was taken back because of offsides, according to an official explaniation. But Western Mass goalkeeper Josh Cole had stopped Stephen Mellor's shot on the line, forcing Cole to protest when Falconi Field erupted into celebration, before an announcement about the no goal brought things back to normal.
However, Dan Hartung set up Brown a minute later to make it official, to give the hounds, in white shirts and black shorts, a 1-0 lead.
That stood up for the halftime break.
The other goal came in the 53rd when captain Nathan Salsi scored his first of the season, from Mellor off a corner kick. the goal was unassisted, since it came on a rebound.
The hounds had other chances, but nothing on target.
Things got tense again, though, when the Pioneers, in Red, broke the shutout on an unassisted goal by Jeff Garrett, in the 85th. After that the Pioneers tried in vain to tie it and only two great saves by hounds cage minder Terry McNelis enabled them to hold on for the win. One of his saves forced the wind out of him for a few seconds.
The hounds now head for Cincinnati for a Saturday game at 7. The Pioneers are 1-2-1 while the hounds are 1-0-1.
