The II team's unbeaten streak is no more, but there were still positives to be found in the loss to Charleston.
Perhaps it was the heat: a hot day in July did not offer the easiest conditions for the New York Red Bulls favored frantic pressing game. Perhaps it was the fact NYRB II got pitched out of Red Bull Arena and forced to play at RBNY's training facility because the stadium was required for a referees' workshop. Maybe it was simple one rotation too many: NYRB II kicked off this game with relative newcomers at both full back positions (David Najem took the right back spot; Academy player Kevin O'Toole started out left); regular starters Konrad Plewa, Brandon Allen, Stefano Bonomo, and Speedy Williams were all on the bench at kick-off; Derrick Etienne was away on international duty with Haiti's U-23 squad.