Atlanta Faces Rochester in Home Finale Saturday

Published on August 29, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


ATLANTA, GA - The Atlanta Silverbacks will play the final regular season home game this Saturday, August 30th against the Rochester Rhinos at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Kickoff is set for 7:55 PM. Atlanta previously beat the Rhinos 4-3, but fell by a score of 0-2 in a rematch this past week during a four-game road trip.

The Silverbacks (8-10-8) enter the game in sixth place in search of a win after a difficult road swing, where Atlanta lost four consecutive games, bringing the team's road record to 1-8-3. However, the 'Backs are 7-2-5 at home and looking to seal up a playoff spot with many teams in striking distance.

(Photo Caption: Atlanta midfielder Blake Camp looks to right the ship when the Silverbacks take on the Rhinos. Photo by Ellen McRaney).

Meanwhile, the Rhinos (9-8-8) sit in fifth place after defeating the Silverbacks 2-0 at PAETEC Park last Saturday, and the team has won their past two games.

The Rhino offense is led by forwards Mauricio Salles and Matthew Delicâte, who have tallied five and four goals, respectively.

Yet, there are two other major threats that the Atlanta back line will have to contend with; Luke Kreamalmeyer ranks seventh in the league with 16 points, and Johnny Menyongar is right behind him in 10th place with 14 points, both of whom are ahead of Salles and Delicâte in the point standings. Kreamalmeyer is second in the league with eight assists.

Defensively, Rochester keeper Scott Vallow has been a mainstay in goal this year, playing all 25 of the team's games. Vallow has recorded a 1.120 GAA, and is third in the league with eight shutouts.

The Silverbacks are looking to return several players from injury after the road trip took its toll on the team. Midfielder Scott Buete and defender Justin Moore will hopefully be able to play, and Macoumba Kandji will be a game-time decision after he suffered a high ankle sprain in Atlanta's last home game.

The offense has scored just four goals in the past seven games, but Atlanta has scored 20 goals in 14 home games, a good sign for the team. Forwards Jerson Monteiro and Aaron Paye have been carrying much of the load recently.

Silverback defender Matthew Bobo hit a major milestone in Wednesday's game with Vancouver by playing his 10,000th career regular season minute in the USL. Bobo also scored the lone goal for the Silverbacks against the Montreal Impact in the previous game. Bobo joins veteran Atlanta defender David Hayes, who has already eclipsed the mark by logging over 11,000 regular season minutes in the league.

Atlanta will finally get a break before their next game after a grueling August, in which they played 11 league games. In contrast, the Silverbacks played only three league fixtures in the month of July. The team won't play again until they travel to Seattle on September 13th, hopefully giving some injured players time to heal.

For tickets or more information, please call 1-866-GO-BACKS or visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com.

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USL First Division Stories from August 29, 2008


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