Sports stats



USL United Soccer League Championship

City Islanders Earn Victory against Rhinos

July 2, 2012 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Goals by Lucky Mkosana and Drew Yates gave the Harrisburg City Islanders a 2-1 victory against the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday night at Sahlen's Stadium. The win gave Harrisburg a regular season-sweep of the Rhinos, taking all three of their meetings this season.

The Rhinos made a bright start, with Tam McManus almost connecting with Danny Earls' cross in the 10th minute and JC Banks firing a shot that was well saved by City Islanders goalkeeper Nick Noble shortly after. But as the half wore on, the City Islanders grew into the game, and early in the second half they took the lead through Mkosana. After Jason Pelletier released Morgan Langley, the midfielder found Mkosana for his second goal in as many games against the Rhinos in the 52nd minute.

Harrisburg had chances to extend their lead, Langley going close in the 69th minute and Mkosana being denied by Kristian Nicht on a free kick, but finally found a second with seven minutes to go as Yates scored his first goal of the season on a counter-attack. While the Rhinos got a glimmer of hope from Banks in the 89th minute, making It 2-1, the City Islanders were able to hold on to claim all three points and move up to fifth place in the USL PRO standings.

The City Islanders remain on the road this weekend as they visit in-state rival the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Chartiers Valley Stadium. The Rhinos will host Antigua Barracuda FC on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. for a Fourth of July contest in their next outing.

FRIDAY

DAYTON 2, ORLANDO 2: The Dayton Dutch Lions rallied twice to earn a point against Orlando City as the two teams played to a draw at Miami Valley South Stadium.

Orlando got on the board quickly, Matt Luzunaris scoring from close range in the fourth minute as his side pressed the Dutch Lions high upfield. Dayton was able to settle, and in the 21st minute it was able to tie the game as Joel DeLass drove home a loose ball from the top of the penalty area.

Eight minutes later, Orlando regained the lead as it was awarded a penalty kick after a handball on a free kick from just outside the penalty area. Anthony Pulis tucked away the opportunity from the spot, but again the Dutch Lions were able to hit back as Akeem Priestley headed home two minutes later to leave the game even at the break.

Dayton had a good chance to take the lead after the break as Eli Garner found a chance to use his speed, only for Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo to make a good save on his shot from the edge of the penalty area. Orlando had the best chance to grab a late victory, but Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams denied Charlie Campbell with an outstanding save from close range to earn his side a point.

The Dutch Lions remain at home on Wednesday night as they host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for a Fourth of July contest at Miami Valley South Stadium.

CHARLESTON 2, ANTIGUA 0: A second-half goal by Jose Cuevas led the Charleston Battery to a 2-0 victory against Antigua Barracuda FC at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. J.C. Mack also added a goal in second-half stoppage time as the Battery moved five points clear of the Rochester Rhinos for second place in the USL PRO standings.

Both teams had chances in the first half, with Antigua going close from a corner from the left that Akeem Thomas headed goalward, only for the effort to be cleared off the line and into the hands of goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra. Charleston's best chance came from a good floated pass that opened up space for Jose Cuevas five minutes before halftime, but his shot went straight at Antigua goalkeeper Keita DeCastro from eight yards.

Antigua almost took the lead a minute before halftime when Randolph Burton picked up possession on the right after a good move and fired a low shot across goal, only for the effort to come back off the left post and be cleared to safety.

Neither side had many chances after the break, but the Battery found the breakthrough with 14 minutes to go as Cuevas seized upon a turnover in the Antigua end and rifled a shot into the back of the net. Antigua went close to an equalizer moments later, only for Lloyd Jeremy's header to flash wide of the post. In stoppage time, Mack added a goal with almost the final kick of the game seal victory for the Battery.

SATURDAY

WILMINGTON 4, LOS ANGELES 2: Corey Hertzog scored twice and Bryce Taylor had a goal and two assists as the Wilmington Hammerheads took victory against the Los Angeles Blues at Legion Stadium in front of a crowd of 5,146. Hertzog's goals gave him six since he began his loan move from the New York Red Bulls a little more than a month ago.

The Hammerheads struck early, scoring twice in the first six minutes. Taylor opened the scoring in the third minute, making a strong run after picking the ball up in midfield before finishing, and then turned provider for Hertzog's first three minutes later.

Los Angeles pulled a goal back in the 25th minute as Bright Dike finished off a chance made by Matt Fondy for his sixth goal since joining the Blues on loan from the Portland Timbers, but the Hammerheads restored their two-goal advantage as Andriy Budnyy scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season seven minutes later.

The Hammerheads carried their 3-1 lead to the break, but the Blues came out strongly to start the second half and were rewarded when Bryan Burke scored in the 59th minute. In the aftermath of the goal, however, the Blues were reduced to 10 men as Maykel Galindo was sent off, and the Hammerheads put the game away with 17 minutes to go as Hertzog scored his second, again from Taylor, to make it 4-2.

The Hammerheads remain at home this weekend as they host the Richmond Kickers on Saturday night at Legion Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Blues complete their three-game road trip against the Kickers on Tuesday night at City Stadium before they return home for a pair of games against Orlando City Friday and Sunday at Fullerton's Titan Stadium.

PITTSBURGH 1, ORLANDO 1: Kevin Molino's stoppage-time goal grabbed Orlando City a draw against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Chartiers Valley Stadium. Molino's goal cancelled out Matt Kassel's late opener as the Riverhounds came close to taking back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

After a quiet first half, the two teams exchanged early chances in the second, with Orlando' Max Griffin denied by a good save by Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap. Just before the hour-mark, the Riverhounds were given a golden opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot, only for Rich Costanzo to have his shot saved by Miguel Gallardo before shooting the rebound over the crossbar.

Gallardo, however, could do little to deny the Riverhounds the opening goal in the 82nd minute as Darren Amoo's flick on of a long throw-in created a chance that Kassel headed in at the far post. The goal spurred the league-leaders into action, and while Gilstrap was able to push an Orlando effort off the post in the dying minutes, he was unable to prevent Molino from shooting home in stoppage time to earn his side a point.

The Riverhounds hit the road for their next contest, heading to face the Dayton Dutch Lions on Wednesday night for a Fourth of July contest at 7:55 p.m. ET. Orlando remains on the road as it visits Los Angeles for a pair of games Friday and Sunday nights at Fullerton's Titan Stadium.

SUNDAY

ANTIGUA 1, CHARLESTON 0: Peter Byers scored the only goal in the opening minute of the second half as Antigua Barracuda FC snapped an eight-game losing streak in USL PRO with victory against the Charleston Battery at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Antigua had a pair of chances to take the lead in the first half, both falling to Randolph Burton, but Battery goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra was equal to the challenge each time. The Battery also had opportunities, with Dino Williams having his shot saved by Keita DeCastro.

The Barracudas went close just before halftime as Akeem Thomas' header went just wide from a long throw-in, but they did find the back of the net to start the second half as Byers connected well with Quinton Griffith's cross from the left to end the side's three-game scoreless streak in USL PRO play. Antigua could have added to its lead as well, with Byers heading wide when it seemed he would double the lead, and Dykstra making good saves to deny Byers and Kerry Skepple.

The Battery were reduced to 10 men with just more than 15 minutes to go as Cody Ellison was sent off for dissent as he left the field after receiving treatment after a collision. Being down a man didn't deter the Battery, though, as they pushed strongly for an equalizer. Their best chance fell to Colin Falvey, who got a free header off a free kick eight yards from goal, only the send his effort over the crossbar. The Barracudas held on, however, pulling them even with Dayton on nine points at the bottom of the USL PRO standings.

Charleston will return home to host the Charlotte Eagles for the opening game of a home-and-home series on Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET. Antigua hits the road, visiting the Rochester Rhinos on Wednesday night at Sahlen's Stadium for a Fourth of July contest at 8 p.m.

Check out the United Soccer League Championship Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 2, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central