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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Battle Rochester to Scoreless Draw

May 30, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Richmond Kickers battled the Rochester Rhinos to a scoreless draw Friday night in their opening game of the weekend's back-to-back road trip. Goalkeeper Joe Willis backstopped the Kickers defensive unit to preserve their third consecutive regular season shutout.

Upon resuming USL PRO action following a marathon U.S. Open Cup Third Round match that ended just before midnight on Wednesday, the Kickers tested the Rochester defense inside the first 15 minutes when midfielder Michael Callahan lined up a free kick and delivered a looping outswinger into the box. Defender William Yomby nodded the ball across the box from the left side, finding Juan Arbelaez who switched a deflected shot back to George Davis IV on the far side but the Kickers' leading scorer could not elude Rhinos goalkeeper John McCarthy who punched his one-time strike from harm's way.

The Rhinos retaliated at the half hour mark when a heavily marked Tyler Rosenlund settled a long ball in the box and laid it off to Alec Sundley on the right flank. He whipped a cross into the box, searching for Minh Vu who collided with Wills as the ball ricocheted off the Kickers goalkeeper and out for a corner.

Searching for an opening goal just before the break, Rhinos defender Onua Obasi won a throw in on the left side and pushed it wide to Vu who got a touch at the top of the 18. His flick on pass found Donnie Smith but his swerving left-footed shot curled just wide of the far post.

Following the restart, the Kickers defended a Rochester corner in the 58th minute. Forward JC Banks chased down the clearance to the right touchline, keeping the ball in play and floated a left footed cross back into the mix. Kickers defender Hugh Roberts leapt to head the ball out but it fell directly to Rosenlund posted at the top of the box who launched the rebound through traffic, forcing Willis to react quickly off his line to deny his lightning strike.

Seven minutes later, second half substitute Tishan Hanley drew a foul near the midline. Callahan blasted a service into the box, finding Roberts in the air but McCarthy was quick to parry his point blank nod. Callahan recovered the loose ball and led Samuel Asante back into the box but defender Tony Walls was stationed at the far post and cleared the follow up shot over the endline.

The Rhinos thought they had broken the ice in the 73rd minute when Banks played Smith around the left edge of the box who sliced a cross through to Sundley inside six yards. The Rhinos midfielder turned and chested the ball into the back of the net, only to be annulled by an offside ruling.

Weathering a series of Rochester corners with less than 10 minutes remaining in the gritty affair, the Kickers nearly stole all three points in the 84th minute when defender Sascha Görres sprung Callahan free to feed a square pass to Davis racing through the midfield. Teaming up with Hanley for a give and go combination, Davis ripped a shot from the left side of the box but his late attempt whistled just past the upright.

Then, on a last-gasp counter attack, Kickers midfielder Christano Francois fed a through pass to Alex Lee deep on the right wing, who whipped the ball into the box only to be cleared out to an onrushing Görres who cracked a whirling shot to the near post that skimmed just wide to settle for the draw.

The Richmond Kickers conclude the three-games-in-four-days road trip in 24 hours when they take on the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday, May 31. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. live from Skyline Sports Complex on YouTube.com/RichmondKickers. The Kickers return to City Stadium on Saturday, June 7 to host the City Islanders and Ronnie Pascale Night at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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