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USL Rochester Rhinos

On Trial - Part II

March 11, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos defeated Binghamton University 2:0 in their second preseason match of 2014. Midfield trialist Nico Olsak converted a first half penalty kick, and midfield trialist Sam Garzi scored in the second half for Rochester.

Rochester Rhinos trialist Alex Dixon got lose in the Bearcats penalty area in the 15th minute of the match when Binghamton center back Jamie Forbes was judged to have fouled him in the box. Olsak stepped up and scored the spot kick to give the Rhinos a 1:0 lead.

In the 78th minute Olsak was involved in the build-up to the Rhinos second goal. Olsak played a forty yard ball to forward Sam Petrone on the right side of the Binghamton penalty area. Petrone cut the ball back at the endline, and found Garzi making a run into the box out of midfield. Garzi finished the ball into the upper left corner of the Bearcats net to close out the scoring for the Rhinos.

Rochester goalkeeper Brandon Miller made the only save of the match when he dove to his right to save a 15 yard shot from Binghamton forward Alex Varkatzas half way through the second half. The Rhinos shut out both Syracuse University and Binghamton University over the weekend, and have not allowed a goal yet in the preseason.

Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley used his second preseason match of the weekend as an evaluation tool for his trialists. Lilley once again used a different eleven in each half against the Bearcats. The first half featured two players currently signed for the 2014 season - fifth year Rhinos midfielder Tyler Rosenlund and USL PRO veteran center back Kyle Hoffer. The nine first half trialists included: USL PRO veteran Shawn Nicklaw, former University of Louisville star Colin Rolfe, former Houston Dynamo forward Alex Dixon, and Michigan State star center back Kevin Cope.

In the second half Lilley started Miller in goal with new signing Ayao Sossou at left back, second year Rhino Lance Rozeboom in center midfield, and newcomers Sam Petrone and Minh Vu in attacking roles.

Rochester Rhinos rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy missed his second consecutive match with an injured finger. Rhinos 2012 MVP JC Banks played with his indoor soccer team, the Milwaukee Wave, against the Missouri Comets in the first game of the 2014 MISL semifinals on Sunday afternoon. Banks will return to the Rhinos at the conclusion of Milwaukee's indoor soccer season.

The Rochester Rhinos next home preseason match is on Friday, March 14th at 6PM in Sahlen's Stadium against Niagara University. The match is open to the public, and admission is free of charge.

Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales are currently available, and they can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com.

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