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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rattlers Fall One Goal Short of 2012 Playoff Birth

August 11, 2012 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rattlers came one goal shy of making the 2012 MLL playoffs after a 15-14 loss in Charlotte on Saturday night*

The Rattlers would have their last regular season game on Saturday, August 11th where they would fall in Charlotte by just one point, with final score of 14-15. Rob Rotanz led the team tonight with four goals and one assist. Jordan MacIntosh and Roy Lang finished with two goals each.

Rochester started off the first quarter with great drive scoring three times in a row with goals by players Rob Rotanz, Jordan MacIntosh and Roy Lang. Charlotte drove back with four goals, but the quarter was ended with a Rattler two-point goal by Kevin Drew with assistance from Steven Boyle. The first quarter would end 5-5.

The Rattlers would be able to throw in two goals in the second quarter, with Rotanz second goal of the game and Roy Lang's first. Charlotte would come back with six goals through the quarter, two being two pointers and would be in the lead, 13-7 going into the second half.

Rochester came back to play the second half with Rob Rotanz reaching his third and forth goal of the game and A Kevin Leveille contributing a goal as well. Charlotte would only manage to put in one goal, leaving the third quarter, Rattlers 11, Charlotte 14.

The third quarter was a great time for the Rattlers to come back into the game against Charlotte but the fourth quarter was when they would need to really step their game up to get back on top and make a push for the 2012 playoffs. Matt Striebel would score in the first five minutes with a two pointer with assistance from Rob Rotanz. Charlotte then followed with another goal. The last goal would be a Rattler's score by Roy Lang, but it would not be enough putting Rochester just one behind at the end of the fourth quarter leaving them at a loss to Charlotte, 14-15.

This would be the conclusion of the regular session for the Rochester Rattlers leaving them at a record of 7-7. They improved from last year's 2-10 record, and they finished the 2012 season one goal short from qualifying for Championship Weekend. With Long Island losing 18-8 in Hamilton, a Rattlers win would have given them the fourth and final playoff spot by virtue of a tie breaker.

Owner and general manager Rob Clark, head coach Tim Soudan, and his coaching staff will look to continue to build this young, talented Rattlers team with an eye toward qualifying for the MLL playoffs in 2013.

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