USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos 2014 Season Ends in LA

Published on September 15, 2014 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos were eliminated by the LA Galaxy II in a 2014 USL PRO Quarterfinal on Saturday night at StubHub Center. Los Dos earned a comeback victory in the quarterfinals behind goals from forwards Chandler Hoffman and Charlie Rugg as Galaxy II advanced to the semifinals, where they will travel north to face Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. PT.

Galaxy II came back from a goal down in the first half and finished the match with just 10 men to earn the victory over the Rhinos.

Rochester opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when JC Banks fired a shot past Perk to make the score 1-0. Forward Alex Dixon played a ball over top the Galaxy II defense to Banks, who went in on goal with just Perk to beat. Banks fired a shot with his right foot that bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net.

Galaxy II responded just minutes later when they earned a penalty kick in the 28th minute after Jaime Villarreal launched a shot from outside the 18 that bounced off of a Rochester player's hand. Hoffman stepped up to the spot and fired it on goalkeeper John McCarthy, who made a diving save before Hoffman followed up the shot and fired it into the corner of the net off of the rebound.

Los Dos added the second of the night in the 62nd minute as Hoffman combined with Charlie Rugg. Hoffman found space down the left side before he fired in a cross to an oncoming Rugg, who blasted in a shot to an open net to put the hosts up by one from close range.

The Galaxy II were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute when captain Rafael Garcia was sent off after seeing his second yellow card for a challenge on a Rochester player, and Los Dos played down a man for the rest of the match.

Los Dos absorbed pressure from the Rhinos in the closing minutes of the match, but the defense stood firm, with goalkeeper Brian Perk making a diving save in stoppage time to keep the Galaxy II ahead. JC Banks took a free kick from inches outside the penalty area, and fired a shot that was headed for the bottom left corner of the net, but Perk made a diving save on the shot and push it away from goal.

More than 2,400 fans came out to StubHub Center to support Galaxy II in their first-ever USL PRO Playoffs contest.

With the victory, Galaxy II will travel to face Sacramento Republic FC in the USL PRO Playoff Semifinal match next Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. live on www.lagalaxy.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 15, 2014


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