USL-1 Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos add two young bucks and a veteran

Published on August 2, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


(Rochester, NY)...Rochester Raging Rhinos Vice President and General Manager Chris Economides announced that the team has signed forward Mychal Turpin, midfielder Kevin Taylor and goalkeeper Billy Andracki to player contracts.

Turpin, the 6-0, 166-pound forward from Pontiac, Mich., collected 10 points (4+2) in nine games with the Michigan Bucks of the PDL this season. Turpin played four seasons at the University of Michigan, where he left the Wolverines as the school's all-time leader in points (85) and goals (33). In 2004, Turpin led the Wolverines with 17 points on six goals and five assists (6+5). For his efforts, he earned a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection and was also named to the All-Great Lakes region first team.

Taylor, the 6-4, 185-pound native of Miami, Florida, also collected 10 points (4+2), but in 15 games with the Michigan Bucks of the PDL this season. Taylor was selected as the 25th overall pick by the Colorado Rapids in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Taylor ended his Michigan career as the all-time leading scorer among defenders with 31 points (12+7) in 70 career games. As a senior in 2003, Taylor netted a career-high six goals, each of which came on penalty kicks. Taylor was a 2003 All-Big Ten Conference first-team and NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region second-team selection.

The Rhinos also signed current Goalkeeper Coach Billy Andracki to a player contract. Andracki will provide an option for the goalkeeper position for the club in the event of injuries. Andracki, the 36-year-old native of Rochester, NY, was named the team's Goalkeeper Coach in November 2004. Andracki is no stranger to the field for the Rhinos organization. Andracki appeared in 105 games in goal for the Rhinos from 1996 to 2003. Andracki holds most of the franchise's goaltending records, including the all-time leader in saves (446), games played (105), minutes played (9,533) and wins (55). Andracki is also among the club's all-time leaders in games played (ninth) and started (seventh).

"Billy will be a safety net as an active backup goalkeeper if anything happens to Scott (Vallow) or Dusty (Hudock) following the roster freeze," Calloway added. "Billy is in superior shape and could step between the posts and be successful if we needed him to."

The Rhinos will continue their busy week with two games in four days. The Rhinos will host the MetroStars on Wednesday, August 3rd in a Fourth Round U.S. Open Cup match at 7:35 p.m. The first 7,000 fans will receive a Rhinos folder, courtesy of Rochester 100. On Saturday night, the Rhinos will return to USL First Division play to battle the Atlanta Silverbacks at Frontier Field at 7:35 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on Fickle 93.3 FM and webcast at www.rhinossoccer.com.

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USL First Division Stories from August 2, 2005


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