Rhinos and Cornell Play To a Scoreless Draw

March 15, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release

Rochester, NY - The Rochester Rhinos played to 0:0 draw with the Cornell University Men's soccer team at Sahlen's Stadium this Sunday afternoon. This match came on the heels of a road trip to face Ottawa Fury FC of the NASL. The Rhinos have now shutout two of their opponents in this busy preseason.

Cornell University got us started with the kickoff. Their possession was short lived as the Rhinos defense gobbled up an errant pass. Much of the 1st half was dominated by the Rhinos offense as they were linking passes together very nicely and getting some opportunities. Alex Dixon's work rate was high as he kept getting past the Cornell defense over and over again.

The first opportunity for the Rhinos, and of the game, came in the 22nd minute when Dixon played the ball into Steevan who made a very nice turn, but his shot just barely went over the crossbar. The ball went the other way and after a foul on the Rhinos, a free kick by Cornell was sent into the box and Delmiro got a head on it to clear the danger. The Rhinos offense began to click and they kept a majority of the possession for the rest of the half.

At the 30th minute, Delmiro got loose on the left flank and sent a cross in. Alex Dixon was able to head it over to Colin Rolfe, but his shot was stopped. Three minutes later, Cornell University linked together a couple passes and but Pat McMahon recovered and forced a difficult shot from the top of the 18 yard box that sailed over the net.

Dixon and McMahon spent the rest of the half attacking Cornell down the right flank. Dixon worked his way past the defense a number of times but wasn't able to find anyone on the crosses. McMahon played a chipped through ball to Steevan; Steevan tried his best to chip the goalkeeper but his effort was denied but a recovering defender.

The 2nd half began with the Rhinos on the attack. In the 48th minute, Marcos Ugarte made a nice individual effort to beat his defender but his shot just went wide of the near post. The next 10 minutes of play saw Cornell University linking some passes together, but the Rhinos defense kept the door closed and the score remained knotted at zero.

The rest of the half was controlled almost entirely by the Rhinos. Jonny Mendoza used his speed and skills to beat a couple defenders. As he neared the box, he left it for Tyler Arnone and his shot was solid but it just went over the crossbar. Asani Samuels found some room on the left flank as he beat his defender, but shot was blocked by Cornell's goalkeeper.

In the 78th minute, after some nice link up play from the back by the Rhinos, Mendoza found Kenardo Forbes open in the middle of the field. He made the turn as he received the ball and shoots from about 24 yards out, but it goes over. The Rhinos kept pressure up through the rest of the match. Some nice one-touch passes nearly sent Mendoza through on goal, but he was called offside.

The Rhinos end the game with a majority of the possession and opportunities but the match ends in a 0:0 draw. The next chance to watch the Rhinos play is this coming Friday against Syracuse University at 3pm. The match will be at Sahlen's Stadium, is open to the public, and is free of charge.

Rochester opens their 2015 USL schedule on Saturday, March 28th 2015 at 2PM in Red Bulls Arena against the New York Red Bulls II. The Rhinos open their 20th season in Rochester with a 2:05PM kickoff in Sahlen's Stadium against the same New York Red Bulls II on Sunday, April 26th 2015.

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

Rochester Rhinos vs. Cornell University

United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 15, 2015

• Rhinos and Cornell Play To a Scoreless Draw - Rochester Rhinos
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