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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Announce End of Year Roster Moves

December 10, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The 2015 USL Champion Rochester Rhinos have exercised ten contractual options for the 2016 season. Forwards Steevan Humberto Fortes dos Santos, Christian Volesky, Asani Samuels, midfielders Tony Walls, Kenardo Forbes, Marcos Ugarte, defenders Grant Van de Casteele, Vassilios Apostolopoulos, Sean Totsch, and goalkeeper Adam Grinwis will form the foundation of the Rhinos 2016 roster as the club looks to defend their 2015 USL Regular Season Championship and 2015 USL Championship. The Rochester Rhinos exercised contractual options on ten of fourteen players for the 2016 season.

"We are excited about the core group we are bringing back, and hope to reach agreements with other players from our 2015 roster who are currently free agents." 2015 USL Coach of the Year Bob Lilley said. "Our hopes are to build on this core and make our team even stronger for 2016."

Walls is the captain of the Rhinos and was named to the 2015 USL All-League First Team after having an outstanding season in midfield where he led the team in minutes played (2,383) while adding four goals and two assists. Walls was joined on the USL All-League First Team by Van de Casteele who had a standout season in 2015 as the Rhinos only conceded 15 goals in the regular season - the best mark of the USL era and tied for the best defensive mark in club history (1998).

The core of the Rochester Rhinos attack will be returning in 2016. Rookie Volesky led the 2015 Rochester Rhinos in scoring with 19 points from eight goals and three assists, while fellow front runner Steevan dos Santos also scored eight goals in the regular season. Asani Samuels only recorded two regular season goals in his rookie campaign, but his brace was the difference in the Rhinos 2:1 victory over LA Galaxy II in added extra time in the 2015 USL Championship. Midfield catalyst Kenardo Forbes will also return in 2016 after leading the team in shots and assists in 2015.

Greek center back Apostolopoulos will re-join Van de Casteele in the Rhinos defense after the veteran professional joined Walls as one of only three Rhinos to log over 2,000 minutes played in the regular season before being ever present in the 2015 playoffs.

Season tickets and flex packages for the Rochester Rhinos 2016 USL season are currently on sale. Tickets can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during regular off-season business hours from Monday to Friday.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from December 10, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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