Sports stats



USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Defeat Charleston 1-0; Extend Record Unbeaten Streak to 19 Matches

July 26, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


Rochester, NY - The Rochester Rhinos continued their torrid run in the United Soccer League (USL), extending their unbeaten streak to 19 matches with a 1-0 win over the Charleston Battery this afternoon at Sahlen's Stadium. Steevan Dos Santos scored the only goal in the 10th minute off a Tony Walls' cross and the Rhinos top ranked defense stifled the Battery attack the entire match to post their 13th shutout of the season overall. USL leading keeper Brandon Miller earned his personal 10th shutout and lowered his league best goals against average to 0.22. The Rhinos have given up only six goals in 19 USL matches this season and are poised to break the 1998 Rhinos' team record for fewest goals given up in a season at 15.

With the win, the Rhinos are now 12-0-7 (43 points) in the USL (7-0-1 at Sahlen's Stadium) and move eight points ahead of second place Louisville City FC in the USL Eastern Conference. Charleston drops their second straight match to fall to 9-4-7 (34 points) and are now third in the East.

Rhinos coach Bob Lilley made three changes from the team's 0-0 draw at home against Charlotte back on July 18. Having played less than 48 hours earlier against host Toronto FC II on Friday, Charleston coach Mike Anhaeuser made seven changes from the side that lost that match to Toronto 1-0.

Both teams started slowly with hot and humid conditions, with the Rhinos looking to possess the ball and Charleston content to defend. However, the match changed very early on due to a precision offensive strike by Rochester. After stealing a Battery throw in, Onua Obasi shifted play to the right where Alex Dixon, Kenardo Forbes and Walls worked a triangle of passes leading to Walls getting free for a low cross. Dos Santos made a perfect run to the near post, deftly stepped over the ball and back heeled a shot just inside the far post leaving Battery keeper Odisnel Cooper no chance, the Cabo Verdean's sixth goal of the year coming in the 10th minute.

The Battery came right back looking for the equalizer and got off two shots in the box from a long throw from O'Brian Woodbine, but both attempts were blocked by the Rhinos' back line. Charleston's leading scorer Dane Kelly tried to work himself free for shots at Miller, but man of the match Grant Van De Casteele marked the Jamaican closely throughout the half and denied the leading shot taker in the USL any chances. The remainder of the half saw the Rhinos have the possession advantage, but each team managed just one shot apiece after the Dos Santos goal and the teams went to the locker room with the score 1-0.

The Rhinos started the second half with more offensive intensity, with Jonny Mendoza getting two chances in the first 10 minutes, one off a cross from Alex Dixon that went high and the second from a long Forbes ball that Cooper saved well. Dos Santos then had two chances for a second goal, first in the 65th minute with a powerful header that just went wide of the post and five minutes later, Cooper stopped the big striker from 15 yards. Charleston's offense could not find any space to operate throughout the second half due to the Rhinos' smothering defense and had just one shot on target the entire match, that from defender Shawn Ferguson in the 62nd minute. The Battery tried to press for an equalizer in stoppage time, but the Rhinos defense held firm and Rochester took all 3 points with a 1-0 win.

The next Rhinos match is Saturday, August 1st in Charlotte against the Independence at Ramblewood Soccer Stadium at 7 pm. The next Rhinos home match is Sunday, August 9 at 5:05 pm against the Richmond Kickers at Sahlen's Stadium. Tickets for all Rhinos home matches, including flex packages and group sales tickets, are also currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585) 454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours or by visiting rhinossoccer.com.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 26, 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.

OurSports Central