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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Enter Final Week in Thick of Playoff Hunt

September 2, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos took a significant step towards qualifying for the 2014 USL PRO playoff tournament over the weekend in Harrisburg. Rochester entered their match with the City Islanders in ninth place in the table. However, after the Rhinos biggest win of the 2014 season on Saturday night Rochester is currently in sixth place in the standings, and is poised to return to the playoffs after a one year absence.

The Rhinos defeated host Harrisburg City Islanders 4:1 on Saturday, August 31st 2014 at Skyline Sports Complex. JC Banks opened the scoring for the visitors in the first minute when his shot deflected off of an Islanders defender and past Harrisburg goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre. The goal was officially tallied as an own goal. City drew level in the 23rd minute when Morgan Langley finished an assist from Yann Ekra. New England Revs loanee Alec Sundly scored what would ultimately prove to be the game winning goal off of an assist from Rochester's Tony Walls in the 48th minute. Banks doubled the visitors advantage with a goal in the 66th minute, and Rhinos center back Babacar Diallo put the result out of reach with Rochester's season high fourth goal of the match in the 86th minute. Banks tally was his team leading ninth goal of the season. He is currently eighth in USL PRO in goals scored and tenth in points with 20.

Six points separate five teams from fifth to ninth place in the USL PRO table with one week left to play. Rochester trails Charleston Battery by three points for the fifth spot in the table, but the Battery hold the tie breaker between the two sides so the Rhinos can finish no better than sixth. Harrisburg City Islanders and Wilmington Hammerheads both trail the Rhinos by one point in the standings, and are currently in seventh and eighth place respectively. Three of the four teams will qualify for playoffs. The Rochester Rhinos are seeking to return to the playoffs after a one year hiatus in 2013.

The remaining fixture list sees the five teams with one to three matches remaining. Charleston will host Harrisburg City Islanders in their regular season finale on Friday, September 5th. Harrisburg will play their regular season finale the next night at Charlotte Eagles. Wilmington Hammerheads have three matches left to play in the final week: versus top of the table Orlando City on Wednesday, September 3rd, at bottom of the table Dayton Dutch Lions on Friday, September 5th, and at Rochester on Sunday, September 7th. The Rhinos - Wilmington match is the final match on the USL PRO regular season fixture list, so both Wilmington and Rochester will know the result they need to qualify for the playoffs when the regular season finale kicks off. Ninth place Pittsburgh hosts Arizona United SC at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, September 6th.

The sixth place Rhinos play their last match of the 2014 regular season on Sunday, September 7th 2014 at 4:05PM against Wilmington Hammerheads in Sahlen's Stadium. Rochester will train at Sahlen's Stadium on Wednesday, September 3rd, Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th at 10AM. Tickets for any match on the Rhinos home schedule will be available by by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales are also currently available.

Rochester Rhinos season ticket packages are currently on sale for the 2015 season. Highlights of the 2015 season ticket package include free tickets to preliminary rounds of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and anticipated 14 game USL PRO regular season ticket package, and admission to the Rochester Raging Rhinos 20 th Anniversary Legends Game. If full payment is received by November 1 st patrons will receive a free Rhinos "white jersey" with the purchase of two club or premium season tickets. Orders can be processed beginning on September 3 rd at 9AM through the following link https://www.formstack.com/forms/?1574997-RdwYjiOEub

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