USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Host Charleston Friday Night

Published on August 1, 2014 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos will host Charleston Battery in Sahlen's Stadium on Friday, August 1st 2014 at 7:35PM. The Rhinos enter the match in fifth place in the USL PRO table with 30 points from 21 matches after winning two of their last three matches. Charleston will enter the match in 11th place with 24 points from 20 matches. The match could provide a six point swing as Rochester could pull nine points clear of the Battery with a victory, or fall to within three points of the 2012 USL PRO champions with a defeat.

Last time out the Rochester Rhinos defeated defending USL PRO champions Orlando City 1:0 in Sahlen's Stadium on Sunday, July 27th. It was the first defeat of the season for the Lions, and ended Orlando City's 18 match unbeaten run. Colin Rolfe scored the game winning goal off of an assist from Levi Houapeu in the 31st minute for the home side. The goal was Rolfe's fifth in all competitions including goals against D.C. United and New England Revs in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.The Rhinos defense limited Orlando City to five shots in the match, and rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy made two saves on two shots faced for his eighth clean sheet of the season. The victory was the first in ten tries for Rochester against Orlando City.

"Last Sunday afternoon was definitely a big result for us." Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley said. "We hadn't gotten a result for a couple of games, so the standings were starting to get a little tight. It wasn't our first big result - we've also defeated D.C. United in the (Lamar Hunt) U.S. Open Cup. We've actually been good this season when we've needed a result. Now it's about showing that consistency week-in and week-out even when we don't feel like it's a "must win" situation".

The Rhinos got the result against Orlando City with two important attacking pieces out of the line-up. 2012 Rhinos Most Valuable Player JC Banks left Rochester's 1:0 home loss to Wilmington on July 19th with a concussion after 73 minutes, and was ruled out for last Sunday's match. Alex Dixon has not played since he left the Rhinos 3:0 victory over FC Dallas Reserves in the 70th minute with a high ankle sprain on July 11th. The two attacking catalysts have combined for nine goals and four assists. Both players face fitness tests to determine their availability for the match on Friday night.

After a 4:0 loss to the Richmond Kickers on the road on July 19th, Charleston Battery are now unbeaten in their last three matches. The Battery played to a 1:1 draw with the Kickers in Blackbaud Stadium on Tuesday, July 22nd before defeating visiting Arizona United SC 2:0 on Saturday, July 26th. A 1:0 victory over Impact Montreal FC Reserves on Monday, July 28th gave the Battery seven of their last nine points. Dane Kelly had the brace against Arizona United SC, and now he has four goals on the season for Charleston.

Rochester defeated Charleston 1:0 in Sahlen's Stadium on Sunday, April 27th. Banks scored the only goal in that match off of an assist from Rhinos captain Tyler Rosenlund in the 19th minute for the home side. McCarthy made two saves on two shots faced for the clean sheet.

Rochester visits Blackbaud Stadium for their third and final match of the season with the Battery on August 15th.

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.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 1, 2014


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