USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Make Crucial Trip to the Carolinas

August 14, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos visit Charleston Battery on August 15th, 2014 at 7:30PM in Blackbaud Stadium, and then travel to Charlotte to play the Eagles on Saturday, August 16th at 7PM in Queens Sports Complex. Rochester enters the weekend in sixth place with a two point lead over seventh place Charleston, and a seven point lead over Charlotte - who trails eighth place OKC Energy FC by five points for the final spot in the USL PRO table. Both matches can be seen live in their entirety via streaming video on YouTube Live.

Rochester needs points from their last five matches to ensure their participation in the 2014 USL PRO playoffs. The Rhinos have 31 points from an 8-8-7 record in 23 matches. After the Rhinos opened the season with a 5-3-5 run of play, Rochester is 3-5-2 in their last ten matches. The Rhinos have been competitive during the last ten matches with five of the ten results being one goal games and two more were scoreless draws. On the season the Rhinos have had 18 of their 23 matches end in a draw or be decided by one goal. Rochester missed out on the playoffs for the first time in club history in 2013.

"We've got five matches left in the season, and it's important that we get results this late in the year." Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley said. "We have had a lot of close games this season. If we want to make the playoffs, and we do want to make the playoffs, then we need to start to find a way to win these close games that we have been playing"

The Rhinos attack has been limited due to injury over the past month. Leading scorer JC Banks is still 14th in the league with six goals and two assists for 14 points. Banks missed two matches due to injury, and was limited to a role as a substitute after he suffered a concussion in the Rhinos 1:0 loss to Wilmington in Sahlen's Stadium on July 19th. Rochester attacking midfielder Alex Dixon had a promising run of form with three goals and two assists until he suffered a high ankle sprain in the Rhinos 3:0 victory over FC Dallas Reserves on July 11th. Both players are expected to return to Rochester's travel party for the two weekend matches.

The Battery moved to within two points of Rochester after defeating Orange County Blues FC 3:2 on Wednesday night. Charleston has taken 12 of their last 18 points after a 3-0-3 run of form in their last six matches. The Battery's Jamaican striker Dane Kelly had two goals in the victory over Orange County and is now among the league leaders with seven goals for fourteen points this season. Kelly was joined by Jose Cuevas who was involved in all three tallies with a goal and two assists on Wednesday night. Cuevas has two goals and two assists in his seven matches since returning to Battery last month.

The Eagles have 24 points from 23 matches, and are once again in a good position to make a late season playoff run. The Eagles made the playoffs for the first time in 2013 after missing out on the playoffs on the last day in 2011 and 2012. Charlotte has home field advantage for their stretch run with four out of their last five matches at Queens Sports Complex. Veteran forward Jorge Herrera has kept the Eagles in the race with seven goals and three assists for 17 points, good for 11th in the league in scoring. Eagles midfielder Drew Yates has three goals and seven assists - 4th best in USL PRO.

Friday night's match in Charleston can be seen live on the Battery's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCHSBattery/. Saturday night's match in Charlotte can be seen live on the Eagle's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/charlotteeaglessc.

Rochester's next home match will be on Saturday, August 23rd 2014 at 7:05PM against Harrisburg City Islanders. 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.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 14, 2014


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