USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Open 19th Season in Orlando Saturday Night

April 4, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY -The Rochester Rhinos open their 19thseason on the road on Saturday, April 5thagainst the defending USL PRO Champion Orlando City Lions at 7:30PM at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The Rhinos have overhauled their roster after missing out on the playoffs for the first time in club history last season. Head Coach Bob Lilley returned to the club in September and has brought 19 new players into Rochester as the Rhinos embark on their quest to return to the playoffs this season. Saturday night's match can be seen live in its entirety on YouTube Live.

Lilley is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the United Soccer Leagues, and he has guided his team to the playoffs 13 times in his previous 13 seasons. He has won over 200 matches in his career in all competitions combined. Lilley has previously won seven division titles, three regular season championships, advanced to the finals twice, and won the 2006 USL Championship. In 2010 he led the Rhinos to the USSF Division II Regular Season Title, and in 2011 he led Rochester to the USL PRO National Division Title in his first two year stint with the club. Lilley was elected to the USL Hall of Fame in 2010.

"I feel it's a very capable group." Lilley said of his new roster. "With ten out of our first 14 games on the road, there will not be any easing into it this season. The schedule demands that we're ready to compete from the first game. It is true that new teams take time to gel, but new teams also provide opportunities for players to make their mark. We went out and found players that we believe can make their mark early in this league. I do feel we'll get stronger as the season goes on, but I certainly have high expectations from the beginning."

Five players will be returning to Rochester from last year's team. Fifth year midfielder Tyler Rosenlund, fourth year midfielder JC Banks, third year goalkeeper Brandon Miller, second year midfielder Lance Rozeboom and second year striker Matt Luzunaris are Lilley's only holdovers from last season.

Rosenlund, the Rhinos 2011 team MVP,is closing in on a number of career milestones with the club.This season Rosenlund will become the 15thplayer in Rhinos history to play five or more seasons with Rochester. Rosenlund needs to play in ten matches, start 11 matches, and log 1,188 minutes played to join the Rhinos all-time top ten list in each statistical category. Rosenlund was one of Lilley's initial signings during the coach's first tenure with the Rhinos in 2010.

Banks had a breakthrough season with the Rhinos in 2012 cut short by an ACL tear that he suffered in August. Banks finished the season with five goals and eight assists - the second highest total in club history. He led USL PRO in assists and was selected First Team All-USL PRO. In addition, Banks was selected as the Rhinos 2012 team MVP. After a 2013 USL PRO season that saw Banks continuing to recover from injury, he re-established himself with the Milwaukee Wave (MISL) during the 2013-14 indoor season.

Lilley has been busy adding new players to the roster for the 2014 season. Among the newcomers are rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy, USL PRO veteran center back Kyle Hoffer, rookie center back Patrick Slogic, rookie attacking midfielder Minh Vu, French veteran Steven Pinau, former Houston Dynamo attacking midfielder Alex Dixon, and Hermann Trophy (NCAA Best Player) Finalist Colin Rolfe.

Last month the Rhinos and New England Revolution announced that they would continue their player development affiliation for the 2014 season. New England has sent goalkeeper Luis Soffner, center midfielder Alec Sundly, and right back Jossimar Sanchez on loan for the season. All three players have featured in the preseason. Soffner has started the last three preseason matches in goal for the Rochester Rhinos.

Orlando City enters Saturday night's match with two points from their first two matches. Orlando City played to a 1:1 draw with the 2012 USL PRO Champion Charleston Battery in Charleston on Saturday, March 22nd, and then played to a 1:1 draw with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at ESPN Wide World of Sports on Saturday, March 29th. Despite the uncharacteristically slow start Orlando City is intent on winning their third USL PRO championship in the last four seasons before they make the jump to Major League Soccer for the 2015 season.

"They are a handful. Orlando City is a very well coached team. They're very good at dictating the pace of the game, and they are very dangerous in the final third." said Lilley. "But, if you're brave enough you can get at them and cause them some problems too."

Orlando City continues to feature a core of players that have led the team during their USL PRO championship run including: goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo, center back Rob Valentino, left back Luke Boden, and midfielder Kevin Molino. Head Coach Adrian Heath has added to his talented nucleus signing center back Brad Rusin, midfielder Yordany Alvarez, and striker Corey Hertzog during the off-season.

Heath and his nucleus have been fixtures on the USL PRO post-season honors list. Valentino is a three-time All-USL PRO First Team selection, and was named the 2011 Defender of the Year. Molino won the 2012 USL PRO MVP Award. Alvarez was the USL PRO Most Valuable Player in 2011, and spent the past two seasons in Major League Soccer with Real Salt Lake. Heath is the only two-time Coach of the Year in USL PRO history. Hertzog scored nine goals and added five assists on his way to being named ALL-USL PRO First Team in his first stint in USL PRO with Wilmington in 2012.

The Rochester Rhinos will host a viewing party for the season opener at the Rochester Tap Room (284 Exchange Boulevard Rochester NY 14608) in Corn Hill Landing on Saturday, April 5thbeginning at approximately 7PM. The match can be seen live in its entirety via streaming video on Orlando City's YouTube Live channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/ OrlandoCitySC

The Rhinos will open their 19thseason in Rochester on Sunday, April 27that 4PM in Sahlen's Stadium against the 2012 USL PRO Champion Charleston Battery.

Individual tickets for matches on the 2014 Rhinos schedule go on sale Monday, April 7that 10AM.

Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales are currently available, and they can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com .



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