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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Pick up Point at NYRBII

March 28, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


Rochester, NY - The Rochester Rhinos opened the 2015 campaign on the road against the New York Red Bulls II today, Saturday, March 28th at Red Bull Arena. The two teams played to a scoreless draw but it was definitely an entertaining match to begin the 2015 season as the Rhinos steal a point on the road at Red Bull Arena.

The Rhinos and Bob Lilley finalized the roster just this past week and Lilley started seven of the returning players. Starting for the Bob Lilley and the Rhinos were: GK - Brandon Miller; D - Vassilios Apostolopoulos, Sean Totsch, Pat McMahon, Grant Van De Casteele; M- Alex Dixon, Jonny Mendoza, Mike Garzi, Walls; F- Christian Volesky, Colin Rolfe. Substitutes for the Rhinos were: GK- Grinwis; D- Julian Ringhof; M- Marcos Ugarte, Kendardo Forbes, Christian Silva; F- Steevan "Duba" Dos Santos, Asani Samuels.

It was a tale of two halves with the Rhinos coming out storming to start the match and controlling a majority of the first 45 minutes. The opening chance of the match came on a corner, whipped in by Jonny Mendoza, as Tony Walls nearly deflected it into the bottom corner but it was cleared off the line by a Red Bulls II defender. Minutes later, rookie Christian Volesky did well to steal the ball and use his speed to get past the NYRBII's defense, but his shot was stopped by NYRBII's keeper Santiago Castano. Around the 17 minute mark, Jonny Mendoza was brought down just outside the box and we were awarded a free kick. Walls stepped up behind the ball and curled the shot around the wall but it went just wide of the near post.

Alex Dixon used his pace on the left flank multiple times to get past the NYRBII's defense, but his crosses were dealt with and cleared by the backside defenders. The Red Bulls II defense kept giving up corners throughout the 1st half, with Mendoza serving in some beautiful cross, but Castano continued to make huge save after huge save as the Rhinos continued to knock on the door.

The big moment of the 1st half came when the New York Red Bulls II were awarded a penalty kick after Mike Garzi won the ball from Victor Manosalvas. Stepping to the stripe was Leo Stolz, the 18th pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He fired the shot to the left side and Brandon Miller made the correct read to deny the scoring chance!

The rest of the half was played, for the most part, in the middle of the pitch as both teams were not giving up an inch. Rolfe was given a yellow card in the closing minutes of the first half for a hard tackle near the left flank.

The NYRBII's controlled much of the 2nd half but the Brandon Miller and the Rhinos defense did well to fend off the attacks. Around the 52nd minute, the Red Bulls II had a corner, but Tony Walls came up huge stopping back-to-back shots. Marius Obekop shined for the NYRBII's during the 2nd but defender Pat McMahon did extremely well at quelling his attacks down the right flank again and again.

In the 80th minute, Julian Ringhof was called for a foul, and given a yellow card, near the left sideline. The free kick was whipped in by the Red Bulls II and Ringhof did well to head it away. But, the Red Bulls II weren't done yet as they sent in a second effort towards goal and Brandon Miller did well to deny the shot.

Following a corner from the NYRBII's, the Rhinos tried to counter in the closing minutes of the half with Marcos Ugarte leading the charge down the field. He played a cheeky ball through to Asani Samuels but Samuels was called offside.

Substitutions made in the 2nd half: Ringhof on, Totsch off; Duba and Samuels on, Rolfe and Mendoza off; Forbes on, Volesky off.

The Rochester Rhinos gain a point on the road as the match with the New York Red Bulls II ended 0:0 in the opening match of the 2015 season for each team. The Rhinos play next on Saturday, April 4th, at the Pittsburgh Riverhounds with kickoff scheduled for 7:00pm. The Rhinos home opener is scheduled for Sunday, April 26th, and it will be a rematch of today's game with the New York Red Bulls II! Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05pm on that Sunday.

Rochester Rhinos 2015 Rhinos season tickets, flex packs and group tickets are available by calling (585) 454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or online at rhinossoccer.com. Full season ticket packages start at $99.00 and the Rhinos Family Pass is $299.00 for a family of four!



United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 28, 2015


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