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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Play to Draw in Ottawa

March 13, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


GATINEAU, QUEBEC, CANADA - The Rochester Rhinos played to a 1:1 draw with Ottawa Fury FC in the NASL club's indoor training facility on Friday morning. French trialist Laurent Lanteri opened the scoring with a first half goal for the visiting Rhinos before Niagara University product Carl Haworth scored the equalizer for Ottawa with 15 minutes remaining in the match.

Rochester scored nine goals in two matches during the opening weekend of their exhibition season against Haworth's alma mater and the University of Buffalo last weekend. However, Friday's match in Canada would be the Rhinos first opportunity of the season against a professional side.

After two weeks of training the weekend matches in Ottawa and at home against Cornell University would provide an opportunity for a final audition for several players in Rochester's line-up on Friday morning. Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley would have to decide who to offer a professional contract to, and who was surplus to his requirements out of the trialists that he had taken the past two weeks to evaluate. Sean Murdoch started in goal for Rochester; Greek center back Vassilis Apostolopoulos paired with Nikola Paunic at center back; Lanteri alternated flanks with second year Rhinos midfielder Alex Dixon as a wide midfielder, while Michigan University star Tyler Arnone was in center midfield; MLS combine attendee Christian Volesky partnered with Greek front runner Stavros Tsoulakos up top.

The visiting Rhinos opened the scoring in the 20th minute when they were awarded a free kick after a hand ball by Ottawa defender Mason Trafford. Dixon and Tsoulakos lined up over the ball in the middle of the pitch 28 yards out from the Fury goal. Stavros free kick deflected off of the Fury wall, but ended up falling to Lanteri in the penalty area. He slotted home the rebound for his first goal of the exhibition season.

Volseky was involved in the next major talking point of the match five minutes later. The Rhinos forward was chasing down a through ball when he collided with Ottawa goalkeeper Marcel DeBellis who had raced off of his goal line, left his box, and tried to clear the ball with his feet. The referee determined that DeBellis had intentionally denied Volesky a clear-cut scoring chance as the last defender, and he sent DeBellis off with a red card. Ottawa was able to replace DeBellis under the rules of the friendly.

Haworth leveled the score for Ottawa in the 75th minute. After an extended spell of possession by Ottawa, Haworth was able to slip into the space between the Rhinos midfield and back four. Haworth received the ball to his feet, took a touch, and placed his finish into the lower right corner of Rochester's net for the equalizer.

The Rhinos play their fourth exhibition match of the season on Sunday, March 15th in Sahlen's Stadium at 3PM against Cornell University. The match is open to the public and free of charge.

Rochester opens their 2015 USL schedule on Saturday, March 28th 2015 at 2PM in Red Bulls Arena against the New York Red Bulls II. The Rhinos open their 20th season in Rochester with a 2:05PM kickoff in Sahlen's Stadium against the same New York Red Bulls II on Sunday, April 26th 2015.

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



United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 13, 2015


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