USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Resurgent Defence Hosts Antigua on Sunday

Published on July 27, 2013 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos host Antigua Barracuda FC on Sunday, July 28th 2013 in Sahlen's Stadium. Kickoff is at 4:05PM.

Last weekend the Rochester Rhinos posted two shutouts in their 0:0 draw with the Wilmington Hammerheads in Sahlen's Stadium on Friday, and their scoreless draw with the Montreal Impact Reserves in Saputo Stadium on Sunday. The two match scoreless streak is the end result of an improved defensive performance since captain Troy Roberts, center back Georgios Kyriazis, and right back Bilal Duckett returned from injury to re-join left back Danny Earls. Since Roberts' return the Rhinos have lost only once in their last ten matches, posted a 0.90 goals-against average, and kept four of their seven clean sheets this season. Rochester is unbeaten in their last nine home matches in Sahlen's Stadium.

Roberts is in his fourth season with the Rochester Rhinos. He has only missed six of a possible 99 matches during his Rhinos career, and he has played in every minute of every match for the entire season in both 2010 and 2012. Rochester is 42 - 29 - 22 with a 0.97 goals-against average and 38 shutouts in the 93 matches that Roberts has played. Rochester is 1 - 2 - 3 and they have a 1.83 goals-against average without Roberts on the pitch, . Over the past four seasons the Rhinos have never kept a clean sheet without their captain in the starting line-up.

Roberts' efforts have not gone unnoticed, and he is the most decorated player on the Rhinos roster over the past four years. He has been selected as the club's defensive player of the year every season he has been in Rochester. Roberts has been recognized as an All-League player in each of his first three full seasons in Rochester, and last season he joined Scott Schweitzer as the only other player in club history to be selected as the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Next season Roberts is set to join the Rhinos all-time top ten lists in games played, games started, and minutes played. He is currently 15 games behind Mali Walton (108 GP) for tenth place in games played, ten games behind Rhinos Hall of Fame member Billy Andracki (103 GS) for tenth place in starts, and 928 minutes behind Kirk Wilson (9,098 MIN) in minutes played.

Antigua Barracuda FC enter the match a much improved side since the appointment of head coach Adrian Whitbread. Antigua is still searching for their first three points of the 2013 campaign, however five of their last nine defeats have been by two goals or less. Whitbread played in the English Premier League with both Swindon Town and West Ham United before joining Colin Clarke as an assistant coach with the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2008. The Islanders eliminated Darren Tilley's Rochester Rhinos from the playoffs in both 2008 and 2009. Whitbread was promoted to head coach with Puerto Rico for the 2012 NASL season, and he joined Antigua in June of this year. Whitbread's Antigua Barracuda FC are led by Tamorley Thomas (three goals) and Orlando Mitchum (two goals) who scored the opening goal in Antigua's 1:2 loss to the Rhinos in Sahlen's Stadium on June 21st. Eugene Kirwan has two assists so far this season for Antigua Barracuda FC.

The Rochester Rhinos will host Antigua Barracuda FC in their next home match on Sunday, July 28th at 4:05PM in Sahlen's Stadium. Individual tickets 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. Individual tickets, group tickets and flex packages for the 2013 USL PRO season are also on sale now.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 27, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central