USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Save Another Point at Home

July 13, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos and Richmond Kickers played to a 1:1 draw in Sahlen's Stadium on Friday, July 12th, 2013.

Luke Vercollone opened the scoring in the 65th minute for the visiting Kickers, and Rhinos super sub Andrew Hoxie scored the game tying goal in the 90th minute for Rochester.

Richmond found the first scoring opportunity of the match in the third minute. Kickers forward Jason Yeisley checked into midfield and turned before finding left winger Brian Ownby with a ball over the top of the Rhinos back four. Ownby ran onto the ball at the top left corner of the six but failed to connect on a sitter.

Rochester created their first chance of the match in the 24th minute. Rhinos holding midfielder Lance Rozeboom pressed Richmond midfielder Joseph Ngweyna, and forced a turnover at the top of Rochester's attacking third. Rozeboom found striker Matt Horth with a pass in between Kickers right back Alex Lee and center back William Yomby. Horth took a shot at the top of the Kickers box, but Richmond keeper Ryan Jones made a full extension dive to his right to keep the match scoreless.

One minute later Richmond saw their best chance of the first half bounce off the woodwork. Head referee Steve Montanino judged that Rhinos center back Troy Roberts fouled Yeisley on a long ball. The Kickers took their free kick from about 25 yards out at the top left side of Rochester's box. Rochester cleared the Richmond free kick, but only as far as Mike Callahan on the right flank. Callahan served the ball into the Rhinos box where Yeisley found himself with a free header from eight yards out, but his effort bounced clear off the right post.

Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht made his best save of the first half in the 36th minute. Richmond's Ngweyna started a counter attack for the visitors when he turned in his own half and found Callahan with a pass in the middle of the park. The Rhinos defense stepped and put Callahan under pressure, but he was still able to thread a pass through a seam that put Ownby through on goal down the right side of Rochester's box. Nicht came out and cut down the angle before he dived to the near post to parry Callahan's effort wide.

Rochester had the last chance of the half in the 39th minute. Rochester's Rozeboom had possession of the ball on the right sideline in the attacking half of the pitch. He found center midfielder Tyler Rosenlund in the middle of the park, and Rosenlund was able to turn and find left winger JC Banks surging down the middle of the park. Banks put left back Danny Earls through on the Kickers goal with a no look pass. Earls dribbled into the Richmond box and looked like he had Jones beaten with his shot, but Kickers center back William Yomby was there to deflect the ball wide and around the post.

Rochester and Richmond entered the half tied at nil.

The Richmond Kickers opened the scoring in the 65th minute. Kickers right back Alex Lee served a long ball into the Rhinos penalty area. Nicht came off his goal line to claim the ball, but he was forced to punch the ball away when he encountered a challenge from Yeisley in his box. Nicht's clearance went directly to the feet of the Kickers Luke Vercollone who had the time and space to finish in the middle of the pitch from 25 yards out into an empty net.

The visitors nearly doubled their advantage in the 86th minute. Yeisley won a second ball after Rochester Rhinos center back Troy Roberts won the initial header on a long ball forward. Yeisley dropped the ball to Ownby who had taken up a supporting position to Yeisley's left. Ownby chipped the ball into the path of winger Nate Robinson who was streaking down the right flank, before Robinson dropped the ball to Yeisley at the top of the Rhinos box. Yeisley struck a low ball on target, but Nicht was able to make a kick save to keep the score 0:1.

The Rhinos nearly found an equalizer one minute later. Rhinos right winger Blake Brettschneider pressured Yomby at the top right corner of the Richmond penalty area. Brettschneider won the ball and ran down the right side of the Kickers box to the endline. Brettschneider crossed the ball across the Kickers goal line, but substitute Andrew Hoxie could not get a touch on the ball.

The Rhinos scored the equalizer in the 90th minute. Rochester Rhinos substitute Gabe Latigue was fouled on a 50/50 ball on the left flank about 35 yards out from the Kickers goal line. Latigue took the ensuing direct kick and served the ball into the Richmond six yard box. Jones decided to stay on his goal line, and Hoxie was there to touch it by him from seven yards out to tie the match at one.

The Rhinos had a chance to win the match in stoppage time when Latigue served a free kick from the right flank into the Kickers goal mouth but the visitors were able to scramble the ball away.

Both teams shared a point in the 1:1 draw.

The point leaves the Richmond Kickers undefeated (9 - 0 - 7) with a 16 match unbeaten streak - the longest in league history.

The result now gives the Rochester Rhinos an eight match unbeaten streak in Sahlen's Stadium. Rochester is seven points behind eighth place VSI Tampa Bay FC for the eighth and final playoff spot in the table with seven matches left to play.

The Rochester Rhinos will host the Wilmington Hammerheads in their next home match on Friday, July 19th at 7:35PM 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.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 13, 2013


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