USSF D-2 Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Take Winning Streak North Of The Border

August 23, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos will return to action, taking their league-best six game winning streak on the road on Friday, August 28 when they face the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo at 7:30 p.m.

With their 3-1 win over Miami FC on Saturday the Rhinos (48 pts.) improved to 14-5-6 in 2010 and have clinched a playoff berth. Their 48 points leads the Austin Aztex, who have three games in hand, by four points. The Aztex escaped with a 3-2 win over Carolina on Sunday courtesy of a Randi Patterson goal in the 81st minute. Austin will play in Portland to battle the Timbers on Thursday night before taking the field against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday afternoon from Swangard Stadium.

Friday's meeting between Rochester and Montreal will be the fourth and final meeting of the season between the two sides. Rochester leads the season series 2-0-1, winning most recently at Marina Auto Stadium by a 2-1 score on August 14.

Rochester's Andrew Hoxie became the third Rhino to tally two goals in a single match on Saturday night, joining Tino Nuñes (at Min, 4/28) and Isaac Kissi (vs. CPB, 6/12). Hoxie ranks second in the league with five assists and is second on the Rhinos with 11 points.

Montreal will enter Friday's match with a 7-10-7 mark. Their 5-0 win on Saturday against Crystal Palace Baltimore keeps the Impact in the thick of the playoff race. Their 28 points place them in the eighth and final playoff spot as of today. (See playoff standings and format below)

2010 Playoff Standings as of 8/14/10

*- clinched playoff berth

USSF D2 Pro League GP W L T PTS CONF

1 *Rochester Rhinos 25 14 5 6 48 USL

2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 24 9 3 12 39 NASL

3 *Austin Aztex 21 13 3 5 44 USL

4 Portland Timbers 23 9 7 7 34 USL

5 Carolina RailHawks 22 8 7 7 31 NASL

6 Puerto Rico Islanders 22 7 7 8 29 USL

7 NSC Minnesota Stars 25 7 11 7 28 USL

8 Montreal Impact 24 7 10 7 28 NASL

9 Tampa Bay Rowdies 23 6 8 9 27 USL

10 Crystal Palace Baltimore 24 6 12 6 24 NASL

11 AC St. Louis 23 5 11 7 22 NASL

12 Miami FC Blues 24 3 10 11 20 NASL

PLAYOFF FORMAT

Who Qualifies: Top one (1) team in each Conference qualify. The six (6) Teams with the next most points, regardless of Conference, receive the remaining Playoff Game berths.

Playoff Format: All Playoff Games will be conducted in a home-and-home, aggregate-goal series. Quarterfinals will be the week of October 4, 2010 with four (4) teams advancing. Semifinals will be the week of October 11, 2010. The higher seeded team will have the first choice to play home game first or second. The team that scores the most goals in the home-and-home series advances to the next round. If the teams are tied after 180 minutes in the semifinal series and Championship Series, a 30-minute extra time period (divided into two 15-minute periods) will be played, followed by kicks from the penalty mark, if necessary.

Following their match at Montreal the Rhinos will not be in action again until September 11 when they host the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Marina Auto Stadium. Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 23, 2010


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