USSF D-2 Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos to Face Puerto Rico in First Round of Playoffs

October 4, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos will enter the 2010 USSF D2 Pro League playoffs as the number one seed after capturing the regular season championship. The Rhinos earned the top seed entering postseason play by virtue of their 2-1 win on Saturday at St. Louis coupled with Austin's loss (2-0) at Montreal.

The Rhinos will open postseason play at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Puerto Rico on Thursday, October 7 when they face the Islanders beginning at 8:00 p.m. The second leg of the two-game aggregate goals series will take place at Rochester's Marina Auto Stadium on Saturday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m.

The Islanders finished the regular campaign with a 9-10-9 record and 36 points. They split the regular season series with Rochester, losing 3-0 to the Rhinos in Rochester on June 26 and defeating them in Puerto Rico in late July by a 3-1 score. They were led by David Foley who tallied eight goals (8+0=16) in 2010 and Nicholas Addlery who also registered 16 points (6+4=16).

Rochester was offensively by Isaac Kissi who finished the season tenth in the league in scoring with eight goals and 2 assists (18 pts). Andrew Hoxie (3+5) and Anthony Hamilton (5+1) finished second on the club in scoring with 11 points.

This will mark the third time in three seasons that the Islanders and Rhinos have met in the playoffs. It is the first time however that the concluding leg of the series will be played in Rochester. After leading the 2008 semifinals 2-1 after the first leg in Rochester the Rhinos struggled in Puerto Rico, losing 5-3 on aggregate. Last season Rochester took a 2-0 lead at home but fell on the road 3-0 in the second leg and 3-2 on aggregate.

The USSF D-2 Pro League playoffs will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 6, with Montreal hosting Austin at 7:30 p.m. ET at Stade Saputo and Minnesota squaring off against Carolina at 8 p.m. ET at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. The following day, Rochester will face Puerto Rico at 8:05 p.m. ET in Bayamon, while Portland and Vancouver renew their rivalry at 10:30 p.m. ET at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, British Columbia.

The playoffs consist of a two-leg, aggregate goals series in the first round, semifinals and finals. If teams are tied on aggregate goals after the conclusion of the second leg, they will play two 15 minute overtime periods. Penalty kicks will follow overtime if the teams have not broken the deadlock.

USSF D-2 Pro League Playoff Schedule First Round - Leg 1

Date Match Time (ET) Venue

Oct. 6 Montreal Impact vs. Austin Aztex 7:30p.m. Stade Saputo; Montreal, Quebec

Oct. 6 NSC Minnesota Stars vs. Carolina RailHawks 7:30 p.m. National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.

Oct. 7 Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Rochester Rhinos 8:05 p.m. Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel; Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Oct. 7 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers 10:30 p.m. Swangard, Stadium; Burnaby, British Columbia

First Round - Leg 2

Date Match Time (ET) Venue

Oct. 9 Rochester Rhinos vs. Puerto Rico Islanders 7:00 p.m. Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.

Oct. 9 Carolina RailHawks vs. NSC Minnesota Stars 7:00 p.m. WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.

Oct. 9 Austin Aztex vs. Montreal Impact 8:30 p.m. House Park; Austin, TexaS

Oct. 10 Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 9:00 p.m. Merlo Field (Univ. of Portland); Portland, Ore.

RHINOS SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER 4 - 9

Mon., Oct 4 - 10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. - training at Marina Auto Stadium

Tue., Oct 5 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - training at Marina Auto Stadium

Wed., Oct 6 - Travel to Puerto Rico Thur., Oct 7 - 8:05 p.m. - First leg of two match aggregate goals series at Puerto Rico at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico -- (Live Streaming: [1]www.Rhinossoccer.tv)

Fri., Oct 8 - Travel to Rochester

Sat., Oct., 9 - 7:00 p.m. - Second leg of two match aggregate goals series vs. Puerto Rico at Marina Auto Stadium-- (Live Streaming: [2]www.Rhinossoccer.tv)

For additional information contact the Rochester Rhinos at 585.454.KICK (5425)



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from October 4, 2010


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