USL-1 Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos To Host MetroStars in US Open Cup Play

Published on July 14, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Raging Rhinos will host a Fourth Round match in the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup tournament on Wednesday, August 3rd against the MetroStars of Major League Soccer at 7:30 p.m. at Frontier Field.

The Rhinos, who were awarded a bye until the third round of Open Cup play, defeated the Virginia Beach Mariners 2-1 on Wednesday night. Midfielder Kirk Wilson scored the game-winning goal on a rebound shot in the 80th minute. Midfielder Rene Rivas tied the game on a penalty kick in the 50th minute.

The MetroStars received a bye until the Fourth Round. In the Open Cup tournament, the MetroStars have reached the finals once (2003) and the semi-finals three times (1997, 1998 and 2000). Last season, the MetroStars fell to the Charleston Battery (USL First Division) 1-0 in the Fourth Round of the tournament.

The Rhinos are 1-3-1 all-time against the MetroStars. The Rhinos and MetroStars played to a 1-1 draw on June 27th at Frontier Field. Rhinos forward Greg Howes scored the Rhinos' only goal of the match.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation's National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. It is the oldest annual team tournament in U.S. sports history and among the oldest soccer tournaments of its type in the world. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt. At stake in the tournament is $180,000 in prize money broken down as follows: $100,000 to the champion, $50,000 to the runner up and $10,000 to the team which advances deepest in the tournament from each of the Division II, Division III and amateur levels.

The Rhinos are 15-8 all-time in the Open Cup. Rochester has appeared in two finals matches, capturing the 1999 Cup with a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. During the Rhinos' inaugural season, Rochester lost 3-0 to D.C. United in the Cup Finals in 1996. Since the inception of Major League Soccer in 1996, the Rhinos are the only non-MLS team to reach the finals. The Rhinos are 9-5 against MLS opponents in the tournament.

Individual tickets are now available for $12.00, $15.00, $16.00, $17.00 and $20.00. To purchase game tickets, stop by the Frontier Field box office or go online to Rhinossoccer.com. Season Ticket holders will use their "Game 18" ticket in their booklet.

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USL First Division Stories from July 14, 2005


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