USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Top Dayton Dutch Lions

June 21, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos broke a four match winless streak in Sahlen's Stadium with a 2:0 victory over the Dayton Dutch Lions on Friday, June 20th 2014. Levi Houapeu scored the match winning goal off of an assist from Minh Vu in the 54th minute. The home side doubled their advantage from the penalty spot with a goal from JC Banks in the 61st minute. The victory moved Rochester into sole possession of fourth place in the USL PRO table - three points in front of fifth place Sacramento Republic FC who still had a match to play on Friday night.

The Rochester Rhinos opened the scoring in the 54th minute. Rochester center back Kyle Hoffer played attacking midfielder Minh Vu through down the right flank. Vu crossed the ball to striker Levi Houapeu at the top of the six yard box, and Houapeu powered a header over Dutch Lions goalkeeper Matt Williams and into the upper left corner of the net. The goal was Houapeu's second of the season, and the assist was Vu's second of the season.

JC Banks doubled the Rochester Rhinos advantage in the 61st minute. Dayton Dutch Lions center back Matt Wiet made contact with Banks in the Dutch Lions penalty area, and Banks fell to the Sahlen's Stadium turf. Head referee Juan Carlos Rivero did not hesitate to point to the penalty spot. Banks took the spot kick himself, and calmly finished it into the right side of the net after he sent Williams the wrong way. The goal was Banks fifth of the season moving him back into the top ten in USL PRO in points and goals scored.

The Rhinos had the first opportunity of the match in the 20th minute. Minh Vu threw the ball into JC Banks from the left touchline 35 yards out from the Dutch Lions goal. Banks received the ball, spun away from Dayton holding midfielder Shintaro Harada and dribbled into the middle of the pitch before switching the ball out to Rhinos right back Pat McMahon. McMahon dribbled to the top right corner of the Dutch Lions penalty area before putting a shot right at Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams.

Three minutes later the Rhinos had another chance to score. Levi Houapeu controlled the ball at the top of the Dutch Lions box. Houapeu played a ball into the feet of McMahon who was on the top of the six yard box. McMahon laid the ball off for Sam Petrone on the penalty spot with one touch, and then Petrone chipped a ball in the air for Houapeu to run onto with his first touch. Houapeu tried to chip a shot over Williams, but the ball sailed just over the cross bar.

Head referee Juan Carlos Rivero was at the center of a significant talking point in the match involving New England Revs loanee Alec Sundly. Sundly had been booked for dissent by Rivero in the 13th minute. Already playing with a caution, Sundly committed a hard foul on Dayton Dutch Lions winger Eli Garner in the 28th minute. The foul knocked Garner to the turf, but Rivera had a good look at the incident and decided to give Sundly his last warning. Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley took no further chances and substituted Sundly in the 33rd minute.

The Rhinos continued to turn up the pressure on Dayton in the 41st minute. Left back Onua Thomas Obasi played attacking Houapeu through down the left touchline. Houapeu dribbled down the touchline to the endline before he served the ball into the box. Houapeu's driven service found the run of substitute Tyler Rosenlund, who entered the match for Sundly, eight yards out in the middle of the Dutch Lions penalty area. However Rosenlund could not keep his one touch finishing attempt on frame.

The Rhinos and Dayton Dutch Lions entered halftime in a scoreless draw. Rochester did not allow the visitors to have a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. It was the second time this season that the Rhinos did not allow an opponent to get a shot in a half.

Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Luis Soffner had an uncomfortable moment that he needed to deal with in the 52nd minute. Dutch Lions midfielder Sebastian Thuriere took a shot from the top of the Rhinos box that center back Babacar Diallo was able to block and partially deflect. The ball spiraled awkwardly up in the air and came down into Soffner's arms on his goal line.

Petrone had a chance to double the home side's advantage with a well struck shot from the top of the box that went just past the far left post in the 55th minute. The Dayton Dutch Lions had their first shot on goal of the match one minute later. Winger Eli Garner knocked down a ball for attacking midfielder Taylor Bowlin at the top of the box, but Bowlin put his effort over the cross bar.

Dayton had an opportunity to get a goal back in the 64th minute. Dutch Lions substitute Matt Walker sparked a counter attack by driving down the middle of the pitch with the ball at his feet. Walker passed the ball to Garner on his right and Garner played the ball wide to right back Ross Fridman. Fridman crossed the ball into the box from the right flank, and his service found the head of leading scorer Aaron Schoenfled at the top left corner of the six yard box. Schoenfled headed the ball down, but Soffner was able to make the save.

Schoenfled had another look, this time from 35 yards out, in the 73rd minute but his effort did not trouble Soffner.

The Rhinos pressed on and looked for a third goal in the 76th minute. Obasi dribbled down the left touchline to the endline before cutting the ball in toward the middle of the penalty area. Obasi drew the attention of the Dutch Lions defense before dropping the ball to Banks on the penalty spot. Banks tried to place a shot past Williams, but the Dayton goalkeeper dove athletically to his right to block Banks effort.

The visitors had their last chance to draw a goal back in the 85th minute. Walker once again found himself in space running down the middle of the pitch at the Rhinos back four on a counter attack. Walker played the ball to substitute Joe Broekhuizen who was running to Walker's left. Broekhuizen took two touches before striking a ball that skipped under Soffner and just past the far right post from the top of the box.

New England Revs loanee Luis Soffner made two saves on five shots faced for his second clean sheet of the season, and the Rhinos seventh shutout in USL PRO play in 2014.

Friday night's match also marked the return of striker Matt Luzunaris to the Sahlen's Stadium pitch. In the 74th minute Luzunaris replaced Vu. It was Luzunaris first appearance for the Rhinos since breaking the tibia and fibula in his right leg after a collision with Harrisburg City Islanders goalkeeper Nick Noble in the Rhinos 2013 home opener on May 4 of last season.

The Rochester Rhinos next match is Sunday, June 22nd at 8PM (EDT) in Pribil Stadium against OKC Energy FC. The match can be seen live in its entirety via streaming video on YouTube Live.

The Rhinos next home match is Saturday, June 28 th 2014 at 7:05PM against the Charlotte Eagles. Tickets for any match on the Rhinos home schedule will be available by by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales are also currently available.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 21, 2014


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