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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Travel to Pittsburgh Saturday Night

April 3, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos are visiting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in Highmark Stadium on Saturday, April 4th with kickoff scheduled for 7PM. The Rhinos and Riverhounds will both be playing their second match of the young 2015 USL season. Rochester earned a point on the road after playing to a draw with New York Red Bull II on Saturday, March 28th, while Pittsburgh took all three points from Harrisburg City Islanders in Highmark Stadium in the first round of the Keystone Derby.

The Rochester Rhinos played to a scoreless draw with New York Red Bull II at Red Bull Arena on the afternoon of Saturday, March 28th. Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley debuted his restructured back four in the season opener with rookie Sean Totsch starting at left back, while former Colorado Rapids defender Grant Van de Casteele and Greek import Vasileios Apostolopoulos made their debuts at center back. Second year Rhinos right back Pat McMahon returned to the starting line-up after making 25 appearances and logging over 2,000 minutes for the Rhinos last season. Fourth year Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller earned the start in goal where he replaced John McCarthy - the 2014 USL Rookie of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year - who was transferred to Philadelphia Union during the off-season. Lilley's 2014 Rhinos had the second best defensive record in USL last season, and this year's group picked up where last year's squad left off. Rochester limited Red Bull II to five shots on goal in the match, and Miller made three saves to keep the first clean sheet of the season.

While the game ended tied at nil, the visiting Rhinos showed early promise for the season in the attack. Rochester took seven shots to Red Bull II's two in the first half, and earned six corner kicks in the first 45 minutes of the match. Rochester looked particularly dangerous in the early going as Rhinos rookie Christian Volesky, the 2015 Major League Soccer Combine Most Valuable Player, got behind the Red Bull II back four twice, only to be denied by Red Bull II goalkeeper Santiago Castillo. Van de Casteele showed his value as an aerial target on set pieces, and he was unlucky to have a header off of a corner kick cleared off of the line. Returning Rhinos outside midfielder Alex Dixon and Jonny Mendoza combined for three shots on goal in the first half.

"It was good to get to play the first match of the season." Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley said. "We had some new guys on our roster, and in our starting line-up, who had the opportunity to make their debuts. We played well in stretches - we looked good in stretches - which is important the first time out. Now we need to try to get more consistent over all 90 minutes."

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds defeated Harrisburg City Islanders 5:2 at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, March 28th. Riverhounds front runner Kevin Kerr led the scoring for the home side with a hat trick, while Rob Vincent scored a brace and added an assist. Pittsburgh took 14 shots to visiting Harrisburg's six, and led from the fifth minute. After missing the USL playoffs last year, first year Riverhounds head coach Mark Steffens' club declared their intentions to return to the post season with the biggest win of the weekend.

"After the result they put up against Harrisburg on Saturday night it looks like Pittsburgh could provide us with a big test this week. Pittsburgh came out and put Harrisburg under a lot of pressure throughout the match. That pressure resulted in some quality chances that they were able to finish. It looks like Mark (Steffens) is using the dimensions of the field at Highmark to his advantage, and it is going to make them tough to deal with." Lilley said.

The Rochester Rhinos match with Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, April 4th at 7PM can be seen line in its entirety on the Riverhounds YouTube channel.

The Rochester Rhinos will be opening at home with a 2:05PM kickoff in Sahlen's Stadium against the same New York Red Bulls II on Sunday, April 26th 2015.

Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages, and group sales tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425) or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium.

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