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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester and Pittsburgh Split the Points in 1:1 Draw

September 16, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


PITTSBURGH, PA - The 2015 USL Regular Season Champion Rochester Rhinos and Pittsburgh Riverhounds split the points in a dramatic 1:1 draw in Highmark Stadium on Wednesday, September 16th 2015. Lebo Moloto opened the scoring off of an assist from Miro Cabrilo in the 69th minute for Pittsburgh before the visiting Rhinos equalized through rookie Christian Volesky's strike in the 83rd minute.

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon the USL Eastern Conference playoff race took it's latest turn as eighth place Harrisburg City Islanders traveled north of the border, and defeated FC Montreal 5:0 on the turf field at Saputo Stadium. The victory catapulted the City Islanders past seventh place Richmond and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds into the sixth and final playoff spot in the USL Eastern Conference table. Richmond kicked off in City Stadium on Wednesday night at the same time Pittsburgh kicked off with the Rhinos in Highmark Stadium. The Richmond Kickers were hosting Toronto FC II in their final match of their 2015 USL Regular Season schedule while the Riverhounds were playing their penultimate match of the 2015 season.

Although the Rochester Rhinos had secured the number one seed in the USL Eastern Conference playoffs back on September 5th, the changes Rochester head coach Bob Lilley made to his starting side were primarily a result of injury or suspension. Sean Totsch replaced Pat McMahon at right back after McMahon earned a one match suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Tony Walls rotated into the back four in place of injured Grant Van de Casteele, but the Notre Dame product was in the 18 indicating that he should be healthy for Rochester's first playoff match on October 3rd. Lilley made a tactical change by starting Christian Volesky and Steevan Humberto Fortes dos Santos together up top after featuring a line-up with one striker and five midfielders over the past couple of months.

A tense, playoff-like atmosphere lingered over the proceedings in Pittsburgh's Highmark Stadium during the first half as the home side and it's supporters seemed to graps the stakes for their side as the first 45 minutes unfolded. The first half ended scoreless, but it wasn't the result of a lack of initiative from both sides. The Rhinos held the advantage in shots and corner kicks combining to create nine first half opportunities. Both sides had their best chances of the first half within a minute of each other. In the 33rd minute the Pittsburgh Riverhounds whipped a free kick in from 28 yards out on the angle. The ball ricocheted through the Rhinos penalty area, and fell to the feet of Pittsburgh goal poacher extraordinaire Rob Vincent. Vincent looked to apply the finishing touch for his 19th goal of the season, but rookie goalkeeper Adam Grinwis flew across his goal mouth to make the fingertip save for the visiting Rhinos. After the ensuing corner kick came to nothing, the Rhinos dos Santos conjured something out of nothing at the other end of the pitch before seeing his shot careen off of the Riverhounds post from 30 yards out.

The Riverhounds needed three points from the match, and attacked with intention in the second half.

Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the 69th minute as the tension in Highmark Stadium exploded into jubilation as the Riverhounds playoff hopes suddenly looked like they had the opportunity to become reality. Moloto finished a curling shot from 20 yards out after a feed from Cabrilo four minutes after the later entered as a substitute. The goal was the first that the Rochester Rhinos had conceded in 370 minutes of regular season play, and only the 13 goal Rochester had conceded in the 2015 regular season..

Pittsburgh looked set to close up shop and take their hard earned three points before the Rhinos scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute. Rochester's Greek center back Vasillis Apostolopoulos played a hopeful ball forward against a bunkered Riverhounds defense, and Rhinos substitute striker Colin Rolfe was able to check off of Pittsburgh's back four before heading the ball back to debutante Nate Bourdeau. Bourdeau played Rolfe's layoff through to Volesky, and the rookie forward was in on goal. Voleksy coolly finished past Riverhounds goalkeeper Calle Brown to level the score. The goal was Volesky's eighth of the season.

Pittsburgh's last best chance to take all three points came in the 85th minute when Bourdeau was whistled for a foul just outside the Rhinos penalty area. Vincent was given the indication that he would be the one to take the free kick, and the stage seemed to be set for one of the signature players in USL. Vincent struck his free kick with class, but Grinwis was even better as the cold blooded University of Michigan product made perhaps the save of the season to preserve the draw for the visiting Rhinos.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds playoff push will be resolved on the final night of the 2015 USL Regular Season when they visit Harrisburg City Islanders while the Rochester Rhinos return to Sahlen's Stadium to host New York Red Bulls II in their penultimate match of the 2015 regular season.

The Rochester Rhinos postponed match with Toronto FC II has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 24th 2015 at 7PM where the Rhinos will be formally crowned the 2015 USL Regular Season Champions with a trophy presentation.

The Rhinos next match is in Rochester against New York Red Bulls II on Saturday, September 19th 2015 at 7:05PM in Sahlen's Stadium. Single game tickets to the match are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours.

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

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