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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Hosts Eastern Conference Semifinal Saturday

October 2, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The top seeded Rochester Rhinos host fourth seeded New York Red Bulls II in a USL Eastern Conference Semifinal match in Sahlen's Stadium on Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 with kick off slated for 7:05PM.

The Rochester Rhinos have already won the USL Regular Season Championship after concluding one of the most memorable campaigns in club history in their 20th season. The Rhinos opened the season with a club record 19 match unbeaten streak, and went on to lead the USL with 61 points from a 17-1-10 record. Their 61 points were 13 more than second place Louisville City FC, and their 17 wins were three more than four teams who tied for the second highest win total in the USL regular season with 14. Rochester's one regular season loss set a new club record, and tied the USL record for fewest losses in a season matching the 2013 Richmond Kickers and 2014 Orlando City Lions. After having their 19 match unbeaten run snapped by Charlotte Independence on August 1st, the Rhinos went on to go unbeaten in their last eight matches of the regular season. Rochester ended the regular season with the longest current unbeaten streak entering the 2015 playoffs.

The foundation of Rochester's success this season has been in their stifling team defense. The Rhinos had the best defensive mark in the USL regular season with 15 goals conceded in 28 matches. Their defensive record was 14 goals better than Charleston Battery who conceded 29 goals in 28 matches played. Fifteen goals conceded set the USL regular season record, and tied the Rochester Rhinos club record set by the iconic 1998 edition. The Rhinos have been particularly difficult to play against in Rochester where they posted a 12-0-2 record with five goals conceded in 14 regular season matches in Sahlen's Stadium. Rochester goalkeeper Brandon Miller set the USL regular season record with 13 clean sheets, but in a league full of star players the Rhinos individual anonymity is a tribute to the team's collective approach to defending.

"Everyone defends." Rochester Rhinos USL Hall of Fame Coach Bob Lilley said. "The philosophy can be broken down that simply. We've been very difficult to play against this season when all eleven players have been defending to the best of their ability, and that's a foundation that we will be looking to build on during the playoffs."

Offensively the Rochester Rhinos scored forty goals in the 2015 regular season. While the mark may seem to be an arbitrary milestone, it is the highest goal total since the Rhinos last season in the friendly confines of Frontier Field in 2005. Rochester's attacking revival has been led by its forwards: Steevan Humberto Fortes dos Santos (eight goals), rookie Christian Volesky (eight goals), second-year Rhinos forward Colin Rolfe (six goals), and rookie Asani Samuels (2 goals) have combined for 24 goals - the highest number of goals Rhinos forwards have combined for since 2003 when Doug Miller still reigned over Rochester soccer in Frontier Field. As with the team's defensive mark, the Rhinos attack has also been better in Rochester with 24 of their 40 goals coming in Sahlen's Stadium.

The Rochester Rhinos opponent in the 2015 USL Semifinal match in Sahlen's Stadium is New York Red Bulls II. The Rhinos posted a 2-0-1 record against Red Bulls II during the regular season including 2:0 and 3:2 victories in Sahlen's Stadium. New York has a deep pool of talent that they can draw from on their roster, and feature young attacking players Manolo Sanchez and Marius Obekop who have led Red Bulls II into the playoffs. Heralded rookie Leo Stolz anchors a creative midfield, and while New York has conceded 47 goals this season they did shut out Rochester in Red Bull Arena earlier this season.

"Red Bulls (II) are a team that we know well having played them recently." Lilley said. "They are very good at keeping possession of the ball. Their ball speed in possession forces you to have to move back and forth across the field, and we have to be careful to make sure that doesn't open up gaps (in our defensive shape) that they can play through. They scored two goals here in their regular season finale, and then scored four more in the Quarterfinal victory over Pittsburgh, so they are in good form right now. Home field advantage is going to be a huge factor in Saturday night's game."

Rochester enters the post season in the 2015 USL Eastern Conference Semifinals on October 3rd 2015 at 7:05PM in Sahlen's Stadium against New York Red Bulls II.

Rochester Rhinos playoff tickets and group sales tickets 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.



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