USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Hosts Unbeaten Richmond Friday

July 12, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


The Rochester Rhinos host the Richmond Kickers in Sahlen's Stadium on Friday, July 12th, 2013 at 7:35PM. The Rhinos are unbeaten in their last seven home matches, while the second place Kickers are the only undefeated team left in USL Pro with a 9 - 0 - 6 record after 15 matches.

Rochester enters the weekend eight points behind eighth place VSI Tampa Bay FC for the final playoff spot in the USL PRO table with eight matches left to play. The 11th place Rhinos have not moved up the table during their unbeaten streak due to five of the seven results being draws. However, Rochester's matches during the streak have ended in dramatic fashion. The Rhinos have scored four game changing goals in the 75th minute or later. Rhinos striker Thomas Kelly McManus scored the game-tying goal off of an assist from Blake Brettschneider in the 88th minute in a 2:2 draw with the LA Blues on May 31st. Danny Earls scored the game-tying goal for Rochester off of a penalty in the 77th minute before Tyler Rosenlund finished an assist from Brettschneider in the 88th minute of a 2:1 victory over Antigua on June 21st. Andrew Hoxie finished a McManus assists in the 84th minute, and then McManus finished a Hoxie assist at the beginning of stoppage time in a 2:2 draw with Charlotte on July 6th. The points were the first of the season for Hoxie, who returned to Rochester on June 14th after spending the off-season playing with Wichita (MISL).

The Rochester Rhinos have been led by a trio of stars during their home unbeaten streak. McManus, a second year striker, has scored four goals and added two assists. Two of his four goals have been game-tying strikes that have saved points at home for the Rhinos. Brettschneider, a first year striker who spent the last two seasons in Major League Soccer, has two goals and three assists over the past seven home matches. Rochester goalkeeper Kristian Nicht, the 2012 USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year, has returned to form after a slow start to the season with a 2 - 0 - 5 record, a 1.00 goals-against average, and two clean sheets during the Rhinos home unbeaten streak.

The second place Richmond Kickers are eleven matches away from becoming the first unbeaten team in USL PRO history. Midfielder Joseph Ngweyna is seventh in the league in goals scored with seven. Forward Brian Ownby is tenth in USL PRO in scoring with four goals and five assists. Midfielder Nate Robinson has three goals and six assists, which is the third best assist total in the league this season. Richmond has only conceded 11 goals in their first 15 matches, and goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra has a 7 - 0 - 6 record, a 0.692 goals-against average, and six shutouts. Friday night's match will be the 21st meeting between the two clubs. Only Montreal (51), Toronto (38), Charleston (28), and Pittsburgh (23) have played the Rhinos more often during the regular season than the Kickers have.

The Rochester Rhinos will host the Richmond Kickers in their next home match on Friday, July 12th at 7:35PM in Sahlen's Stadium. Individual tickets are currently available, and they can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Individual tickets, group tickets and flex packages for the 2013 USL PRO season are also on sale now. About the Rochester Rhinos The Rochester Rhinos, the most successful soccer club in the United States and Canada outside of Major League Soccer, were founded in 1996 and currently play in the USL PRO Division - the top tier of the United Soccer Leagues. The Rhinos have appeared in eight finals and won four championships including the 1999 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and three A-League Championships (1998, 2000, 2001). In 2013 the New England Revolution became the official MLS affiliate of the Rochester Rhinos.

All home matches are played in western New York's premier outdoor sport's facility, Sahlen's Stadium, located in downtown Rochester. For group and season tickets visit our website www.rhinossoccer.com or call the MVP Health Care Box Office in Sahlen's Stadium at (585)454-KICK. Don't forget to follow the club on Twitter (@rochesterrhinos) and on Facebook (RochesterRhinos) to stay up to date on all the latest news.



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