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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Remains Unbeaten in 2015

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


CHARLESTON, SC - The Rochester Rhinos extended their unbeaten streak to 15 matches to open the 2015 USL season after a scoreless draw against the Battery in Charleston on Friday, July 3rd 2015. USL Hall of Fame coach Bob Lilley organized his side, and his team delivered a classic away performance as the first place Rhinos split the points with the second place Battery in Blackbaud Stadium.

Charleston Battery entered the match with 27 points - the second highest total in USL Eastern Conference. The Battery were unbeaten at home during the 2015 USL season with a 5-0-3 record, and were tied for the second highest goal total in the Eastern Conference with 26 goals in 15 matches. The Rhinos entered the match at the top of USL Eastern Conference with 32 points from an unbeaten record of 9-0-5, and had a match in hand over the Battery. Rochester's defense had been historically good for the first half of the 2015 season allowing only five goals in 14 matches.

Rochester head coach Bob Lilley came out in a 1-4-5-1 formation to deal with the hot climate in South Carolina, and the sizzling form of Jamaican striker Dane Kelly who entered the match with six goals and one assist for 13 points. Lilley had defensive midfielder Michael Garzi shadow Kelly for the first half of the match while protecting his center back pairing of Grant Van deCasteele and Julian Ringhof. Jonny Mendoza, Tony Walls, New England Revs loanee Tyler Rudy, and Jamaican Kenardo Forbes rounded out the midfield for the visiting Rhinos, while Steevan Humberto Fortes dos Santos was the Rhinos lone option up top.

Lilley's tactics succeeded in limiting the dangerous Battery's chances in the first half while allowing Rochester to get forward on the counterattack. Zach Prince tried to draw the Rhinos out of their defensive zone early in the match with an audacious attempted chip over the head of Rochester goalkeeper Brandon Miller that drifted wide to the left of its intended target for a goal kick in the fourth minute.

Rochester had their best chance of the first half ten minutes later. After building out of their defensive half captain Tony Walls found Kenardo Forbes with time and space fifteen yards into the Battery half of the pitch. Forbes drove into the heart of the Charleston defense before laying a ball off to his left to Jonny Mendoza. Mendoza struck his shot on target, but just missed finishing at the far post.

The head referee booked two Rhinos players within five minutes of each other to give Lilley some tactical adjustments he would have to consider later in the match. Defensive midfielder Michael Garzi was booked in the 30 th minute, and right back Pat McMahon was booked in the 35th minute. Lilley reassigned Mendoza to shadow Kelly to reduce the risk of a second yellow card for the remainder of the first half.

The home side turned up the pressure late in the first half, and had their best chance of the half in the 43rd minute. A deflected shot fell directly into the path of Kelly at the top of the visiting Rhinos penalty area. Kelly took a quick touch before just missing an attempt to slot his shot into the side panel at the far post.

The visiting Rhinos best chance of the second half came in the 64th minute. Rochester had a quality build-up and were able to serve the ball into Charleston Battery's box from the right flank. Dos Santos and Forbes were both able to get on the end of the cross, but Shawn Ferguson was able to block the initial effort and goalkeeper Kevin Colby was there to cover up the rebound.

Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller was the league's best statistical goalkeeper in the first half of the 2015 season, but has shown signs of elevating his play to a level where he can hold that title without qualification. Charleston had two chances to take all three points in the last 15 minutes of the match, but Miller was up to the challenge. The first chance came off of a set piece in the 74th minute. Justin Portillo played a dangerous looping corner kick into the Rhinos six yard box, but Miller was able to parry the ball past the far post, and the Rochester defenders were able to scramble the rebound away.

Charleston Battery brought Dante Marini into the match for Maikel Chang in the 80th minute, and the substitute had the last chance of the match. Marini broke free on the left flank, and served a ball into the Rhinos penalty area two minutes after he entered the match. Marini's cross found fellow substitute Navion Boyd at the far post, but his shot went just wide.

The point leaves Rochester on a 15 match unbeaten streak to open the 2015 season with 33 points from a 9-0-6 start to the season. Rochester remained five points clear of second place Charleston in USL Eastern Conference with a match in hand, and two points clear of Sacramento Republic FC with the most points in the 24 team USL.

The Rhinos return to Rochester in their next USL match on Wednesday, July 8 th 2015 in Sahlen's Stadium at 7:05PM against FC Montreal. 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 season 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.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 3, 2015


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