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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Rhinos Beat Pittsburgh 1-0 To Remain Undefeated

June 27, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


Rochester, NY - The Rochester Rhinos defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1-0 in a USL Eastern Conference match at Sahlen's Stadium this evening on Rhinos Hall of Fame Night. A 78th minute penalty from Tony Walls was the only goal in the match where both teams were hampered by torrential rain, driving wind and a waterlogged field. With the win, the 2015 Rhinos set a franchise record for longest unbeaten run at the start of a season with 14 straight matches without a loss, bettering the mark set by the 1998 Rhinos, who lost in a shootout to Long Island in their 14th league match of the season after starting with 13 straight wins.

The Rhinos improve to 9-0-5 (32 points) and maintained their top defense record in the USL with a league-low five goals allowed. Rochester remains perfect at home (5-0-0, zero goals allowed) and have a five point lead in the Eastern Conference over second place Charleston, who face the Rhinos at home on July 3 at 7:30 pm in the next match for both teams. The Riverhounds drop to 5-5-4 and suffered their first shutout this season.

This was second match between the Rhinos and Riverhounds in 2015. Back on April 4, Rochester handed Pittsburgh their only loss at Highmark Stadium this season, winning 2-1. The two teams will meet for the third and final time on September 16 in Pittsburgh in the second to last match of the season.

Rhinos coach Bob Lilley made 6 changes from the last USL match against Harrisburg on June 19, including the return of USL leading goalkeeper Brandon Miller between the pipes and leading scorer Christian Volesky up top. Pittsburgh coach Mark Steffens made just one change from the team that started against FC Montreal on June 20, the return of former Rhino Danny Earls to the lineup as captain.

From the start, the weather and field conditions dictated play, as the Rhinos played direct with the wind at their back in the first half trying to take advantage of the speed of Colin Rolfe, who started his first match since May 23rd against Toronto FC. Rolfe connected with Kenardo Forbes and Volesky for two dangerous chances in the 18th and 22nd minutes. Forbes then forced a tip save from Pittsburgh keeper Calle Brown on a low shot from 30 yards in the 26th minute and, on the ensuing corner, Rolfe's close range effort was smothered by Brown.

The Riverhounds top ranked USL offense was held without a shot at goal until the half hour mark, but was more dangerous in the final 15 minutes. The best chance for Pittsburgh in the half came in the 42nd minute when second leading scorer Kevin Kerr got loose on the right and chipped a shot from 25 yards than Miller barely touched around the post. The half ended scoreless with the Rhinos outshooting Pittsburgh 9-2.

Conditions worsened over the break with standing water in spots on the field, which made passing and dribbling extremely difficult. With the wind advantage in the second 45, the Riverhounds ratcheted up the pressure on the Rhinos looking for the all-important first goal. On the hour, USL top scorer Rob Vincent tried an ambitious 50 yard lob that Miller just got back to catch. Then, Mike Green's 30 yard shot was pushed out for a corner by Miller and Earls' subsequent delivery was headed toward the near post by Kerr, but Miller was there again.

Pittsburgh's best chance came in the 75th minute with Kerr again the target, running onto a through ball, getting around Miller and shooting, but the standing water near the goal slowed the ball and the Rhinos cleared.

Just three minutes later came the play that decided the match. Forbes received the ball in the left corner and played back to defender Onua Obasi, who was up on the overlap. Obasi's high cross was nodded down by Walls into the box towards substitute Alex Dixon, who was pushed down in the back by Pittsburgh defender Anthony Arena and referee Jamie Herrera pointed to the penalty spot. Walls stepped up and put the spot kick into the roof of the net to Brown's right for a 1-0 Rhinos lead. It was the first penalty awarded to the Rhinos this season and the second goal of the year for Walls.

The Rhinos league leading defense took over from there, keeping the ball away from the Riverhounds attack for the rest of the contest as Rochester posted their league leading ninth shutout of the season, 1-0. Miller picked up his USL best sixth and one half shutout of the year and lowered his league best goals against average to 0.32.

It was fitting that this year's Rhinos broke the record for an unbeaten start to the season on Hall of Fame night as three key pieces of that 1998 team were inducted in person into the Rhinos Hall of Fame at halftime. Former executive Chris Economides, all time postseason scoring leader Darren Tilley and four time champion defender Mali Walton were honored in a halftime ceremony. Walton and Tilley were inducted into the Hall of Fame for the second time, as they were enshrined in 2013 as members of the Rhinos' 1999 US Open Cup winning team.

Before the Rhinos/Pittsburgh contest, the first ever Rhinos Legends match was held featuring over 30 players and coaches, nine from the Rhinos Hall of Fame and 12 former Section V athletes. The captains of the teams were Hall of Famers Craig Demmin ('12) and Billy Andracki ('13) and the match was won by "Team Andracki" over "Team Demmin" 2-1. Original Rhino Tim Ashe scored in the minute seven for team Andracki and Rhinos all-time leading scorer Doug Miller extended the lead to 2-0 in the 40th minute. Brighton's Mike Domm pulled a goal back for Team Demmin in the 41st minute, but Team Andracki held on for the win.

The jerseys worn by the Legends players, along with selected additional Rhinos Legends jerseys, were auctioned off during Hall of Fame Night with the proceeds benefiting the American Diabetes Association.

The Rhinos next home match is Wednesday, July 8 at Sahlen's Stadium facing FC Montreal at 7:05 pm. Tickets for all Rhinos home matches, including flex packages, and group sales tickets, are also currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours or by visiting rhinossoccer.com.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 27, 2015


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