USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Tops Harrisburg 2:1

Published on April 30, 2016 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


Rochester, NY - The Rochester Rhinos defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders two to one in Rhinos Stadium on Saturday, April 30th 2016. Kenardo Forbes scored the opening goal in the first half for Rochester, and Ryan James scored the game winning goal in the second half for the Rhinos. Craig Foster scored unassisted in the 86th minute for visiting Harrisburg. The result moved the 2015 USL Champion Rhinos to 3-1-1 to open the season.

Rochester opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the match. Last week's goal scoring hero Christian Volesky turned provider this week when he split the City Islanders back three with a through ball into the middle of the Harrisburg box from 35 yards out. Forbes outran the visitors center backs and coolly slotted his finish past onrushing City Islanders goalkeeper Nick Noble from 15 yards out. The goal was the first of the season for Forbes, and the assist was the first of the season for Volesky.

Rochester opened the scoring in the second half, and doubled their advantage through the rookie James. Forbes started the goal scoring sequence when he broke free down the left flank, and dribbled the ball to the end line. Forbes cut the ball back just before it crossed the end line, and he played the ball back to Tony Walls at the top left corner of the 18 yard box. Walls, starting his first match of the season for the Rhinos, whipped a cross into the Harrisburg penalty area toward the top of the visitor's six yard box. City Islanders goalkeeper Nick Noble was off his goal line quickly, and reached the ball first, but he could only box the ball as far as James. James picked up the loose ball on the right hand side of the penalty area, and he kept his composure to finish past the stranded Noble in the 60th minute. The goal was the first of James professional career.

Harrisburg cut the Rhinos advantage to one in the 86th minute through Foster. City Islanders substitute Paul Wilson took an ambitious shot from 30 yards out that was blocked and deflected by Rochester Rhinos center back Vasilis Apostolopoulos at the top of the box. The ball deflected into the right side of the Rhinos area where Foster was first to the loose ball. Foster took a touch and then finished the ball from an acute angle to throw Harrisburg a life line with five minutes remaining in the match.

The match was contested as a typical rivalry match between Rochester and Harrisburg where both sides combined for 35 fouls and seven cautions in a hotly contested match that finally boiled over with the dismissal of Harrisburg City Islanders midfielder James Thomas in the 87th minute.

The Rhinos capitalized on the man advantage and closed up shop as Rochester did not allow another opportunity in the last three minutes of the match and five minutes of stoppage time.

The Rochester Rhinos ended April with a perfect 2-0-0 record at home, and are now unbeaten in there last three matches. The defending champions ten points from their first five matches of the season propelled them up the table and into third place in the USL Eastern Conference when the final whistle blew, although there are three more matches on Saturday that could impact the standings before the night is over.

The Rochester Rhinos next home match is Friday, May 6th at 7:05PM against the Charleston Battery. Tickets for that match, as well as group sales, flex packs, and season ticket packages are available by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the Rhinos box office at Rhinos Stadium Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM, or by visiting rhinossoccer.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 30, 2016


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