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USL Rochester Rhinos

Rochester Tops Red Bulls II 3:2

September 19, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos fairy tale season continued to unfold in Sahlen's Stadium on Saturday night, September 19th 2015 as Sean Totsch finished a Jonny Mendoza corner on the final kick of the match to give Rochester a 3:2 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls II. Colin Rolfe opened the scoring for the home side with a first half brace in the opening nine minutes of the match before Red Bulls II drew back to level with second half strikes from Marius Obekop and Stefano Bonomo.

The Rochester Rhinos opened the scoring in the third minute of play. Center midfielder Nate Bourdeau, who was making his first start with the Rochester Rhinos after signing a deal at the roster deadline, squared the ball out to New England Revs loanee Timi Mulgrew on the left flank 35 yards out from the New York Red Bulls II goal. Mulgrew chipped a ball into the middle of the park that found the head of striker Christian Volesky at the top of the "D". Volesky flicked Mulgrew's service on with a header into the path of his strike partner Colin Rolfe. Rolfe settled the ball past the last Red Bulls II defender with his first touch, and finished past New York goalkeeper Rafael Diaz with his second touch from 15 yards out to give the home side a one-nil advantage. The goal was Rolfe's fourth of the season.

The Rhinos doubled their advantage in the ninth minute off of a corner kick. Rochester's Jamaican midfielder Kenardo Forbes took the corner kick from the far right corner in front of Section 120 in Sahlen's Stadium, and played an outswinging cross into the far post. Volesky was first to the ball ten yards out, and he tried to finish with an audacious scorpion kick. Volesky's finishing attempt found the foot of Rolfe six yards out before it found the back of the net, and the second year Rhinos striker buried his finish into the roof of the net to give Rochester a two-nil lead.

The visiting New York Red Bulls II cut the Rhinos advantage in half in the 35th minute. One minute after being denied by the chest of Rhinos Greek center back Vasillis Apostolopoulos Red Bulls II benefited from a lapse in communication from the Rhinos, and midfielder Devon Williams picked up a loose ball in the final third. Williams played a through ball to striker Obekop, and Obekop kept his composure to round onrushing Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller before slotting the ball home into an empty net. It was the 14th goal that the Rhinos had conceded all season, and only the fourth goal that Rochester had conceded in Sahlen's Stadium this season.

Things got more difficult for the Rochester Rhinos in the 59th minute when center midfielder Michael Garzi was issued his second yellow card of the match in the 59th minute, and was subsequently sent off by head referee David Mon. New York Red Bulls II created four shots and took four corner kicks in the second half, but Rhinos keeper Miller made three saves to preserve the advantage for the home side. New York came no closer than they did in the 85th minute when substitute Bolu Akinyode hit a grasscutter from 25 yards out that was saved by Miller.

New York Red Bulls II leveled the score in stoppage time. Obekop received the ball with time and space on the left flank, and he was able to dribble into the penalty area before serving the ball across the top of the six yard box. Red Bulls II substitute Bonomo was first to the ball and stabbed it towards a crowded Rhinos goal line. The assistant referee raised his flag to indicate that the game tying goal had been scored before Shawn McLaws finally knocked the ball over the goal line. Bonomo was credited with the goal, and Obekop the assist. It was only the second time this season that Rochester had conceded more than one goal in a match.

At times during the Rochester Rhinos 2015 season fiction has seemed more believable than the actual outcomes on the pitch, and Saturday night's conclusion may have been the most dramatic yet. Rochester won the match with the last kick as Jonny Mendoza took a corner from the far left corner in front of section 132, and he served it into the near post. Substitute Sean Totsch was there to finish a free header into the upper right corner of the net to give the Rhinos a three-two advantage. With that head referee Mon blew full time, the match was over, and Rochester had claimed all three points. It was Totsch's first goal as a Rhino on only the fourth shot of his professional career.

The victory was the 16th of the season for the Rochester Rhinos - it's highest win total in the USL era and only the seventh time in club history that the team has won 16 or more matches in a season.

Rochester concludes their 2015 USL Regular Season schedule in Sahlen's Stadium on Thursday, September 24th 2015 at 7:05PM in their re-scheduled match with Toronto FC II. 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 playoff tickets 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 September 19, 2015


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