USL Rochester Rhinos

The Affiliation - Year Two

Published on January 28, 2014 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


In the MLS/USL PRO loan agreements several players of note emerged from the inaugural class of 2013. Orlando City received Dom Dwyer from Sporting Kansas City, and Dwyer went on to score 15 goals in 13 matches for the Lions. D.C. United loanee Andrew Dykstra posted a 13 - 1 - 8 record with a 0.863 goals-against average and 10 shutouts for Richmond on his way to being named USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year. Philadelphia Union loanee Cristhian Hernandez, a 19 year-old homegrown player, scored four goals and added four assists for Harrisburg City. The Rochester Rhinos received New England Revs left back Tyler Polak - a former United States Men's National Team U17 player and a member of Generation Adidas player.

Heading into the 2014 season, the MLS/USL PRO affiliation will be expanding considerably in year two. Ten MLS teams will be affiliated with ten USL PRO teams this season. All four of the original MLS/USL PRO affiliations will be back this season with one twist. Sporting Kansas City will be affiliated with both Orlando City and Oklahoma City loaning a minimum of two players to each USL PRO team. The split affiliation is in preparation for Orlando City's promotion to MLS in 2015, and it makes geographic sense for both Sporting Kansas City and Oklahoma City. The six additional MLS teams who announced affiliations during the off-season were:

Vancouver Whitecaps - Charleston Battery

Houston Dynamo - Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Portland Timbers - Sacramento Republic FC

San Jose Earthquakes - Sacramento Republic FC

Toronto FC - Wilmington Hammerheads

Columbus Crew - Dayton Dutch Lions

USL PRO newcomers Sacramento Republic FC will be receiving a minimum of two players each from Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes in their double affiliation.

The expanded affiliation will leave nine full-time MLS Reserve teams left to play the USL PRO sides in league matches. Once again the league matches are not exhibitions, and they will count in the standings for both the MLS Reserve league and USL PRO.

The goal of the MLS/USL PRO affiliation is to give players valuable minutes in professional matches to allow them the opportunity to maximize their development. It is not uncommon in leagues around the world for talented young players in their late teens and early twenties to be "sent out on loan" for the season to a lower division club. The MLS/USL PRO affiliation is serving to facilitate that process in the United States. A minimum of 36 Major League Soccer players will have the opportunity to participate in USL PRO matches on a weekly basis in 2014. The result is that it gives young "home grown players" and Generation Adidas players from MLS the opportunity to get professional minutes while still participating in Major League Soccer's ten month calendar.

The expanding relationship between MLS and USL PRO is improving player development opportunities in the American First Division while it is simultaneously improving the level of play in the American Third Division. USL PRO's decision to stream every match on You Tube free of charge this season will allow MLS fans the opportunity to watch their club's future star players develop on a weekly basis. The free live streaming and on-line match archives will also allow MLS technical staffs to monitor their loanees "on-demand". As an ancillary benefit, players in USL PRO will have an opportunity to impress MLS personnel in every match that they play this season.

Rochester Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley is at IMG Academy this week with the New England Revolution for their first full week of pre-season, as the two clubs look to expand the working relationship in their affiliation this year. Rochester opens training camp in Sahlen's Stadium on the weekend of March 1st, 2014. It is anticipated that the New England Revolution and Rochester Rhinos will make a joint announcement regarding loaned players during the month of March.

Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales 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.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from January 28, 2014


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