USL Week 13: Rhinos, Energy FC Continue Strong Form

Published on June 15, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

TAMPA, Fla. - As the 2015 USL Regular Season neared the midway point, two sides continued remarkable runs of form to highlight Week 13's action. The top of the Eastern Conference continued to be held by the Rochester Rhinos, who extended their undefeated start to the season to 12 games, while a new side claimed first place in the West as OKC Energy FC maintained its upper hand against in-state rival Tulsa.

FEATURED GAMES

OKC Energy FC 2, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 0

Energy FC moved into the top spot in the Western Conference as goals by Danni König and Gareth Evans earned its seventh consecutive victory in all competitions in the Oklahoma Derby at Taft Stadium. In front of an energetic crowd, König opened the scoring in the 27th minute when he collected a rebound in the penalty area and fired home his eighth goal of the season. Energy FC doubled its lead from a corner kick early in the second half when Evans scored his first goal for the club with a powerful header from 10 yards out. Evan Newton recorded four saves to earn his fourth consecutive shutout.

Rochester Rhinos 2, Louisville City FC 0

The Rhinos moved within two games of equaling the best start in the club's 20-year history as it moved four points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference with victory at Sahlen's Stadium. The Rhinos took the lead two minutes before the break as a cross was half-cleared to the top of the penalty area, where Kenardo Forbes was in position to lash home a volley. Steevan Dos Santos was a threat throughout the contest, and earned his fourth goal in the past five games midway through the second half to put the game away.

Charlotte Independence 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1

The Independence rallied from a halftime deficit to take victory against the Riverhounds at Winthrop University's Eagle Field. After a first half that saw both side create chances, the Riverhounds struck first in stoppage time as a clever flick by Fejiro Okiomah set up Lebo Moloto for a right-footed volley into the left corner of the net. Charlotte hit back early in the second half, as Carlos Alvarez capitalized on a defensive error to score his first goal since arriving on loan from the Colorado Rapids. The Independence then earned a penalty kick when Pittsburgh's Danny Earls was sent off for an intentional handball to deny a shot on goal. Jorge Herrera sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, and Charlotte maintained its advantage despite late pressure from the Riverhounds as they tried to earn a point.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2, Real Monarchs SCL 1

Colorado Springs moved into fourth position in the Western Conference as it continued its outstanding run of form at Sand Creek Stadium. The Switchbacks took the lead as Miguel Gonzalez scored his sixth goal of the season in the 10th minute, and doubled their advantage at the half-hour mark when Shintaro Harada fired home an outstanding finish from 30 yards into the top-right corner of the net. The Monarchs pulled a goal back when Max Rauhofer converted a penalty kick just before halftime, but the Switchbacks held on for their four victory against Real in all competitions this season, and their fifth consecutive home win in the league.

QUOTABLE

"This is the stretch we felt was very important for us to start pushing and getting points, and becoming a team that was consistently winning games and strong. We found a way to win, and we created a lot of chances." - Charlotte Independence Coach Mike Jeffries following his side's 2-1 comeback win against Pittsburgh

"They had their chances, but we had our chances. I thought it was a pretty even game. It was disappointing. I hate to say this every week but I felt we played well, we had the lead for 75 minutes. So, hopefully we can rebound from this and take some positives from it." - Arizona United SC goalkeeper Carl Woszyznski after his side fell 2-1 to Sacramento Republic FC

"I'm glad because we wanted to send a message to the players after Wednesday's game. They needed this sense of urgency. And now, they were great and for the first time this season, we witnessed a team that can control a game on the road at this level and we should have won. It's great satisfaction to see the way they reacted." - FC Montreal Coach Phillippe Eullaffroy after his side took its first road point with a 0-0 draw against Richmond

"JJ [Greer] and Josh [Phillips] did great at winning all the head balls. We're a very compact team and have been playing very well defensively. The other side of that, we are starting to create a little more in the attack." - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Coach Steve Trittschuh following his side's 2-1 win against Real Monarchs SLC

BY THE NUMBERS

400 - Ariel Lassiter's goal for the LA Galaxy II on Sunday against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 was the 400th goal scored in the 2015 USL regular season

50 - Danni König's second goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on June 9 was the side's 50th in the USL regular season

16 - The record for fewest goals conceded in a USL regular season, set by Orlando City SC in 2011. Rochester has conceded only four goals in 12 games this season.

12 - The Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off on Tuesday, with 12 USL clubs set to face off against MLS opposition

STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Rochester Rhinos 12 8 0 4 16 4 28

Richmond Kickers 14 6 2 6 22 15 24

Charleston Battery 13 6 1 6 21 14 23

Louisville City FC 12 5 2 5 20 10 20

New York Red Bulls II 13 4 5 4 18 21 16

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 12 4 4 4 27 23 16

Harrisburg City Islanders 10 4 3 3 19 17 15

Saint Louis FC 11 3 3 5 13 13 14

Charlotte Independence 10 3 4 3 12 14 12

Toronto FC II 10 2 5 3 9 19 9

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 12 1 7 4 9 20 7

FC Montreal 11 1 8 2 7 18 5

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

OKC Energy FC 12 7 2 3 20 13 24

Seattle Sounders FC 2 13 7 4 2 25 21 23

Sacramento Republic FC 14 7 6 1 23 17 22

LA Galaxy II 13 7 5 1 17 14 22

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 12 7 5 0 25 16 21

Portland Timbers 2 13 5 6 2 17 20 17

Orange County Blues FC 10 5 4 1 16 10 16

Austin Aztex 13 5 7 1 15 18 16

Tulsa Roughnecks FC 12 4 6 2 14 19 14

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 14 3 7 4 14 24 13

Arizona United SC 11 4 6 1 12 22 13

Real Monarchs SLC 13 1 7 5 13 22 8

RESULTS

Tuesday, June 9

OKC Energy FC 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 0

Wednesday, June 10

Louisville City FC 2, FC Montreal 0

Charleston Battery 1, Richmond Kickers 1

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 3, Portland Timbers 2 1

Thursday, June 11

Seattle Sounders FC 2 1, LA Galaxy II 0

Saturday, June 13

Richmond Kickers 0, FC Montreal 0

New York Red Bulls II 1, Wilmington Hammerheads FC 0

Charlotte Independence 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1

Rochester Rhinos 2, Louisville City FC 0

OKC Energy FC 2, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 0

Saint Louis FC 1, Harrisburg City Islanders 1

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2, Real Monarchs SLC 1

Sacramento Republic FC 2, Arizona United SC 1

Sunday, June 14

LA Galaxy II 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 0

Portland Timbers 2 3, Austin Aztex 1

SCHEDULE

Friday, June 19

Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Rochester Rhinos, 7:30 p.m. ET

Saint Louis FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 8:30 p.m. ET

LA Galaxy II vs. Orange County Blues FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, June 20

Charlotte Independence vs. Charleston Battery, 7 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. FC Montreal, 7 p.m. ET

Richmond Kickers vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 7 p.m. ET

Louisville City FC vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7:30 p.m. ET

Austin Aztex vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 9 p.m. ET

Arizona United SC vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sacramento Republic FC vs. OKC Energy FC, 11 p.m. ET

Sunday, June 21

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 vs. Portland Timbers 2, 5 p.m. ET

HOW TO FOLLOW

Every game of the 2015 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD on YouTube (www.Youtube.com/USL), with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

OKC Energy FC in Action

United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 15, 2015

• LA Galaxy II Return Home for Match against Orange County Blues Friday Night - LA Galaxy II
• Match Preview: Sacramento Republic FC vs San Jose Earthquakes - Sacramento Republic FC
• Rochester Rhinos Visit Philadelphia Union in US Open Cup - Rochester Rhinos
• USL Week 13: Rhinos, Energy FC Continue Strong Form - USL
• Preview: I-70 Derby Kicks off in Open Cup - Saint Louis FC
• Aztex Fall 3-1 to Portland Timbers 2 - Austin Aztex

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