USL Week 20: Independence End Rhinos' Streak

August 3, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

TAMPA, Fla. - The Richmond Kickers' record of 22 games undefeated in 2013 will last another season, after the Charlotte Independence brought the Rochester Rhinos' quest to an end after 19 contests on Saturday night. Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the race for first place tightened after the top four met in a pair of contests.

FEATURED GAMES

Charlotte Independence 4, Rochester Rhinos 2

The Charlotte Independence handed the Rochester Rhinos their first defeat of the season on Saturday night, and became the first side to score multiple goals against Rochester in the process, with an impressive victory at Ramblewood Soccer Stadium. The Rhinos took the lead when Grant Van De Casteele deflected home a corner kick, but Charlotte responded to take the lead before the break as Alex Martinez and Tomasz Zahorski both finished well. Enzo Martinez added a third for the hosts six minutes into the second half, and while Christian Volesky pulled a goal back for the Rhinos, Charlotte quickly restored their two-goal advantage when Carlos Alvarez converted from the penalty spot after Paolo Del Piccolo was fouled in the area.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2, LA Galaxy II 0

The Switchbacks got a pair of goals from Luke Vercollone to earn victory at Sand Creek Stadium on Friday night to move within a point of LA and Seattle at the top of the Western Conference standings. The Switchbacks took the lead midway through the first half as Vercollone found space between defenders and was picked out by Miguel Gonzalez with a low cross from the left for a first-time finish. The game was a balanced one, and the Galaxy II had chances to pull level, but Vercollone put the game away from the penalty spot with eight minutes to go as Colorado Springs claimed its eighth win in 10 home games this season.

Richmond Kickers 4, Harrisburg City Islanders 2

George Davis IV scored in the 89th minute before Jason Yeisley added another in stoppage time to lift the Kickers to victory against the City Islanders at City Stadium on Saturday night. In a back-and-forth contest, the Kickers solidified fourth position in the USL's Eastern Conference standings in the opening game of a home-and-home series with Harrisburg. Richmond twice took the lead through Fred Owusu Sekyere and Yeisley, but each time Craig Foster replied for the City Islanders. The game appeared headed for a draw, but a late free kick was knocked back in front of goal by Matthew Delicate for Davis to knock home from close range, and Yeisley capped the win as he finished a good counterattack chance in stoppage time.

Sacramento Republic FC 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2 0

Tommy Stewart scored his first two goals of the season, and Rodrigo Lopez became the USL's all-time assist leader, as Republic FC took victory in Paul Buckle's first league game in charge of the defending USL champions. Seattle had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot just past the half-hour mark, but Aaron Kovar sent his shot wide of the left post, and eight minute later Republic FC took the lead as Stewart ran onto Lopez's pass in the right channel and fired home a good finish into the left corner of the net. Sacramento had chances to add to its lead in the second half, only to be denied by an excellent performance by Charlie Lyon, who finished with six saves. Stewart wrapped up the win with six minutes to go, however, as he put away the rebound of his breakaway chance after beating the offside trap with a well-timed run.

QUOTABLE

"We had one of those nights that we've been sorta waiting for this season. We really felt like we created chances in a number of games, and just haven't gotten the finishes quite right. Today, those first three [goals] were just excellent finishes. We felt like we could create chances against them, but I didn't think we could get four [goals]." - Charlotte Independence Coach Mike Jeffries following his sides 4-2 win that ended Rochester's 19-game undefeated streak.

"Tommy Stewart can score goals. He scored a lot of goals last season. I want him to threaten the back of teams, like he did. We have the players in the team that can thread those balls to him." - Sacramento Republic FC Coach Paul Buckle on forward Tommy Stewart, who scored his first two goals of the season on Saturday in a 2-0 win against Seattle.

"If we keep creating the chances we are creating he will always get his chances. We talk about we might want other people to step up and score but again the way we play is set up for his game. He's doing a hell of a good job and I'm just happy to have him on the team right now." - OKC Energy FC Coach Jimmy Nielsen on Danni König, who scored his 15th and 16th goals of the season on Friday against Arizona.

"[Coach] Mark [Steffens] has given me a lot of freedom. When we're going forward here, he's telling me to get forward at every opportunity. It's nice to get forward and know that the six guys behind you are going to sweep up. It's been kind of a learning curve for me to pick those spots to get into to score goals, and I think I haven't done too bad of a job." - Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder Rob Vincent, whose hat trick moved him level with König in the USL Golden Boot race with 16 goals this season.

BY THE NUMBERS

650 - Richmond's George Davis IV recorded the 650th goal in the USL this season with his late winner against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday night.

47 - There were 47 goals scored in Week 20 of USL action, with Sunday's 6-3 victory by Tulsa Roughnecks FC against Arizona United SC the second-highest scoring game of the season so far.

23 - Rodrigo Lopez's assist against Seattle Sounders FC 2 was his 23rd in the USL, which broke the tie between him and past former two-time MVP Kevin Molino for first all-time in the league's history.

16 - Both OKC's Danni König and Pittsburgh's Rob Vincent have scored 16 goals this season, putting them four back of Kevin Molino's single-season goal-scoring record set last year.

6 - Rob Vincent's hat trick was the sixth in the USL this season, and the second by a Pittsburgh Riverhounds player following Kevin Kerr's hat trick against Harrisburg on March 28.

STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T  GF GA Pts

Rochester Rhinos 20 12 1 7 25 10 43

Louisville City FC 19 11 3 5 38 18 28

Charleston Battery 21 9 4 8 31 19 35

Richmond Kickers 20 8 4 8 32 25 32

New York Red Bulls II 20 9 7 4 32 31 31

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 20 8 8 4 42 34 28

Harrisburg City Islanders 18 7 7 4 30 35 25

Charlotte Independence 17 6 6 5 21 20 23

Saint Louis FC 20 5 8 7 21 29 22

FC Montreal 19 4 12 3 19 29 15

Toronto FC II 17 4 10 3 13 28 15

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 20 2 12 6 12 30 12

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Seattle Sounders FC 2 21 11 7 3 37 29 36

LA Galaxy II 20 11 6 3 31 20 36

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 19 11 6 2 39 22 35

Sacramento Republic FC 20 10 7 3 31 24 33

OKC Energy FC 20 8 5 7 30 26 31

Orange County Blues FC 20 9 8 3 27 30 30

Tulsa Roughnecks FC 21 8 9 4 37 36 28

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 22 7 10 5 31 42 26

Portland Timbers 2 21 8 11 2 28 33 26

Austin Aztex 20 7 10 3 22 26 24

Arizona United SC 20 7 12 1 23 45 22

Real Monarchs SLC 19 2 11 6 19 30 12

RESULTS

Friday, July 31

OKC Energy FC 3, Arizona United SC 0

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 3, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 1

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2, LA Galaxy II 0

Saturday, August 1

Louisville City FC 3, Toronto FC II 2

Richmond Kickers 4, Harrisburg City Islanders 2

Charlotte Independence 4, Rochester Rhinos 2

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 3, Wilmington Hammerheads FC 0

Charleston Battery 0, FC Montreal 0

Portland Timbers 2 1, Austin Aztex 0

Orange County Blues FC 2, Real Monarchs SLC 1

Sacramento Republic FC 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2 0

Sunday, August 2

New York Red Bulls II 2, Saint Louis FC 1

Tulsa Roughnecks FC 6, Arizona United SC 3

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, August 4

OKC Energy FC vs. LA Galaxy II, 8 p.m. ET

Wednesday, August 5

Charlotte Independence vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7:30 p.m. ET

Louisville City FC vs. FC Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 9 p.m. ET.

Saturday, August 8

Wilmington Hammerheads FC vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7 p.m. ET

Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Richmond Kickers, 7 p.m. ET

Toronto FC II vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 8 p.m. ET

Saint Louis FC vs. FC Montreal, 8:30 p.m. ET

Real Monarchs SLC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 9:30 p.m. ET

Orange County Blues FC vs. Austin Aztex, 10 p.m. ET

Portland Timbers 2 vs. OKC Energy FC, 10 p.m. ET

Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 11 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 9

Rochester Rhinos vs. Richmond Kickers, 5:05 p.m. ET

LA Galaxy II vs. Arizona United SC, 7 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.

Charlotte Independence Celebrate

United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 3, 2015

• Match Preview: Lou City Returns Home with Hopes of Extending Win Streak - Louisville City FC
• Preview: Energy FC vs. La Galaxy II - August 4 - OKC Energy FC
• USL Week 20: Independence End Rhinos' Streak - USL
• Jefrey Payeras Called up to Guatemala U-23 National Team - Orange County SC
• Energy FC Take on LA Galaxy II Tomorrow in Make up Game from May 9 - OKC Energy FC
• Roughnecks Score Record Six Goals in Big Win over Arizona - FC Tulsa
• Arizona United SC Ends Road Trip with 6-3 Loss to Tulsa Roughnecks FC - Phoenix Rising FC

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