USL Week 23: Rhinos Clinch Postseason Berth

Published on August 24, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

TAMPA, Fla. - The first berth in the 2015 USL Playoffs was clinched on Saturday night as the Rochester Rhinos maintained their undefeated home record at Sahlen's Stadium. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the race for the playoffs continued to shape up as the Charlotte Independence took a key victory. Out west, the LA Galaxy II emerged at the top of the standings after another fascinating week of action in the top four.

FEATURED GAMES

Rochester Rhinos 4, Harrisburg City Islanders 0

The Rhinos clinched their playoff berth in decisive fashion in front of 6,272 fans at Sahlen's Stadium as they handed Harrisburg its worst defeat in Rochester in club history. The Rhinos took the lead from the penalty spot in the 16th minute as Tony Walls marked his 50th USL regular season appearance with a goal, and Steevan Dos Santos added a pair of finishes in the second half after the City Islanders had been reduced to 10 men after Yann Ekra was sent off. The Rhinos are now just one point from earning a bye to the conference semifinals, with five games remaining in the season.

Portland Timbers 2 2, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 0

Portland kept its playoff hopes alive, and dealt the Roughnecks a severe blow, as goals by Kharlton Belmar and Fatawu Safiu earned a victory at Merlo Field on Saturday afternoon. After a scoreless first half, T2 took the lead on Belmar's 12th goal of the season as he capitalized on a pass from Dairon Asprilla. Safawu, who has also been excellent for T2 this season, added a second with nine minutes to go on a 30-yard blast into the top-right corner that moved Portland four points out of the playoff places with four games to go. Tulsa remained in the top six, but with only two games remaining is now in danger of being overtaken by either T2 or Sacramento Republic FC, who both have multiple games in hand.

Charlotte Independence 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1

The Charlotte Independence boosted their playoff chances as first-half goals by Daniel Jackson and Enzo Martinez earned victory against the Riverhounds at Ramblewood Soccer Stadium. Charlotte took the lead in just the seventh minute when Jackson got on the end of a corner kick by Martinez and headed home. Martinez added a second seven minutes before the break as he sent home a first-time shot from Carlos Alvarez's cross. Pittsburgh pulled a goal back late through Willie Hunt, but the Independence held on for the victory to move within three points of the sixth-place Riverhounds in the standings with two games in hand.

LA Galaxy II 1, Seattle Sounders FC 2 0

Jack McBean scored his third goal in two games to lead Los Dos to a victory and the top of the Western Conference standings on Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center. The Galaxy II had much the better of the contest, and would have taken the lead sooner if not for an excellent performance by S2 goalkeeper Charlie Lyon, who had six saves. The breakthrough arrived just before halftime, however, as McBean flicked home a cross by Jose Villarreal to put his side ahead, and Los Dos maintained their lead comfortably in the second half to move two points ahead of the idle OKC Energy FC in the standings.

QUOTABLE

"It's kind of frustrating as a team not to be able to walk away with one win from them. Considering where they're at in the table, it's disappointing. We should have won some of those games." - Sacramento Republic FC forward Justin Braun, whose side conceded late in a 1-1 draw with Real Monarchs SLC, which remained undefeated against Sacramento this season

"I make that run to the area and know it's coming. We work on it every day. At a time in the game where we were kind of struggling to get things going, that gave us some momentum going into halftime." - Louisville City FC forward Matt Fondy on his partnership with Bryan Burke, who provided the assist on the first of his two goals in a 3-1 win against Charleston

"He tells me, 'Be aggressive. Be like [Lionel] Messi.' Tonight, I was." - Richmond Kickers midfielder Yudai Imura, who took Coach Leigh Cowlishaw's guidance as his 25-yard finish led the side to a 2-0 win against Saint Louis

"I've been waiting for it for three games. Last game I had a few chances and I wasn't as composed as I needed to be. Luckily, for this last one, I was fortunate enough to get the goal." - Arizona United SC forward Aaron Dennis, who scored his first professional goal in his side's 2-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

"This was an important game. As close to a must-win as we could have with what our schedule is and the remaining games at home, and with Pittsburgh being above us. This is a huge win, and puts us a step closer to at least the playoff conversation." - Charlotte Independence Coach Mike Jeffries following his side's 2-1 win against Pittsburgh

BY THE NUMBERS

10,000 - The Richmond Kickers' William Yomby became the third player to reach 10,000 minutes played in the USL on Saturday, joining OKC Energy FC's Gareth Evans and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC's Luke Vercollone.

800 - The Austin Aztex's Kris Tyrpak scored the 800th goal in the USL this season, and it proved to be the game-winner in his side's 1-0 win against Orange County Blues FC on Saturday.

50 - The Rochester Rhinos became the first side to reach 50 points this season with their win against Harrisburg. It's the first time the Rhinos have reached the mark in USL history.

34 - Louisville City FC's Matthew Fondy now has 34 goals in his USL career, good for third all-time. He now trails only Richmond's Matthew Delicâte (41) and Charleston's Dane Kelly (40).

11 - With his goal on Sunday, the LA Galaxy II's Jack McBean has recorded 11 goals and 11 assists over the past two seasons. After recording five goals and six assists in 2014, McBean has six goals and five assists so far in 2015.

7 - Seven points separate the six teams sitting between third and eighth place in the USL's Eastern Conference with four weeks remaining in the regular season.

STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Rochester Rhinos - p 23 14 1 8 32 12 50

Louisville City FC 23 13 4 6 48 26 45

New York Red Bulls II 24 10 8 6 39 38 36

Charleston Battery 24 9 6 9 35 26 36

Richmond Kickers 24 9 6 9 38 31 36

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 23 9 9 5 47 38 32

Harrisburg City Islanders 22 9 9 4 36 46 31

Charlotte Independence 21 7 6 8 27 25 29

Saint Louis FC 24 6 10 8 26 37 26

FC Montreal 23 7 12 4 28 31 25

Toronto FC II 22 5 14 3 17 38 18

Wilmington Hammerheads FC - x 23 3 13 7 17 34 16

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

LA Galaxy II 24 13 8 3 36 26 42

OKC Energy FC 23 11 5 7 37 29 40

Seattle Sounders FC 2 24 12 9 3 40 35 39

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 23 12 8 3 45 29 39

Tulsa Roughnecks FC 26 10 10 6 46 42 36

Orange County Blues FC 23 11 9 3 31 31 36

Sacramento Republic FC 23 10 8 5 35 29 35

Portland Timbers 2 24 10 12 2 36 38 32

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 25 8 12 5 35 47 29

Arizona United SC 23 9 13 1 27 49 28

Austin Aztex 23 8 12 3 25 30 27

Real Monarchs SLC - x 23 2 13 8 22 38 14

p - Qualified for playoffs

x - Eliminated from postseason contention

RESULTS

Wednesday, August 19

Seattle Sounders FC 2 3, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2

Harrisburg City Islanders 2, Toronto FC II 0

Thursday, August 20

Saint Louis FC 3, Charleston Battery 2

Saturday, August 22

Portland Timbers 2 2, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 0

Richmond Kickers 2, Saint Louis FC 0

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 0, FC Montreal 0

Rochester Rhinos 4, Harrisburg City Islanders 0

Charlotte Independence 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1

Louisville City FC 3, Charleston Battery 1

New York Red Bulls II 2, Toronto FC II 0

Austin Aztex 1, Orange County Blues FC 0

Arizona United SC 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 0

Sacramento Republic FC 1, Real Monarchs SLC 1

Sunday, August 23

LA Galaxy II 1, Seattle Sounders FC 2 0

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, August 26

FC Montreal vs. Charlotte Independence, 6:30 p.m. ET

Real Monarchs SLC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 9 p.m. ET

Friday, August 28

Real Monarchs SLC vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2, 9 p.m. ET

Saturday, August 29

New York Red Bulls II vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 5 p.m. ET

Harrisburg City Islanders vs. FC Montreal, 7 p.m. ET

Richmond Kickers vs. Charleston Battery, 7 p.m. ET

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

OKC Energy FC vs. Austin Aztex, 8 p.m. ET

Orange County Blues FC vs. Portland Timbers 2, 10 p.m. ET

Arizona United SC vs. LA Galaxy II, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 11 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 30

Toronto FC II vs. Charlotte Independence, 3 p.m. ET

Rochester Rhinos vs. Saint Louis FC, 4:05 p.m. ET

Rochester Rhinos vs. Harrisburg City Islanders

United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 24, 2015

• USL Week 23: Rhinos Clinch Postseason Berth - USL

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