USL Week 25: Rhinos Claim Regular-Season Title
September 7, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - Two weeks after becoming the first side to earn a place in the USL Playoffs, the Rochester Rhinos claimed the 2015 USL Regular Season Championship on Saturday night, highlighting another big weekend of action in the USL.
While the Rhinos claimed the season's first silverware, in the Western Conference another four teams booked their place in the postseason, while the race for the top two positions in the conference tightened again.
FEATURED GAMES
Richmond Kickers 0, Rochester Rhinos 0
Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller set a USL record with his 12th shutout of the season as the Rhinos earned a point on the road against a Richmond side that pressed, but was unable to find a way through as it remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Both teams had chances to grab a victory late on, as Rochester's Alex Dixon had a finish cleared off the line by Richmond's Luke Mishu, and Miller made a big save to deny George Davis IV. Honors ended even as the Rhinos claimed a point, which combined with the New York Red Bulls II's 3-2 win against Louisville, handed Rochester its first silverware since the 2010 USSF Division 2 Pro League regular season title.
Orange County Blues FC 2, LA Galaxy II 1
The Blues earned their first victory against the LA Galaxy II in club history, and booked a return to the USL Playoffs, as Christofer Ramirez scored a 90th-minute winner to earn a victory in front of a sellout crowd at Anteater Stadium. Los Dos took the lead early as Ariel Lassiter converted a penalty kick for his 10th goal of the season, but the Blues got back on level terms before the break as Brenton Griffiths found the net. Orange County then earned all three points as David Estrada found space on the right, and found Ramirez for a low, first-time finish. Combined with defeats for Arizona and Portland on Saturday, the Blues and Galaxy II both earned berths in the postseason.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1, Charleston Battery 1
The Battery grabbed a dramatic late point as Maikel Chang's stoppage-time goal kept his side in fourth place in the USL's Eastern Conference, and kept Pittsburgh in seventh place, at Highmark Stadium. Without the suspended Rob Vincent, the Riverhounds took the lead early in the second half when Kevin Kerr headed home a free kick by Matt Dallman for his ninth goal of the season. The Battery pushed hard for an equalizer, as Pittsburgh goalkeeper Calle Brown finished with five saves, and their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time as Chang's backheel flick of Ricky Garbanzo's cross-shot from the right found the left corner and earned his side a point.
Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2, OKC Energy FC 1
The Roughnecks claimed the final edition of the Black Gold Derby, and in turn kept their playoff hopes alive, as goals by Brady Ballew and Kidd Nwabueze earned a victory in front of 6,005 fans at ONEOK Field on Sunday night. Both OKC's Evan Newton and Tulsa Jake Feener made big saves in the opening half to keep the game scoreless, but Tulsa took the lead just past the hour-mark as Lucas Cordeiro's pass found Brady Ballew, and the rookie sent home a low shot. The Roughnecks doubled their lead as Nwabueze found space at the far post to head home Ben Brewster's cross from the right, and the goal proved essential as Peter Toth drove home a free kick late to give Energy FC hope of earning a point. Tulsa held on, however, to edge past Seattle into sixth position to round out its inaugural regular season.
QUOTABLE
"We were conscious that it was a big game in terms of the playoff push, and obviously it's a chip on our shoulder that we haven't beaten them. Thankfully that's over with, and we can move forward, and I think we're in a good spot for the playoffs now." - Orange County Blues FC forward David Estrada on his side's victory against the LA Galaxy II
"It was a tremendous team effort by the guys today. We worked this week to have a good quality game. We did that, and I couldn't be more proud of the game we played, especially defensively. But our focus is on the final three games so we can get a high seed for the playoffs." - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Coach Steve Trittschuh after his side claimed a playoff place with a victory against the Portland Timbers 2
"It's very frustrating, and it's something we're going to lose a little sleep over. But we've got [three] games left, and we've got everything to play for, so just like in the past, we'll take one game at a time. You've got to focus on the next game and have a short memory." - Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder Matt Dallman after his side conceded late to draw 1-1 with Charleston
"We were not good enough. We conceded too much possession, we ran ourselves out of the game and we couldn't catch up. We couldn't get enough pressure on the ball, and it left us chasing." - Arizona United SC defender Tyler Ruthven after his side fell 3-2 to Real Monarchs SLC
"We're still kicking, we're still fighting. It's a shame [if we don't make it in] because we can play, and if we got to the playoffs, we'd upset a few people, that's for sure. But anyway, if we don't, it's been a great year. It's a great way to finish off." - Tulsa Roughnecks FC Coach David Irving after his side took its first win against OKC Energy FC
BY THE NUMBERS
100 - Harrisburg City Islanders goalkeeper Nick Noble became the 17th player to make 100 USL regular season appearances against Louisville last Wednesday
59 - Rochester Rhinos goalkeepers have recorded a league-low 59 saves in 25 games this season, an average of 2.36 per game
11 - The Charlotte Independence extended their undefeated streak to 11 games with their 2-2 draw against Wilmington Hammerheads FC on Saturday
4 - Real Monarchs SLC claimed its first road win of the season to extend its winning streak to four games against Arizona United SC on Saturday
3 - Tulsa Roughnecks FC's Brady Ballew scored three of his six goals in the USL regular season againstOKC Energy FC
2 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC's Luke Vercollone and Miguel Gonzalez became the first teammates to reach double-digit goals this season as Gonzalez's 10th goal of the season earned a 1-0 win against Portland
STANDINGS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Team GP W L T GF GA Pts
Rochester Rhinos - c 25 15 1 9 34 12 54
Louisville City FC - p 26 14 6 6 54 30 48
New York Red Bulls II 26 12 8 6 44 40 42
Charleston Battery 26 10 6 10 38 27 40
Richmond Kickers 26 9 7 10 38 33 37
Charlotte Independence 25 9 6 10 33 29 37
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 25 10 9 6 49 39 36
Harrisburg City Islanders 25 10 10 5 42 50 35
Saint Louis FC - x 26 6 11 9 26 39 27
FC Montreal - x 26 7 15 4 30 41 25
Toronto FC II - x 24 6 14 4 22 42 22
Wilmington Hammerheads FC - x 26 3 15 8 19 39 17
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Team GP W L T GF GA Pts
OKC Energy FC - p 26 12 7 7 40 33 43
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC - p 25 13 9 3 47 31 42
LA Galaxy II - p 26 13 10 3 38 30 42
Orange County Blues FC - p 25 13 9 3 36 33 42
Sacramento Republic FC - p 25 12 8 5 40 31 41
Tulsa Roughnecks FC 28 11 11 6 49 46 39
Seattle Sounders FC 2 26 12 11 3 42 39 39
Portland Timbers 2 - x 26 10 14 2 37 42 32
Arizona United SC 25 10 14 1 31 53 31
Austin Aztex 25 9 13 3 27 33 30
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 - x 26 8 13 5 36 49 29
Real Monarchs SLC - x 27 6 13 8 31 42 26
c - Won Regular Season Championship
p - Qualified for playoffs
x - Eliminated from postseason contention
RESULTS
Wednesday, September 2
Louisville City FC 4, Harrisburg City Islanders 0
Real Monarchs SLC 2, OKC Energy FC 0
Thursday, September 3
Charlotte Independence 1, Wilmington Hammerheads FC 0
Saturday, September 5
Toronto FC II 3, FC Montreal 2
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1, Portland Timbers 2 0
Charlotte Independence 2, Wilmington Hammerheads FC 2
Richmond Kickers 0, Rochester Rhinos 0
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1, Charleston Battery 1
Austin Aztex 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2 1
New York Red Bulls II 3, Louisville City FC 2
Orange County Blues FC 2, LA Galaxy II 1
Real Monarchs SLC 3, Arizona United SC 2
Sunday, September 6
Sacramento Republic FC 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 1
Harrisburg City Islanders 0, Saint Louis FC 0
Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2, OKC Energy FC 1
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, September 9
Charlotte Independence vs. Toronto FC II, 7 p.m. ET
FC Montreal vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7:30 p.m. ET
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Austin Aztex, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, September 11
Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Orange County Blues FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, September 12
Real Monarchs SLC vs. Arizona United SC, 6 p.m. ET
Wilmington Hammerheads FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7 p.m. ET
Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Richmond Kickers, 7 p.m. ET
Rochester Rhinos vs. Toronto FC II, 7:05 p.m. ET
Charleston Battery vs. Louisville City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
OKC Energy FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 8 p.m. ET
Saint Louis FC vs. Charlotte Independence, 8:30 p.m. ET
Portland Timbers 2 vs. Sacramento Republic FC, 10 p.m. ET
Sunday, September 13
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 vs. Orange County Blues FC, 6 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.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 7, 2015
- USL Week 25: Rhinos Claim Regular-Season Title - USL
- Roughnecks Beat OKC; Keep Playoff Hopes Alive - FC Tulsa
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