Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Sunday, March 18, 2012
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos opened their 2012 preseason schedule with a 1-0 loss against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a friendly match at Peters Township High School in the hills south of Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. The Rhinos started seven new faces in their first 11 with only goalkeeper Joe Marino, midfielder Drew Cost, and defenders Tyler Bellamy and Michael Tanke returning to the line-up from last year’s squad.
“Today I really wanted to see some guys get a chance to play specific positions to see how they are going to fit into the team.” Rhinos Head Coach Jesse Myers said. “I also wanted to get a chance to evaluate some of the players that we have in camp against a quality USL PRO opponent like Pittsburgh. I think we received a good test today from the ‘Hounds and got a lot of information that we can take back to training with us.”
Pittsburgh had the first chance of the match when Riverhounds forward and Jamaican international Dwayne Smith got on the end of an errant back pass from Rhinos centre midfielder Carlos Zemudeo. Smith was in clean on goal, but Marino made a breakaway save at Smith’s feet to keep the Riverhounds off the scoreboard.
In the 17th minute Rhinos left winger Danny Earls created the Rhinos first opportunity of the match after he opened up some space on the left flank with a double stepover and whipped in a cross that Rhinos right winger Pedro Rivas headed just over the bar.
In the 26th minute Pittsburgh opened the scoring when Smith found enough space behind a disorganized Rhinos back four to receive a through ball from midfield. Smith had a little work left to do as he cut inside recovering Rhinos centre back Tyler Bellamy before he finished a shot to the far post past the dive of Marino.
The Rhinos responded in the 32nd minute when midfielder Gustavo Zamudio played front runner Graciano Brito in behind the Riverhounds back four. Brito took a touch into space and then shot the ball to the far post but the Riverhounds goalkeeper was able to get down and save.
A minute later Rhinos left winger Danny Earls cut inside and played a wall pass with Graciano Brito. Earls hit a shot with some venom from 30 yards out. The shot dangerously deflected off of one of Pittsburgh’s center backs, but it ended up in the hands of Pittsburgh’s goalkeeper to end the threat.
At halftime Rhinos rookie goalkeeper Brandon Miller replaced Joe Marino.
In the 51st minute Conor Chinn had a great look at an equalizer for the Rhinos. After Earls served another dangerous cross into the box from the endline, Brito’s run to the near post dragged both of Pittsburgh’s center backs with him leaving Chinn unmarked on the far post, but Chinn could not put his effort on target.
With about half-an-hour left in the match Myers rang in the changes as Mac Hemei subbed in for Michael Tanke at right back. Gary Boughton came on to play right wing with Rivas flipping over to the left wing, and Earls sliding into the middle for Gustavo Zamudio. Myers final change was putting on Kendall McFayden for Brito.
The Rhinos had another great look at goal in the 71st minute when Rivas slipped Chinn through with a nifty pass in the box. Chinn’s initial effort was saved by the Riverhounds goalkeeper. Boughton was first to the rebound but his on target effort was kept out by a Riverhounds defender.
The match opened up considerably in the last 15 minutes and Miller had to make a big save in the 78th minute on a driven shot from 25 yards out that swerved as it approached the Rhinos goalkeeper. In the 81st minute the Rhinos defense was tested again but it was up to the task when Rhinos centre back Jack Traynor was forced to block a shot from inside the six-yard box before the Riverhounds blazed the resulting rebound over the crossbar.
The Rhinos held a possession advantage in the final 10 minutes as Pittsburgh closed up shop to protect its one-goal lead. The Rhinos were unable to find an equalizer and dropped their first match of the preseason.
“We’re four days into our season right now.” Myers said. “We learned some lessons about our players and our team today. We also got the chance for our foreign guys to see what the style of play is going to be like in the USL PRO. Now we’re going to go back to work and try to get better individually and as a team.”