Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Friday, May 4, 2012
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos 17th home opener arrives on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium against the Charlotte Eagles. The Rhinos enter the match with three wins from their first three matches of the 2012 USL PRO season, but Charlotte will not be overwhelmed by the prospects of a visit to Rochester this weekend as the Eagles handed the Rhinos their worst defeat in the history of Sahlen’s Stadium in their trip here last season.
On August 5th, 2011 the Charlotte Eagles defeated the Rochester Rhinos 3-0 at Sahlen’s Stadium. Sallieu Bundu scored the opening goal in the 20th minute when he turned and finished a curling left-footed shot just past the far post. Charlotte doubled the lead with a timely finish one minute after half time when Mark Bloom headed home Darren Toby’s cross, and Diego Martins put the match out of reach with a left-footed shot that beat Rhinos goalkeeper Neal Kitson to the far post. In addition to it being the Rhinos worst home defeat in Sahlen’s Stadium’s five-season history, it was also only the fourth time in the club’s history that the Rhinos lost a match by three goals.
“We’re off to a good start this season, and we’ve had a nice homecoming here in Rochester.” Rhinos head coach Jesse Myers said. “However, last year’s result has a way of grabbing your attention and focusing you on the task at hand. I can promise you we are not going to overlook the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday night.”
This season the Rhinos are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2006. Defensively, the team has been well organized and turned in hard-working, professional performances in their first three matches. Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht has kept a clean sheet in each of the Rhinos matches so far this season, while center back Georgios Kyriazis was named to the USL PRO Team of the Week on Tuesday. Kyriazis partnered with Rhinos captain Troy Roberts in anchoring the Rhinos defense in a 1-0 win against the Dutch Lions in Dayton last Saturday. The defensive trio has been supported by Quavas Kirk on the right flank, Jack Traynor on the left, and the work-rate of 2011 MVP Tyler Rosenlund and winger Danny Earls in the midfield.
“We’ve been well organized in the back and had our midfielders working very hard in our own half.” Myers said. “Defensively we haven’t allowed a goal yet, but there’s always room for improvement. We are looking to become more efficient in closing out games”
In the attack winger JC Banks is off to a hot start to the 2012 campaign with two goals and one assist in the first three matches. He assisted Rosenlund’s game-winning goal in their season opener against the Blues in Los Angeles on April 14th. He scored the second goal in the Rhinos' 2-0 victory against the Blues six days later on April 20th, and added the game-winning goal against the Dutch Lions last weekend. Banks has recorded at least one point in four consecutive games dating back to last season. Banks has appeared on the score sheet nine times in his career and the Rhinos are a perfect 9-0 when that has happened.
The Rhinos talismanic forward Tom McManus has been involved in two of the Rhinos four goals this season. McManus played the ball to Banks on the right wing that eventually led to Rosenlund’s game-winning goal back in the Rhinos season opening victory against the Blues on April 14th. He was credited with an assist on Andrew Hoxie’s game-winning goal against the Blues in Los Angeles six days later. In addition to his involvement in half of the Rhinos goals so far this season, McManus has been a key figure in the Rhinos possession game with his ability to hold the ball as a withdrawn forward until the midfielders can push forward and join him in the attack. Although McManus has yet to find the back of the net in league play, he has a blistering shot and is capable of finishing from any distance or angle.
“Tom can score goals – which is important at every level and in every league.” Myers said. “He is a professional on the field, and gives us some more personality and leadership off the field. However, when it comes to the match he’s only focused on only one thing – doing whatever it takes to get a result."
The Charlotte Eagles have made some changes to their team since they visited Sahlen’s Stadium nine months ago. Bundu moved down the Carolina coast to join the Charleston Battery during the 2012 offseason, so Charlotte turned to Rochester for reinforcements. The Eagles signed Rochester Lancers (MISL) forward Mauricio Salles – a first choice All-MISL selection who already has one goal in four USL PRO matches this season. Salles will be joined by Charlotte’s new signing Darryl Roberts, who has one goal in his first two matches. Roberts scored in Charlotte’s 2-0 victory in Antigua last Saturday. The victory was the Eagles' first of the season, but the Eagles could be level with the Rhinos on points at the end of Saturday night if they take six points from the City Islanders and Rochester this weekend.
“We’re appreciative of all of the attention that we’ve had this week (from the local media), and hoefully that helps us bring out a big crowd to check out our team this weekend.” said Myers. “At this point in the week we need to focus on the things we can most directly impact on Saturday – the 90 minutes we are going to play on the pitch.”
Gates open for Opening Night open at 5:30 p.m. where fans will be greeted with the club’s traditional magnet schedule give-away as well as a 2012 team photo. The Rhinos will be hosting a pregame happy hour on Opening Night with $1 drafts and $1 hot dogs in the pregame party area underneath the scoreboard from 5:30 p.m. until kickoff.
Tickets for the Rochester Rhinos home opener are available by calling (585) 454-KICK, by visiting rhinosoccer.com, or by visiting any one of Ticketmaster’s retail locations.