Thursday, July 12, 2012
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads and Rochester Rhinos played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday night at Legion Stadium as the Hammerheads registered nine shots but could not find the back of the net, settling for a point. The Hammerheads posted their second consecutive shutout as they withstood some good scoring opportunities by the Rhions, but were unable to gain ground on the second-placed team in USL PRO.
It was a hard fought battle for both teams, but the Hammerheads best chance might have come in the opening 20 seconds as Corey Hertzog found himself on a breakaway after a defensive mistake by the Rhinos put him in one-on-one with Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht. Hertzog’s shot from the left side of the penalty area sailed just wide of the right post and began a trend of chances that, for both teams, just kept ending up short.
Hertzog's long throw-ins created some trouble for the Rhinos defense, and Bryce Taylor almost headed home as the Hammerheads held most of the early pressure. Tom Parratt also shot just wide from just inside the right of the penalty area, while Mark Briggs sent a curling shot over the crossbar.
The Rhinos were able to create on the counter-attack, however, and in the 36th minute Kendell McFayden broke in behind the Wilmington defense, only for his lob of Hammerheads goalkeeper Alex Horwath to hit the crossbar. The a minute before halftime the Hammerheads found the frame of the goal themselves, with Cody Arnoux's sliding finish hitting the left post before being gathered by Nicht.
Both sides had chances in the second half, with Hertzog going close in the 68th minute as he controlled a chipped pass by Gareth Evans, only to have his shot blocked away for a corner. Hammerheads coach David Irving made substitutions late in the second half to see if a couple new faces could register some action, and Steven Perry almost got on the end of a deflected free kick in the 76th minute.
Wilmington finished the game with 10 men, however, as second-half substitute Chukwudi Chijindu was sent off in the 79th minute after a strong challenge on Rochester' Tyler Rosenlund. The Hammerheads were able to see out the final minutes, however, with Evans' sliding challenge to block a close-range shot by Rochester's Isaac Kissi the final chance of the game.
Wilmington hits the road to travel to Charleston this Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium, but will be back in action at home on Friday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. as they host the Dayton Dutch Lions at Legion Stadium. The Rhinos continue their weekend trip with a visit to league-leader Orlando City at the Florida Citrus Bowl on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.