Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Friday, July 20, 2012
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Rhinos play the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium, opening a five-game home stand to close the regular season. The Rhinos would move back into second place, and one of the two first-round byes in the USL PRO playoffs, with victory on Saturday night.
Rochester and the Riverhounds have already played once this season on June 17th at Pittsburgh’s Chartiers Valley High School. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Former Rochester Rhino Tino Nunez opened the scoring for Pittsburgh, off an assist by Stefan Lundberg, but the Rhinos tied the game in the second half through a goal by Quavas Kirk. The game started a 3-1-2 streak for Rochester that ended last Saturday with the Rhinos' defeat to Orlando City.
Rochester has a 16-3-3 record all-time against Pittsburgh. They have scored 40 goals against the Riverhounds and only have been scored on 19 times. Rochester has been even better at home, putting togther a record of 10-0-1 record while outscoring the Riverhounds 20-7. The Rhinos have never been shut out by Pittsburgh at home.
Pittsburgh has been led recently by Matthew Kassel, who arrived with the club before this season from the New York Red Bulls. Kassel started out in the New York Red Bulls youth program from 2006 to 2008. He then played for the University of Maryland from 2008 to 2010, winning a national championship in his freshman season, before he signed professionally with the Red Bulls in 2011 as their third homegrown player in club history. He played two games with the Red Bulls before he was released in February 2012. Kassel has four goals and one assist in his first season with Pittsburgh, and was an honorable mention in this week's USL PRO Team of the Week.
Former Rochester Rhino Rich Costanzo now plays for Pittsburgh. Costanzo joined the Rhinos in 2010. He played 34 games as a midfielder and defender in two seasons. He scored four goals and made three assists. Costanzo won the USSF Division II Regular Season Title in 2010 and the USL PRO National Division Title in 2011. He left Rochester after the 2011 season, but is now a starting midfielder for Pittsburgh. He has played in 15 games and scored two goals. He also has one assist.
Tickets for the game against Pittsburgh can be bought by calling 454-KICK.