Rochester Rhinos Feature -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Rhinos are beginning to build for the 2013 season by retaining the core of last season’s award winning defensive unit. Head coach Jesse Myers has seven players from last year’s defense returning for the 2013 season including 2012 USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year Kristian Nicht and 2012 USL PRO Defender Player of the Year Troy Roberts. Last season the Rhinos had the second best defensive record in the league with 23 goals conceded in 24 matches.
2012 was Nicht’s first season in Rochester after spending his first 11 seasons as a professional in Europe – primarily in the Bundesliga2. His 11 clean sheets led the league and was the third best mark in club history while his 12-7-4 record, 0.91 goals against-average, 21 goals conceded and 86 saves in 23 matches all ranked among the league leaders in USL PRO. In addition to being named the league Goalkeeper of the Year, Nicht was also named to the 2012 USL PRO First 11 and won club recognition as the Rhinos co-Defensive Player of the Year.
“About this time last season we were looking for a goalkeeper who could come in and continue Rochester’s storied tradition at that position.” Myers said. “We were fortunate to find a quality, veteran European keeper on the transfer market last winter, and he exceeded most if not all of our expectations in his first season with the Rhinos. We’re excited to have him back this season, and we’re looking forward to having him pick up where he left off for us. Nicht, Roberts, and Kyriazis give us an experienced trio in the back to anchor our defense and form the foundation of our team.”
Roberts will return to the middle of the Rhinos back four in 2013. The four year Rhinos veteran has been named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year each of his first three seasons with the club. He has been named All-League all three years as well. Roberts has played 74 of 78 possible regular season matches with the Rhinos, and he has played in every minute of every match in all competitions in two of his three years with the club. Rochester is 39-22-13 with a 0.878 goals-against average and 30 clean sheets in the 74 matches that he has appeared. They are 1-1-2 with six goals conceded and no clean sheets in the four matches that he has missed. This season will be his third campaign as captain of the Rhinos. Roberts has won two regular season championships with the club, but is still searching for postseason success in Rochester.
“Obviously we are disappointed with how last season ended.” Roberts said. “I think the disappointment we suffered at home (against the City Islanders) in 2011 focused us for our strong start to last season. Last year’s loss to Charleston at home should be giving the guys we have coming back all the focus they need to stay fit and work hard during the off-season. We’ve had good success in the regular season since I’ve been here but our goal is to win a championship.”
Second-year center back Georgios Kyriazis has signed on for another year with the club, and he will be re-united with Roberts in central defense. Last season Kyriazis joined the club and brought his 16 years of European experience with him. He played eight years in the Greece Super League and eight more years in Italy’s Serie B. Kyriazis logged 1,284 minutes in 15 matches in his first year with the club. Seven of the Rhinos 11 clean sheets came in matches that Roberts partnered with Kyriazis in central defense.
“One concern that you have when bringing players in from abroad is how quickly they can adapt to the pace of play in our league.” Myers said. “USL PRO is a league based on athleticism and pace of play, and that isn’t always the case overseas. Georgie and Kristian are both veteran players who joined us last season and both hit the ground running. The strength of our team last year was our defense and Georgie, Kristian, and Troy are the foundation of that defense.”
Argentinean right back Lucas Fernandez will be the fourth Rhinos starter returning for the defense in 2013. Fernandez started the last 13 regular season matches and the USL PRO semi-final for the club. He logged a total of 1,401 minutes last season. Fernandez began his career in the Boca Juniors Academy, the home of Argentinian legends Diego Maradona, Fernando Redondo, and Juan Ramon Riquelme, at age 10. He signed his first professional contract in 2007 and made his debut with the first team in 2010 after spending three years in the reserves. Fernandez spent the 2011 season playing for Colombia’s Jorge Wilstermann, where he participated in the group stages of the Copa Libertadores – South America’s version of the Champion’s League. Fernandez settled in as an overlapping right back who was solid in defense and could help support the Rhinos attack down the right flank as the season progressed.
Fourth-year center back Tyler Bellamy, Rochester (The Aquinas Institute) native Kyle Manscuk, and second year goalkeeper Brandon Miller will also be returning to the team in 2013.
“We’re actually quite fortunate to have four center backs who can all play in this league on our roster.” Myers said. “Bells is only 24 years old and he has already started 50 games for the Rhinos, and we have confidence in putting him into any situation. We’re hoping to have Kyle Manscuk back on loan from the Rochester Lancers in 2013. Manscuk is another young player who grew up in Rochester, has worked his way up the ladder in the PDL, and now is plying his trade in the MISL and USL PRO in his hometown. Both players have also been great off the field with their work in the community. We’re also excited to have Brandon Miller back. He has great potential and could be another goalkeeper on our roster with MLS aspirations.”
One surprise for the Rhinos is their need to find a left back for the 2013 campaign. The club exercised their contractual option on Jack Traynor, but he retired during the offseason after four seasons of professional soccer. The Notre Dame graduate secured full-time employment that would have conflicted with his professional soccer career. Traynor played 1,540 minutes for the club last season in 19 matches, and won a USL PRO Cup with Orlando City in 2011. Myers is also not expecting Quavas Kirk or Michael Zaher to return to the club at this time.