Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Friday, May 3, 2013
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rhinos will open their 18th season in Rochester on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium against the Harrisburg City Islanders. After an exciting offseason Rochester entered the 2013 season with championship expectations, but they have gotten off to a surprising 0-4-1 start.
Rhinos Head Coach Jesse Myers first move during the offseason was to bring back 14 players from the squad that finished second in the 2012 USL PRO standings, and lost in penalty kicks at Sahlen's Stadium to eventual champion the Charleston Battery in the USL PRO Semifinals.
After re-establishing the foundation of his club for the 2013 season, Myers made several key additions during the off-season including 2012 All-USL PRO Second Team selection Matt Luzunaris and former MLS players Blake Brettschneider (32 appearances with D.C. United and New England), Ross LaBauex (three seasons with Colorado), and Lance Rozeboom (missed 2012 in D.C. United with torn ACL after standout senior season with New Mexico). Rochester also entered into a landmark affiliation with the New England Revolution in January 2013, and the Rhinos received four additional MLS players on season long loans.
“I think we're a team that has good talent. Slowly getting everyone back (from injury and suspension) will help, but it's imperative for our mental state that we get some results.” Myers said.
The Rochester Rhinos capped off a season opening stretch of away matches that had them playing five times in 15 days with a 5-1 loss to the City Islanders in Harrisburg last weekend. Bilal Duckett, who was recalled to the New England Revolution this week and played a full 90 minutes in their 0-0 draw with Portland on Thursday night, scored the Rhinos only goal off an assist from Webster, N.Y. native Mike Reidy, who was making his first professional start.
Brettschneider was sent off in the 43rd minute of the match leaving the Rhinos to play the entire second half a man down. City Islanders starting forwards Sainey Touray and Yann Ekra had a goal and an assist each. Touray was named the USL PRO Player of the Week for his efforts in the City Islanders 100th win as a professional soccer club. Left back Don Anding joined Touray on the USL PRO Team of the Week while Ekra, Lucky Mkosana, and Colin Zizzi earned honorable mention. Mkosana scored two goals in the last 15 minutes as a substitute.
“I felt like we never found the rhythm in our attack.” Myers said. “However, a man down for 20 minutes we were able to possess the ball and stick to our game plan. The unacceptable situation where we gave up three late goals was very disappointing. That's where we need to change our mentality.”
The Rochester Rhinos opened up their 2013 USL PRO season with a trip to Florida where they lost to first-year USL PRO club VSI Tampa Bay 3-0 on Saturday, April 13th, 2013 and then lost 3-1 in Orlando to the City Lions less than 24 hours later.
The next weekend the Rhinos flew to Charlotte where they drew with the Eagles 0-0 on Friday, April 19th before travelling overnight and losing to Richmond 4-1 after they were reduced to nine men with red cards to center back Georgios Kyriazis and center midfielder Tyler Rosenlund.
This is the fifth time that the Rochester Rhinos have opened a season with a losing record after five matches, and only the second time in club history that they are winless after five matches. In each of the previous four seasons Rochester persevered and made the playoffs. In 2008 the Rhinos opened the season 0-4-2 before rebounding with a 7-1-5 stretch after losing their home opener 1-0 to Charleston on May 17th, 2008. The Rhinos have never missed the playoffs in the 17-year history of the club. The 2013 edition of the Rochester Rhinos is looking forward to starting the home portion of their schedule.
“We're finally at home," Myers said. "We get the benefit of playing a schedule that is more conducive to winning and playing better football.”
Season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales are currently available, and they can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Individual tickets for the 2013 USL PRO season are also on sale now.