Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Friday, May 17, 2013
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Rhinos host two-time, defending USL PRO Regular Season Champion Orlando City on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium. The Rhinos won their first match of the 2013 season last Friday with a 1-0 result in Legion Stadium against the Wilmington Hammerheads. New England Revolution striker Matt Horth scored the only goal of the match in the 79th minute. 2012 USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year Kristian Nicht returned to form with three saves to keep his second clean sheet of the season, while 2012 USL PRO Defender of the Year Troy Roberts made a timely tackle on Wilmington substitute Steven Perry in the 76th minute to keep the Eagles off the score board.
Nicht became the first Rhinos player to be named to the USL PRO Team of the Week this season, while Horth received Honorable Mention for his efforts. The result allowed Rochester to climb over Wilmington into 11th place in the table.
“We went into one of the more difficult places to play in USL PRO and were able to get a result,” Rhinos head coach Jesse Myers said. “We hung in there defensively in the first half, and then we were able to begin to control the match a little bit more in the second half with our possession.”
While the Rhinos suffered long term injuries to star striker Matt Luzunaris and defensive midfielder Michael Tanke in their home opener on May 4th, Rochester has also had some key pieces of the 2013 roster return over the past two weeks. Midfielder Ross LaBauex has started each of the past two matches for the Rhinos. LaBauex made an emergency start at right back in the home opener against the Harrisburg City Islanders, and then he played a full 90 minutes in midfield in the Rhinos victory in Wilmington. Rochester opponents have scored one goal in LaBauex's first two starts of the season. 2012 Rochester Rhinos MVP J.C. Banks made his first appearance of the season when he entered the Rhinos win in Wilmington in the 79th minute. Banks had been out since last August rehabilitating his surgically repaired ACL.
“Lose two and get two back seems to be the way things are going for us right now.” Myers said. “Ross is fully recovered from a torn calf muscle that he suffered in preseason, and JC is beginning to work his way back to match fitness after recovering from his ACL injury. Ross won a National Championship with Virginia, and then played three years in MLS with Colorado. J.C. was our MVP last season. For the most part when we're fresh and playing with 11 guys we've been competitive so far this season. The return of JC and Ross is going to continue to help us out in that regard.”
Orlando City enters Saturday night's match at Sahlen's Stadium at the top of the USL PRO table. Orlando City is the only USL PRO club to win the regular season title after they captured the honor in 2011 and 2012. The City Lions have 19 points from a 6-1-1 record through their first eight matches this season, and they have scored a league-high 23 goals. Sporting KC loanee Dom Dwyer has already scored 10 goals for City this season. On April 14th the Lions defeated the Rochester Rhinos 3-1 at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Orlando City is the only existing club that the Rochester Rhinos have never defeated (0-5-1).
“Over the past three seasons Orlando has been the most consistent team in the league.” Myers said. “They have a handful of guys who can score goals, which gives them a lot of different ways that they can hurt you. You need to be at your best and put out maximum effort when you play them. We've continued to improve from week to week, and we need to focus on getting a result this weekend.”