Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Friday, April 25, 2014
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos will open their 19th season in Rochester on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium against the Charleston Battery. Sunday's contest will also see the first class inducted into the Rochester Soccer Hall of Fame, with former U.S. Men's National Team Player Brian Bliss and U.S. Women's National Team standout Abby Wambach among the inaugural class.
The Rhinos have played their first three matches of the 2014 USL PRO season on the road. The Rhinos opened the season with a 3-1 loss to defending USL PRO champion Orlando City on April 5th. However, Rochester head coach Bob Lilley's young side have taken four out of their last six points. The Rhinos played to a 1-1 draw in Dayton against the Dutch Lions on April 11th before defeating the Chicago Fire Reserves 2-0 at Toyota Park this past Monday. The point haul could have been even better – Dayton scored its equalizer in the 94th minute.
“It's a decent start with three consecutive games on the road not necessarily being ideal. ” Lilley said. “I think we've been beter every game, and we are maturing as a team. We've been getting more fluent on offense and more organized on defense. Charleston is a tough opener, but we are hoping to continue to make progress.”
Lilley brought in 19 new faces during the off-season after Rochester missed the playoffs for the first time in the club's 18-year history last season. However, fourth-year midfielder JC Banks has had the biggest impact on the score sheet with two goals in the first three matches. Banks was a 2012 USL PRO First Team selection and won the Rhinos 2012 MVP award, but he suffered a ruptured ACL in August 2012 that required reconstructive surgery in September. After a 2013 Rhinos season that saw Banks continue to recover from his knee injury, he appears to be back in form at the start of the 2014 season. The 24 year-old midfielder already has 10 goals and 14 assists in his career.
Sunday's opponent, the Charleston Battery won the USL PRO Championship in 2012, and the club has been one of the perennial powers in USL PRO since the league's formation in 2011. The club has finished in the top four in each of the league's first three seasons, and the Battery have finished in the top three each of the past two seasons. While Charleston sits in 12th place before the weekend, their 0-1-3 record is deceptive as they have had to play Orlando City and the Richmond Kickers in three of their first four matches.
The Battery have the chance to pick up three points in Pittsburgh on Saturday night before visiting Rochester on Sunday afternoon. After formalizing their MLS affiliation with the Vancouver Whitecaps during the off-season, Charleston has no more than six Whitecaps players on loan. The MLS contingent includes former MLS SuperDraft number one overall selection Omar Salgado, Connecticut rookie Mamadou Diouf, and Jamaican Andre Lewis.
“Charleston is very good defensively” said Lilley. “They are well organized, well coached, and very good on the counter attack. Charleston are one of the top teams year-in and year-out, but we're hoping to get three points at home on Sunday.”
Tickets for the home opener as well as any other match on the Rhinos home schedule will be available by by calling (585) 454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales are also currently available.