USL PRO Game Report
Sunday, April 27, 2014
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos opened their 19th season in upstate New York with a 1-0 victory against the Charleston Battery on Sunday afternoon in front of 6,385 fans at Sahlen's Stadium. JC Banks scored the only goal of the match in the first half, while rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy recorded his second consecutive shutout as the Rhinos moved into fifth place in the USL PRO table.
The only goal of the game arrived in the 19th minute as Rhinos midfielder Lance Rozeboom received a short pass in the middle of the pitch from fellow holding midfielder Alec Sundly and played a 20-yard pass into the feet of target player Tyler Rosenlund at the top of the box. Rosenlund had his back to goal, but held off Charleston center back Taylor Mueller, and flicked the ball into the path of Banks,who took two touches before he fired past Charleston goalkeeper Eric Shannon and into the lower left-hand corner of the Battery goal.
“Rosey was able to get into a pocket of space and receive the ball at his feet.” Banks said. “He flicked the ball onto me, and I was able to control it and put it in the bottom corner of the net. I'm not sure if the goalkeeper was able to see it, or if he was screened, but I felt like I struck it well.”
The goal was Banks' third in four matches to start the 2014 USL PRO season. Banks is now tied for second in USL PRO in goals scored, and third in points. After a 2013 season that saw Banks limited by his rehabilitation, the fourth-year Rhino has returned to form after reconstructive surgery on his ACL in September 2012. In 2012 Banks was named First Team All-USL PRO, the Rhinos team MVP, and USL PRO assist leader with five goals and eight assists.
The Battery waited until stoppage time to get their first shot on goal of the match, but it was an effort that could have easily been the equalizer. Maikel Chang played a corner kick into the far post in the 92nd minute and Battery captain Colin Falvey got on the end of the service and directed a header on goal from inside the six yard box. Falvey's header was powerful enough to beat Rhinos goalkeeper John McCarthy, but Rhinos right back Pat McMahon worked in behind the goalkeeper to cover for him, and was able to clear his header up over the crossbar to save all three points for the home side. The clean sheet was McCarthy's second in as many starts after a 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire Reserves on Monday.
The Rochester Rhinos return to action next weekend with a back-to-back road trip to Richmond and Wilmington. The Rhinos will visit the Richmond Kickers on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET at City Stadium. Rochester will visit the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET at Legion Stadium. Both matches can be seen live in their entirety on YouTube Live.
The Rochester Rhinos next home match is on Saturday, May 10th at 7 p.m. ET against the defending USL PRO champion Orlando City. Tickets for any 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.