Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Friday, May 27, 2011
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Rhinos and Wilmington Hammerheads played to a 1-1 draw at Sahlen’s Stadium on Friday night as a torrential downpour made for difficult playing conditions and saw the USL PRO game be called in the 79th minute.
The Hammerheads first opportunity came in the 11th minute when Alex Grendi dribbled around a charging Neal Kitson to put a shot on a wide open net only to see Rochester’s Troy Roberts clear the ball off the line keeping the match scoreless.
Neither team managed to generate many scoring opportunities during the remainder of the first half as the teams went the break scoreless. Rhinos Head Coach Bob Lilley had to juggle his lineup as injuries began to mount. Starters Roberts, Connor Tobin, and Mike Tanke all went down in the first 35 minutes forcing three first-half substitutions for Rochester.
Eight minutes into the second half Wilmington’s Luke Mulholland let a shot go from 20 yards that rose just over the crossbar. Minutes later the visitors went down a man when Gareth Evans was sent off after he took down Alfonso Motagalvan.
But despite being down to 10 men, the Hammerheads jumped out in front in the 60th minute when Chris Spendlove’s corner kick was headed home by Ivan Becerra, snapping Kitson’s scoreless streak at 332 minutes. The lead didn’t last long, however, as a long ball sent by Rich Costanzo was corralled and finished off by Motagalvan to tie the score.
With the rain continuing to pour, the Sahlen's Stadium field began to develop standing water in a number of area, and with more rain expected and conditions worsening, referee Steve Montanino ruled conditions unplayable, pulling both teams off the field in the 79th minute. Soon after, the decision was made to call the game with each side taking a point.
Wilmington moves on to face Pittsburgh on Saturday night at Chartiers Valley Stadium, while the Rhinos will face F.C. New York on Monday afternoon at Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y. to start a three-game road trip that concludes in Antigua next weekend. Rochester's next home game is on Saturday, June 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Rhinos take on the Harrisburg City Islanders in the first USL PRO game to be televised by Fox Soccer Channel this season.