Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Thursday, June 19, 2014
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos return to USL PRO play on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. against the Dayton Dutch Lions at Sahlen's Stadium. Halfway through the 2014 season the Rhinos sit fourth in the leaguge table with 20 points from 14 matches, while Dayton is twelfth with 11 points from 13 matches.
In league play the Rochester Rhinos have played the Dutch Lions twice in Dayton this season. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw at Beavercreek Stadium on April 11th. Sam Petrone scored the lone goal in the match for the Rhinos off an assist from Colin Rolfe in the 29th minute. Dayton substitute Joe Broekhuizen scored the equalizer in second-half stoppage time off an assist from Shane Smith for the home side. The Rhinos defeated Dayton 1-0 at DOC Stadium on June 1st. Levi Houapeu scored the game-winning goal off an assist from Alex Dixon in the 46th minute, while New England Revs loanee Luis Soffner made two saves for his first clean sheet of the season.
The Rhinos have a 5-4-5 in USL PRO. They have only posted a 1 – 2 – 2 mark at home with four goals scored and five goals against.
“Well, we played nine of our first 14 matches on the road to start the season this year.” Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley said. “Now that ratio flips during the second half of the season, and we have nine of our last 14 matches at home. Obviously we recognize that our form at home needs to improve, but we just got a huge result on Tuesday night. We're hopeful that will give us some momentum to build on in league play this weekend.”
Rochester defeated defending champions D.C. United in the Fourth Round of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at Sahlen's Stadium. Rolfe scored the game-winning goal off an assist from Michael Garzi in the 27th minute. Rhinos rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to keep his first clean sheet in the tournament, and his sixth clean sheet in all competitions. The match was delayed a total of two hours and nine minutes over two separate stoppages due to inclement weather. It was the first time Rochester had defeated D.C. United in five tries in the U.S. Open Cup, and only the second outright victory over an MLS side since the Rhinos won the tournament in 1999. Rochester is the lone USL PRO side remaining in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Rhinos will visit their MLS affiliate New England Revolution in the Fifth Round of the tournament on June 25th at 7:35 p.m.
Dayton has a 3-8-2 record in league play, but nine of its eleven points have come from its 3-4-0 record away from home. The Dutch Lions have scored 11 of their 15 goals away from home. Striker Aaron Schoenfeld is fourth in USL PRO in goals with eight, and Eli Garner has three goals and one assist. Schoenfeld is third in the league in shots with 31.
“We have already played Dayton twice this season, and there has only been a one goal difference between us over 180 minutes. It's good to advance in the Open Cup, but it's important to get results and points in the league.” Lilley said.
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.