Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Saturday, June 25, 2011
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Rhinos earned a 1-0 victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions on Saturday night at Sahlen's Stadium as rookie JC Banks tallied his second goal of the season. Goalkeeper Neal Kitson was credited with an assist on the goal giving him a goal and an assist on the season.
Rochester nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Dayton defender Kyle Segebart attempted to play a ball back to his goalkeeper Jesper Leerdam but instead played it right into the chest of Rhinos forward Anthony Hamilton. The forward moved in close to shoot but a hard-charging Leedham forced the shot just wide.
The Lions looked to have a great opportunity of their own when Lucien Seymor’s cross seemed destined for Kolby LaCrone who was in position in front of the Rhino goal. The scoring chance was snuffed out, however, when Max Ferdinand’s hustle enabled him to get back in time to head the ball out for a corner kick.
Later in the first half Rochester’s Issac Kissi drew a free kick just outside the Dayton penalty area and quickly attempted to feed Hamilton who was running free into the left side of the penalty area. But Kissi’s pass had a little bit too much on it and Leerdam was quick off his line to beat Hamilton to the ball. The Rhinos also went close in the 38th minute when Ferdinand found Kissi open in the box, but his volley was misplayed and went well beyond the far post. The teams went to the locker room tied at the half, after combining for just six total shots on goal (three by each team).
The game remained scoreless entering the second half, and it appeared as though Hamilton had given the Rhinos a 1-0 lead in the 67th minute when he headed home from Banks' throw-in, putting it past Leerdam. But before Rochester could celebrate the goal the referee had ruled Alfonso Motagalvan had pushed off a defender to gain position.
The 84th minute witnessed the two sides trade offensive scares. Rochester’s Andrew Hoxie fired a shot across the penalty area that just rolled wide of the far post. Moments later, LaCrone left-footed a shot past a diving Kitson, but it went wide of the goal.
The ball Rochester sealed the match in the 90th minute after Kitson sent a long ball into the box that ricocheted off the head of a Lions defender and landed perfectly at the feet of Banks, who had no trouble firing the ball past a helpless Leerdam to put the Rhinos ahead for good. Kitson was credited with his first assist of the season on the goal.
The win improved the Rhinos to 7-4-3 with their next match coming on Tuesday night when they host the Chicago Fire in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.