USL Feature
Friday, August 19, 2011
The USL PRO Playoffs open tonight with three division semifinals as the road to the USL PRO Championship on September 3rd begins. As division rivals clash during the next two days, we take a look at what could make the difference in the four matchups this weekend.
NATIONAL DIVISION
No.1 Rochester Rhinos vs. No.4 Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Sahlen’s Stadium
The Rochester Rhinos will be the strong favorite to advance to the National Division Final after establishing their dominance over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in their three regular-season meetings. Rochester won all three meetings as goalkeeper Neal Kitson and the Rhinos defense didn’t allow a goal to the Riverhounds, while Pittsburgh native Rich Costanzo has been a thorn in his hometown team’s side scoring his only two goals of the season in their previous meetings.
Rochester will be without defender Tyler Bellamy, who was ruled out of the postseason earlier this week after sustaining a tear to his meniscus cartilage, and is expected to be replaced by Connor Tobin in the lineup. Tobin, a rookie, has impressed so far this season, but Pittsburgh’s forwards Jeremy Deighton and Jason Yeisley will probably look to challenge early.
The key to success for the Riverhounds tonight will be their defensive play. In five of the Riverhounds’ seven victories this season, goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap recorded a shutout, often making key saves in order to preserve three points for his side. It will be a tough ask for the Riverhounds’ defense to contain the Rhinos attacking corps of Isaac Kissi, Kendall Jagdeosingh, Andrew Hoxie and Tony Donatelli, but if they are to advance they will need to put in a strong performance.
No.2 Harrisburg City Islanders vs. No.3 Los Angeles Blues, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Skyline Sports Complex
Potentially the tightest match-up in the division semifinals, the City Islanders and Blues played to a pair of draws in the regular season, with Harrisburg edging the other meeting 2-1 in California on June 26.
A difference-maker for the City Islanders in the previous meetings was midfielder Andrew Welker, who scored twice in the teams’ three meetings as the converted defender finished the season with eight goals, but forwards Sainey Touray and Jose Angulo were also strong throughout the season for Harrisburg, both topping the 20-point mark making the City Islanders one of only two teams to have teammates accomplish that feat.
The Blues will have their leading scorer available again after Cesar Rivera served his team-issued suspension last weekend, and the presence of Antiguan international Peter Byers will likely give the City Islanders’ defense a lot to deal with. Byers, who started the season with Antigua Barracuda FC, finished the season with seven goals, and set up Rivera for the equalizer in the last meeting with the City Islanders, a 1-1 draw in Harrisburg on July 23.
Tonight’s game will be the first playoff game on City Island since 2005, which should give Harrisburg a boost of energy, but this contest could easily be settled in overtime, or even penalties.
AMERICAN DIVISION
No.2 Wilmington Hammerheads vs. No.3 Richmond Kickers, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Legion Stadium
The Wilmington Hammerheads have had a remarkable season, securing a home playoff game in their return to action while racking up the most home wins in USL PRO this season with nine. But if that season is going to continue they’ll need to get past the side that has given them the most trouble this season, the Richmond Kickers.
Richmond won both of the meetings between the two sides this season, including a 2-0 victory at Legion Stadium last weekend as Ryan Heins had a goal and an assist. If they are going to overturn those previous results, the Hammerheads will likely have to do so with leading scorer Luke Mulholland, who has been trying to overcome a hamstring injury suffered in their final regular season game against Dayton last Saturday.
If Mulholland is unavailable, the Hammerheads aren’t lacking in offensive firepower. Both Andryi Budnyy (eight goals, six assists) and Chris Banks (seven goals, three assists) have also had good seasons, but they will be challenged by a Kickers defense that allowed the second-fewest goals in USL PRO (21) this season. The trio of goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale and defenders Henry Kalungi and William Yomby have been impressive all season, and will be tough to break down.
The Kickers’ success against the Hammerheads hasn’t just been this season, though. All time, Richmond holds a 9-3-3 record against Wilmington, and with USL PRO’s second-leading scorer Matt Delicâte leading the way you could make a case for the Kickers being a favorite to advance to the American Division Final. But with a passionate crowd behind them, as is expected tonight, the Hammerheads will be focused on breaking the Kickers’ run of success against them and moving on.
No.1 Orlando City vs. No.4 Charleston Battery, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Florida Citrus Bowl
The USL PRO regular season champion Orlando City will begin its quest for the first league championship in the club’s history against a Charleston side that was the last team to earn its berth in the playoffs this past Friday night against the Charlotte Eagles.
This will be the fifth meeting of the season between the Lions and Battery, with Orlando having taken three of the previous four meetings. Orlando won both of the meetings at the Citrus Bowl, with Jamie Watson scoring in both contests as he produced a strong late-season surge to finish the season with eight goals and three assists. Watson has picked up the offensive slack of late, with the Lions leading scorer Max Griffin not having found the back of the net since their 3-1 win against Antigua Barracuda FC on June 24, but the biggest strength of the Lions has been their defense, which conceded just 16 goals in 24 regular season games.
Charleston had been struggling for goals throughout the season, but exploded for four goals against the Eagles, their highest total of the season. They will be without central defender John Wilson in tonight’s game, though, as he serves the second game of a suspension that came from a red card in the final meeting between the Battery and Lions on August 6. With Dane Kelly appearing in good form with two goals and an assist in his last two games, the Battery will approach the game with nothing to lose, which should provide a challenge for the Lions’ strong home record.