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Rhinos draw with Islanders no laughing matter By Richard W. Kozak, Jr.  |
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One of the most iconic American sitcoms of the 1960’s was the campy comedy “Gilligan’s Island”. Each week, the band of seven stranded castaways made a shambles of an attempt to finally leave their island paradise, get rescued, and finally return to civilization. After nearly 40 years in syndication, the old show is still good for a barrel of laughs to new generations.
Fast forward to 2008, after being stomped by the Puerto Rico Islanders 4-0 last week “on the island”, none of the Rhinos or Coach Darren Tilley found anything remotely funny about the humbling experience. To make matters even more dour, there were even less smiles around after the same two teams tied 1-1 in a return match at Rochester’s PAETEC Park. Adding to the frustration for both the home team and supporters is the United Soccer League’s penchant for saddling the Rhinos with some of the most inept officiating in this hemisphere.
After the draw, the Rhinos remain in 6th place in the USL’s first division with a 7-7-8 record. The Islanders kept pace with Vancouver with the League’s best record boasting 37 points. While not laughing, or even happy about the draw at home, the Rhinos can take some solace in changing their fortunes so quickly against one of the USL’s premier squad.
The Islanders lead the league in goals with 33 including the four pounded in the Rochester net last week. Yet, the Rhinos didn’t sacrifice their offense on the evening while allowing the Islanders to only brandish a handful of shots for the match.
Red hot Mauricio Salles and Luke Krealmalmayer played their usual solid games and nearly missed adding more tallies on the scoreboard, but were thwarted by the Puerto Rico defense and goal keeper on more than one occasion.
After a strong first half, the Rochester Rhinos’ diligence finally paid off on the scoreboard. In the 45th minute, the Rhinos finally found twine. Johnny Menyongar cradled Andrew Gregor’s pooch into the penalty area. Alfonso Loera beautifully stroked a one-timer from about 13-yards away from the goal sending the crowd of 6,062 fans into a frenzy.
The goal, nearly at the whistle for the half, seemed to amp up the game’s intensity from both team’s standpoints. The Islanders came out in the second half poised to score and became increasingly more physical form sideline to sideline on the pitch. In the 55th minute, emotions reached a crescendo.
The Islanders’ Edwin “read him his” Miranda “rights” flattened Rochester’s John Ball. The physical played with an added elbow for good measure went uncalled and the lax officiating opened up the floodgates for “goon” soccer. With no fear of a foul call or impending card, the Islanders took full advantage of the new found freedom, while the Rhinos fell victim to the Islanders and 11 second half fouls.
Former Rhino Jon Steele set up the equalizer for the Islanders in the game’s 68th minute. The League leader in assists found Atieno with a wonderful long ball that was quickly deposited just inside the far post behind Vallow for the tie goal at 1-1.
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