 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Rhinos get that winning feeling back at home By Richard W. Kozak, Jr.  |
| |
The Rochester Rhino’s 2008 season is at a crossroads. After a dismal start to the 2008 campaign, the Rhinos have used the summer months to forge an almost Lazarus-like comeback from the dead and move back into playoff contention.
After a seven game winning streak witness the Rhinos move from last place in the United Soccer League’s first division, the Rhinos’ luck has not been as fortunate. After fighting most of the season to recapture some respectability on the pitch and in the eyes of the Rochester fan base, the Rochester eleven slipped back to under .500 after a mid-week match with arch-rival Montreal.
The Rhinos traveled north to Stade Saputo only to increase the team’s streak of futility to 0-4-1 over that last five game span. On July 27, the Rhinos defeated the Impact for Rochester’s first win at “Mount Royal” since 1998, but a repeat performance was not to be had on this night.
As has been the case throughout the season in both good and bad times, Rochester was hampered by a slow start and early goal by an opposing team. In the game’s 10th minute, the Impact was awarded a free kick from about 41-yards away from the Rochester goal.
Montreal’s Pat Leduck nailed a shot towards the Rochester goal that rocketed off the crowd in front of Rhinos’ keeper Scott Vallow. Vallow unbelievably was redirected the ball away from the net and off the woodwork. Just when it looked as if Rochester dodged the bullet, Montreal’s Tony Donatelli scooped the rebound into the net for the eventual game winner.
The Rhinos missed opportunities but could not capitalize in a losing effort. The team returned to PAETEC Park to face the seventh place Minnesota Thunder. The Thunder trail the Rhinos by only one point as the home team looked to capitalize on a favorable schedule that sees the Rhinos playing four games out of the remaining seven regular season contests on home turf.
Despite the team being docked a point by the league and a subsequent suspension over the same matter for Andrew Gregor, a crowd of 8,834 witnessed the Rhinos pull out a “must win” victory over the Thunder by a 3-1 margin.
The win moved Rochester back to even in the standings at 8-8-8 good for 31 points. Perhaps more importantly, the victory moved the Rhinos to only one point behind Atlanta for 5th place in the playoff hunt. The Rhinos get to face the Silverback on August 30th in a USL race that sees the top seven teams make the post-season.
Johnny “on the spot” Menyonger opened the scoring in the 40th minute with some fancy footwork that allowed a free shot at an empty Minnesota net for a 1-0 Rochester lead. After the second half restart, it only took new Rhino Daniel Antunez 13 minutes to find the score sheet in only his second pro start. Luke Kreamalmayer played a marvelous service to Antunez who hammered home a 25-yard blast for the 2-0 Rochester advantage.
Krealmalmayer would score his own tally later in the half on a nice set up by Antunez to John Ball for a 3-0 advantage good for Krealmalmayer’s fourth tally of the season. The Thunder would score a goal by Melvin Tarley in the 88th minute to spoil Vallow’s wish for a clean sheet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|