 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Three is a magic number for the Rhinos By Richard W. Kozak, Jr.  |
| |
The psyche of any sports team is fragile thing. When the day to day operations get sliding towards negative prospects, the hope of resurrecting any positive atmosphere can be trying. Conversely, there is no better feeling than to be acquainted with a team that has found the winning “mojo.”
There is little difference as to whether you’re one of the “team” members who toil on the field, the ones who pull the strings in the front office, or even the ones who follows a club’s fortunes via the television or internet. When a team is winning, the sun shines a little brighter and the world seems a much better place.
That place is exactly where the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League’s First Division ride. Third place, actually, but a great place regardless considering the start the Rhinos incurred back in the spring.
In the 1970’s, ABC television used to play the “Schoolhouse Rock” series and one of the most popular animated vignettes was “Three is a magic number.” After the Rhinos traveled to Atlanta to face the struggling Silverbacks, the team came away with a 1-0 victory garnering “three” points for the team’s third straight win, and lifting the club into the USL’s 3rd place spot.
Even more impressive in the Rhinos ascent up the ranks is that the Rochester club spent nearly half the season in LAST place before an amazing turnaround of play and confidence for the black and white stripes.
With only four regular season matches remaining on the schedule, the Rhinos now control their own destiny with a 10-8-8 record with 37 points. Remember, the USL docked the Rhinos one point thereby tying the club with Charleston.
It’s been said that prime time players rise to the occasion, and that’s what the Rhinos’ leading scorer Johnny Menyongar did in Atlanta. Johnny “on the spot” turned a Silverbacks mental error into a goal for the Rhinos.
As the ball bounced around the Atlanta box, the Silverbacks’ Duke Hashimoto performed a reckless clearance of the ball that was intercepted by the constantly improving and always solid Matt Delicate.
Delicate instinctively headed the ball back into the Atlanta area in the vicinity of Menyongar. Johnny gobbled the ball up between two ‘Backs defenders. Just inside the 18 yard stripe and blasted home Rochester’s lone goal.
The Rhinos almost made the game 2-0 when midfielder Tiger Fitzpatrick nearly scored for the home team. Fitzpatrick took control of the loose ball, split two defenders and chipped the ball off the crossbar.
For the remainder of the contest, Coach Darren Tilley was content to let his team protect the slim margin and controlled the midfield for the majority of the second half of play.
Goal keeper Scott Vallow earned his second straight shutout on the season. The clean sheet was his ninth for the campaign placing him second among full-time USL goalies.
New acquisition Kenny Bertz saw his first action of the season coming on in the 65th minute and nearly reaped benefits off the deal immediately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|