Rhinos win as Tanner scores two
By Jeff
DiVeronica
Democrat and Chronicle
(April 12, 2002) — In an effort
to provide something it hasn't had in three years -- consistent scoring from its
forwards -- Rochester signed Greg Simmonds and Dan Stebbins in the off-season
and also gave second-year Rhino Kirk Wilson a pay raise.
Jimmy Tanner
watched it all happen, and on Thursday began building a case for himself.
Tanner scored both goals less than a minute apart as the Rhinos opened
the preseason with a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Lynx before a crowd of about
450 fans at Houghton College. Rochester takes on another A-League rival,
Montreal, 3 p.m. Sunday at Bishop Kearney.
It was a typical defensive
Rochester-Toronto matchup until the second half. In the 60th minute, newcomer
Samir Sissic, a Bosnian who played at Mohawk Valley Community College and
Cortland State, cut a ball back just inside the box to elude the Lynx keeper and
Tanner was there for the easy putaway.
His next goal was prettier. Jamal
Ballantyne, drafted in February out of St. Lawrence University, fed Tanner and
he one-timed a shot from 16 yards.
"I had good momentum finishing last
season. Once I left indoor soccer (with the Cleveland Crunch) I wanted to come
in here ready to go," said Tanner, 23, a third-year pro and younger brother of
Rhinos captain Tommy Tanner.
"Last year we had eight forwards and they
only invited two back. Everyone we have is capable of playing at any time. When
I get my opportunity I know I have to make the most of it."
The Rhinos'
starting lineup was loaded with veterans. Pat Onstad opened in goal with central
defenders Scott Schweitzer and Craig Demmin and outside backs Carlos Zavala and
Kalin Bankov. Through the midfield were Martin Nash, Stoian Mladenov and
seventh-year Rhinos Tommy Tanner and Lenin Steenkamp.
The forwards were
Wilson and Stebbins, who spent last year away from professional soccer but has
returned. Simmonds is bothered by a knee injury and didn't play.
"I told
them to make sure they go out easy and get their game legs," coach Pat Ercoli
said. "We've been training really hard so I knew we might be dragging, but they
went out really quick."
All but one starter, Bankov, took the second
half off. Scott Vallow moved into goal. He has started most of the past two
league championship seasons, but he and a healthy Onstad are competing for the
No. 1 job. Onstad missed the second half of last year with an injured hand.
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