September 23, 2015 Toronto FC II--match preview Rochester Rhinos vs Toronto FC II (from rhinosoccer.com)
Rhinos Host Regular Season Finale 09/23/2015 10:50 AM - The Rochester Rhinos host Toronto FC II in the regular season finale for both clubs in Sahlen's Stadium on Thursday, September 24th 2015 at 7:05PM. This match was originally scheduled for Saturday, September 12th 2015, but was postponed due to unplayable field conditions on the original date of the match. All tickets from the September 12th fixture will be honored in Sahlen's Stadium on September 24th. The Rochester Rhinos enter their final match as the 2015 USL Regular Season Champions. The Rhinos have 58 points from a 16-1-10 record in their first 27 matches of the regular season, and are the only USL side to surpass the 50 point total this season. The Rhinos will defend their unbeaten home record for the final time in the regular season on Thursday night as Rochester has run up an 11-0-2 record in Sahlen's Stadium in their first 13 matches played. The foundation of the Rhinos success has been in their dominant defense as the team has allowed a league low 15 goals this season. Charleston Battery have the second best mark in USL this season with 28 goals conceded. USL representatives will be on hand Thursday night to present the Rochester Rhinos with a trophy in recognition of their regular season championship. While Thursday night will be the final regular season match of 2015 for the Rhinos, Rochester is the number one seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Rhinos will open play in the 2015 USL Eastern Conference Semi-Finals on Saturday, October 3rd 2015 at 7:05PM in Sahlen's Stadium against the winner of the New York Red Bulls II – Pittsburgh Riverhounds fixture to be played on Saturday, September 26th 2015 in Red Bulls Arena. “Thursday night is an important match for us in preparation for the playoffs in October.” Rochester Rhinos Hall of Fame Head Coach Bob Lilley said. “We've been trying to get guys healthy over the past couple of weeks heading into the playoffs, but Thursday night will be our final preparation for the following weekend. We'd like to field the most competitive line-up that we can without risking anyone (with injury) before our first playoff game on October 3rd.” The Rochester Rhinos team sheet on Thursday night is sure to include 2015 team award winners Tony Walls, Kenardo Forbes, and Grant Van de Casteele. Walls is the captain of the Rochester Rhinos and was selected as the 2015 Rhinos MVP after scoring four goals and adding two assists in 2,303 minutes. Walls and right back Pat McMahon are the only two Rhinos to have eclipsed 2,000 minutes played to date. Offensive MVP Forbes posted three goals and added five assists as the midfield catalyst for an attack that has the chance to surpass the 40 goal scored mark for the first time in the USL era. The Rhinos have scored 38 goals in their first 27 matches of the season. Center back Grant Van de Casteele started 18 games and played 1,580 minutes to anchor a back four that is one clean sheet away from setting the USL record for goals conceded in a season with 15. Orlando City only conceded 16 goals during the 2011 Regular Season. Van de Casteele has been absent over the past month with injury, but has played as a substitute in the Rhinos last two matches as he looks to regain his fitness in time for the playoffs. While Toronto FC II missed out on the playoffs in their inaugural season in 2015, their 2015 season is still part of a historic step forward for USL and MLS. TFCII and six other MLS sides joined LA Galaxy in fielding teams in USL during the 2015 regular season. In their first season Toronto beat Saint Louis FC and FC Montreal away from home while playing to a draw with Wilmington, Harrisburg City Islanders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC2 on the road. The Rhinos are well aware of the danger in overlooking TFCII on Thursday night. “If we've learned anything as a league this season it is that nothing is ever as it appears. Every single week this season there was a result that made you look twice. I think the fact that any team was in fact beating any other team regardless of record week in and week out this season speaks to the talent level in the league and the competitiveness of every team. That will hold true for our final regular season game with Toronto and throughout the playoffs. Any team can win any game at any time in USL.” Lilley said. The Rochester Rhinos and Toronto FC II have previously met three times during the 2015 regular season. The Rhinos topped TFCII in Rochester on May 9th when Steevan Humberto Fortes dos Santos finished a Forbes assist in stoppage time to give the home side a 1:0 victory. Rochester goalkeeper Brandon Miller made two saves to keep the clean sheet. Two weeks later the Rhinos traveled north of the border to BMO Field, and played to a scoreless draw with TFCII. Toronto goalkeeper Quillan Roberts made three saves for the shutout while Miller made two saves to keep the clean sheet. On July 11th the two sides met at Ontario Soccer Center in Canada where the Rhinos topped TFCII 2:0. Dos Santos and midfielder Jonny Mendoza were the goal scorers while left back Onua Thomas Obasi was credited with two assists. Miller made four saves to keep his third clean sheet of the season against Toronto FC II. Rochester has taken seven of nine points off of TFCII this season, and is yet to conceded a goal to Thursday night's opponent. The Rhinos next match is in Rochester against Toronto FC II on Thursday, September 24th 2015 at 7:05PM in Sahlen's Stadium. Single game tickets to the match are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours. The Rochester Rhinos will host a USL Eastern Conference Semi-Final match in Sahlen's Stadium on Saturday, October 3rd 2015 at 7:05PM against the winner of the Saturday, September 26th fixture between New York Red Bulls II and Pittsburgh Riverhounds in Red Bulls Arena. Rochester Rhinos playoff tickets and group sales tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), online via Ticketmaster, or by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium during business hours.
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