Rochester Rhinos News Release - www.rhinossoccer.com

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos will visit Louisville City FC on Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff as they open the final leg of their season-opening road trip.

The Rhinos will also face Saint Louis FC on Saturday night at World Wide Technology Soccer Park at 8:30 p.m. ET before returning home to open their 20th season in Rochester on Sunday, April 26th at 2:05 p.m. against New York Red Bulls II at Sahlen's Stadium.

The Rochester Rhinos are off to a fast start in the early days of the 2015 USL regular season, and currently sit second in the 12-team Eastern Conference table with seven points from a 2-0-1 record. After a scoreless draw with New York Red Bulls II in their season-opening match at Red Bull Arena on March 28th, the Rhinos defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-1 at Highmark Stadium on April 4 before defeating FC Montreal 3-0 last Saturday.

Rochester head coach Bob Lilley has built another strong defensive team that is tied for the best defensive record in the Eastern Conference. The Rhinos have allowed one goal in their first three matches. The team has limited their opponents to 17 shots and eight shots on goal so far this season.

“The team has a good collective idea of what we are trying to accomplish this season.” Rhinos captain Tony Walls said. “The guys come into training, work hard every day, and you can see it in the games as we are getting results.”

The biggest improvement in the Rochester Rhinos squad this season has been their increased offensive output. Rochester ranks in the top half of the Eastern Conference with five goals scored. Rookie Christian Volesky leads the team in scoring after netting two goals against FC Montreal. The SIU Edwardsville product had a standout performance in the 2015 Major League Soccer Combine in January before signing with the Rhinos during training camp in March.

Louisville City FC will also enter Thursday's match with the Rhinos unbeaten with four points from a 1-0-1 start to their 2015 campaign. Louisville defeated Saint Louis FC 2-0 at Louisville Slugger Stadium to open their inaugural campaign before playing to a 1-1 draw with the Richmond Kickers at City Stadium in their second match. Louisville is led by USL and MLS veteran Matt Fondy. The former NCAA Division III All-America selection at UC Santa Cruz began his career as a rookie with Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2011 before earning All-USL honors in 2012 with Orange County Blues after scoring ten league goals. Fondy's goal-scoring exploits earned the attention of MLS where he played with Chivas USA in 2013 and Chicago Fire in 2014. Fondy returns to USL with Louisville FC after making 16 appearances with MLS sides over the past two seasons.

Saint Louis FC has rebounded from its season opening loss to Louisville City FC by taking four points from their last two matches. Saint Louis defeated Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-0 on the road before returning home to earn a 1-1 draw with Pittsburgh Riverhounds in their inaugural home match at World Wide Technology Soccer Park. Saint Louis has gotten off to a fast start in each of its first three matches by taking 24 first-half shots to their opponent's 11.

Forward Bryan Gaul has led the attack for the home side after scoring one goal and adding an assist in the Saint Louis FC victory over Tulsa. The 25-year-old Gaul is an MLS veteran after playing two seasons with LA Galaxy. The 6-foot-5 forward made 14 appearances with the first team after being selected as a first round pick out of Bradley University in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

“We will be facing two quality teams this weekend," Lilley said. "Both of these teams have good players. Both of these teams have experienced players. Both of these teams have explosive players who can hurt you. And both of these teams have started off the season with big crowds and a sense of enthusiasm in their communities. This will be a test of where we are early in the season.”

Both matches can be seen live in their entirety via streaming video through YouTube Live.

After this weekend the Rochester Rhinos will return home to open their 20th season in Rochester with a 2:05 p.m. kickoff at Sahlen's Stadium on Sunday, April 26th against New York Red Bulls II. Single game tickets to the home opener 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.

Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages, and group sales tickets are also 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.