Rhinos Sink Mariners in Overtime

2 Crucial Goals at Game’s End Help Rochester Beat Virginia Beach

J-P Altieri and Keith Kiedrowski,
a-league.com Match Reporters
Rochester

ROCHESTER, NY, July 14, 2003 – After churning out huge wins against divisional rivals the entire holiday weekend, the Rhinos seemed primed for a letdown against high-powered Virginia Beach. After the Mariners’ Aguilera put in rebound off Rhinos ‘keeper Andracki in the 2’, it appeared that Rochester was doomed.

For the first 35 minutes, it looked as if it was only a matter of time before Rhinos fans, some 10,060 strong, witnessed first-hand what the Rhinos had back on May 9: a first-class whipping by the Mariners. But just as the game settled into such ugliness, Rhino forward Doug Miller placed an impossible shot into the Mariners’ net and the game was suddenly tied. Miller, streaking near the end line at the right side of the Virginia Beach goal, received a pass from Rhinos’ midfielder Stoian Mladenov, and turned magnificently to place a difficult and low percentage shot across the mouth of the goal and into the net. The Rhinos, until then playing the role of sleeping giant, awoke as an offense monster, creating chances until the final whistle.

The same type of play resumed in the second half, with Rochester creating more chances but failing to finish. An air of chippiness was also noticeable, as fouls became more and more apparent as the game went on. Cards also became an undesirable result of the match, coming to a head in the 71’, when the Mariners’ Brooks, a 69’ substitute, was sent off after only 2 minutes.

With the man advantage, Rochester took more chances and nearly went ahead in the 74’, when Steenkamp’s well-placed cross found Mladenov inside the Virginia Beach goal box, but his point-blank shot was turned aside by Mariners ‘keeper Joe Larson.

On the other end, it appeared that Rhinos ‘keeper Bill Andracki night was going to become a lot easier, as the Mariners began taking long shots from 40 or more yards out, just to keep him honest. Andracki’s mistake in judgment on the ball in the 80’ allowed Aguilera some consolation for the ejection of Brooks 9 minutes earlier, when his long-range shot dropped into the Rochester goal behind Andracki, who was out of position.

Rochester, suddenly up a man but down a goal, went on he attack, searching for an equalizer. Miller nearly got it in the 82’, but he couldn’t connect solidly on the ball. By the 86’, the pressure by Rochester was so intense, that defenders for both teams were permanent fixtures in the Mariners’ goal box. This paid immensely for the Rhinos, who in a last-ditch effort in injury time, was able to spring defender Craig Demmin for the equalizer off a pass from Fred Commodore.

As the game headed to overtime, the crowd was ecstatic and Frontier Field had a playoff atmosphere to it. Two offense giants had come to play, albeit disjointedly at times, and they delivered on the notion that this would be a great game. They didn’t disappoint. 2 minutes into overtime, the Rhinos’ Suarez took a low free kick that Larson turned away, directly to Miller who buried the shot into the back of the net, giving the Rhinos the crucial 3 points it needed to keep pace with division-leading Montreal.

Goal Summary