ROCHESTER, NY, May 26, 2003 - Playing on a rain soaked pitch ad infield Rochester and Syracuse faced each other for the second time in as many days. Having taken first place with the 2-0 win again Syracuse the night before Rochester looked to increase their lead in the Northeast Division as well as qualify for the US Open Cup.
These two teams have already developed a very physical rivalry as the cards started flying in the 3rd minute with Syracuse's Neil McNab getting a yellow.
Ten minutes into the match Rochester had an excellent opportunity but the forwards failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Possession switched sides for most of the first half with Rochester appearing to have a slight advantage.
The rain that had soaked the field during the day, returned before the midway point of the first-half. More slips and "bumps" began to happen as both sides got bogged down in the middle. In the 24th minute Syracuse broke through and Ryan Mack got Keeper Billy Andracki to commit to one direction and Mack put it just out of Billy's reach in the opposite corner.
With the goal and the rain dampening the Rhinos, once again play became mired in the midfield. Syracuse was energized and needed another goal two help in their qualifying for the US Open Cup. Only seven minutes after their first goal, Ryan McNab put a shot from long range past Andracki to give Syracuse a nice 2-0 lead.
The last of the scoring would take place just before the end of the first-half when in the 43 minute Syracuse tried to head it back to their keeper who was out of position to receive the header and bounced into the back of the net. That one goal allowed Rochester to go onto the next stage of the US Open Cup.
The second half saw Syracuse fall back onto defense and only get off one shot. Rochester on the other hand took control and got 8 shots off but only 2 forced the keeper to make a save.
As the game was drawing to an end Syracuse's Keeper Mike Gabb game way off his line trying to take the ball of the foot of Doug Miller. Miller was able to get around him but did a little too much footwork with the ball and missed his opportunity in an open net.
Rochester did pick it up in the second half but not enough to come away with any points. The do moved on tot eh next stage in the Open Cup but allow Syracuse to become top dog, for now.
Time Goal Scorer & Assist Score
24 Mack (Valencia) ROC 0 - SYR 1
31 McNab (Lysand) ROC 0 - SYR 2
43 OWN GOAL ROC 1 - SYR 2
Starting Lineups
Y = Yellow Card
R = Red Card
Rochester Raging Rhinos
Formation: 4-4-2
1 GK - Bill Andracki
3 D - Craig Demmin
4 D - Scott Schweitzer
5 D - Yuri Lavrinenko
11 D - Bill Sedgewick
7 M - Temoc Suarez (y)
21 M - Kirk Wilson (y)
12 M - David Hayes
23 M - Lenin Steenkamp
9 F - Viktor Paco
19 F - Doug Miller
Opponent
Formation: 4-4-2
0 GK - Mike Gabb
6 D - Sebastian Sinozic
12 D - Mike Kirmse (y)
21 D - Carlos Semedo
25 D - Benito Kemble
4 M - Neil McNab (y)
7 M - Lars Lysand
20 M - Tony Medina
23 M - Judah Cooks
5 F - Ryan Mack
14 F - Gabriel Valencia
How They Fared
Here's how we feel the Rhinos fared against Opponent:
8 = Highest, 0 = Lowest
Keith's
Player Rating Comments
1 GK - Bill Andracki 4 Playing as he did justifies Rochester looking at other
keepers
5 D - Yuri Lavrinenko 6 Nice to see him make his start this year. Excellent 1st
game
3 D - Craig Simmons 5 Average. Misjudged Syracuse's speed many times
4 D - Scott Schweitzer 7 Created some nice chances for the offense and helped
stop Syracuse on many occasions
11 M - Bill Sedgewick 6 Excellent work rate
7 M - Temoc Suarez 5 All over the field but yet no where to be found
21 M - Kirk Wilson 7 Lord of the hustle. Never stopped on the ball
12 M - David Hayes 6 Not holding onto the ball as long and getting better
field vision
23 M - Lenin Steenkamp 5 Lost in the pack. Made some costly errant passes
9 F - Viktor Paco 7 Excellent ball control and distribution
19 F - Doug Miller 4 Could not finish at all. Had an open net opportunity and
decided to hold on the ball to long
Coaches 4 Not sure what the game plan is but defense is not the
name of the game anymore
Statistics
SHOTS:
ROC: 14
SYR: 5
SAVES:
ROC: 1
SYR: 5
FOULS:
ROC: 15
SYR: 19
CAUTIONS/EJECTIONS:
ROC: 2/0
SYR: 2/0
ATTENDANCE: 8495
