“The Final Frontier” Begins With Blowout Win

Rhinos Thump Lowly Lynx 4-0 in Home Opener

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

ROCHESTER, NY, May 3, 2004 – The Rhinos’ ninth season, the last at Frontier Field, began with a bang. Rochester applied non-stop pressure to a Toronto Lynx club that seemed confused and out of their element for nearly 90 minutes.

Early pressure from the Lynx, for about the opening 7 minutes, provided what Rhinos fans were able to surely dismiss once the Rhinos moved the ball into the opposition’s half. Toronto ‘keeper Bryheem Hancock found himself constantly facing shots from Rochester, as if he had a bull’s eye target on his chest. After 11 minutes, the Rhinos essentially put the game away when forward Chris Carrieri, a former Number 1 MLS Super Draft pick for the Colorado Rapids, placed a low shot past Hancock in the right corner. Newly acquired midfielder Ryan Trout threw in a high and long ball that midfielder Ian Fuller flicked inside the 6-yard box to an onrushing Carrieri, who didn’t miss with his first attempt on goal.

From this point on, the Rhinos moved the ball with precision and accuracy as they pushed for a second goal. Short, crisp passes along the surface would make any fan of Italian or Spanish football proud. Such hard work and deft footwork paid off, when forward Noah Delgado, in for injured forward Doug Miller, chased down a ball destined to go over the end line. He was able to successfully maneuver around the defender who was attempting to box him out, pull the ball back between the defender’s legs, and rush towards the goalmouth. Executing a perfect pass along the pitch, an onrushing Kirk Wilson netted Rochester’s second goal in the 36’.

Former Lynx goalie Theo Zagar, making his first start for the Rhinos enjoyed a comfortable first half, facing no real pressure from his former club, thanks mainly to a stout Rhinos defense, namely in John Wilson, Craig Demmin, and monstrous David Wright.

Rochester picked up the second half without missing a step and began working the ball back into the Toronto half of the pitch. Building right from the kickoff, the Rhinos created many chances, but were not able to put them away. Carrieri nearly had a second goal in the 63’ minute from a Bill Sedgewick cross, but he couldn’t connect on the low cross in front of the goalmouth.

Of note, Toronto was able to generate some pressure in the 55’, but the resulting shot kissed the far post and went out for a Rochester goal kick.

Carrieri almost scored again in the 79’, but he anxiously shot at Hancock instead of taking a few additional steps before firing. Such resiliency paid off for the new forward a minute later, though, when he placed a beautiful low cross to substitute forward Corey Woolfolk (Delgado, 69‘), who one-timed in Rochester’s third goal in the 80’.

Woolfolk struck again three minutes later, when Carrieri again crossed the ball to him in the 6-yard box. Firing from the center of the box, Woolfolk easily tallied his second, sealing the 4-0 victory for the Rhinos.

Such consistent hard work, beautiful passing, and scoring-at-will have a buzz going early in Soccertown, USA. The question that still needs answering is if this team can bring this type of “A” game to every opponent this season. The Puerto Rico Islanders are next in the quest.

 

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