Rhinos Rack Up Goals, Win Again

Three First Half Goals Sink Islanders

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

ROCHESTER, NY, May 7, 2004 – The expansion Puerto Rico Islanders have a lot to learn about playing as a team. They probably learned a lot from Rochester Friday night as the Rhinos took this group of newcomers to school early and often in a very one-sided match at Frontier Field.

Puerto Rico managed 5 shots throughout the match, with all of them coming in the second half as long-range efforts. Rochester out-shot the Islanders an astonishing 8-0 in the first half, netting three goals rather effortlessly.

The Rhinos began attacking the Islanders’ goal immediately, winning possession from Puerto Rico from the kick off. Forward Chris Carrieri nearly took Shawn Tsakiris’ through ball to the goal, but was flagged for offsides in the 2’. Three minutes later, defender David Wright, the 6’4” giant who played for Pittsburgh last season, found the back of the net after Ian Fuller’s rebound bounced to him off Islanders goalie Andrew Nucifora.

The Rhinos enjoyed possession on Puerto Rico’s half of the field for nearly the entire first half, netting another goal in the 36’, off a corner kick. The ball was sent to the far edge of the goal box, where another Rhinos defender, Craig Demmin, trapped and dribbled the ball before crossing to the goalmouth to an awaiting Carrieri. Carrieri’s second goal as a Rhino, his second in two games, was a low, powerful shot into the center of the net.

As the half came to a close, Rochester again poured the pressure on, finding that they were able to move the ball at will against an Islanders team that is still looking to find its way. Most of these tall players seemed slow to react and many seemed confused as to what was transpiring. The skill is there, it just needs time to mature.

With three minutes of added time, Rochester sealed the game when defender Bill Sedgewick pushed forward, making a beautiful cross into the goal box to an awaiting Ryan Trout, who one-timed the ball into the net for the third and final goal of the match.

Rochester closed up shop in the second half, enticing Puerto Rico to push forward, but the Islanders could only muster long-range shots, three by forward Maricio Salles. Rochester ‘keeper Theo Zagar easily stopped any attempt that he faced, but having a solid defense in front him helped greatly, since most plays were broken up before any penetration into the goal box was encountered.

The match displayed another solid effort by a Rhinos team looking very focused and winning the games it should against weaker opposition. Puerto Rico will improve with time; maybe they can use Rochester as a model for future success.

Scoring Summary