(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Rhinos played host to the first place Puerto Rico Islanders to finish up this weekends home and home series. In a physical match in front of a very vocal 6,062 rowdy Rhino fans the Rhinos battled to a 1-1 tie.

With Rochester looking to avenge a tough loss to these same Islanders just two days prior in Puerto Rico, much of play was fought out in the midfield. The Rhinos had the first scoring chance of the game in the 16th minute when Rochester's leading goal scorer Mauricio Salles teed up a shot from 28 yards out that sailed just over the net. Salles was there again 15 minutes later but his touch was turned away by a sprawling Bill Gaudette. Puerto Rico turned defense into attack on the ensuing corner kick by clearing the cross out, starting a three-on-two counter attack which ended with a soft effort by Sandy Gbandi that rolled out for a Rhinos goal kick.  

After the Islanders lone chance of the half, Rochester looked like the more dangerous team. Rochester was pushing hard for the first goal of the match, making threatening runs all over the attacking third putting the Islander defense on their heels. Rhino midfielder Andrew Gregor had an opportunity in the 43rd but could not get enough bend on his free kick, putting it just wide. The Rhinos broke through just two minutes later after a long ball from Gregor to Johnny Menyongar, who sent a low pass across the six yard box, which was poorly cleared right to Alfonso Loera who coolly played the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season and to send the Rhinos into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

The second half started out much like the first with hard tackles and mini scrums throughout the midfield. Rochester almost went up two in the 49th after a weak clear by Puerto Rico defender William Yomby went right to Menyongar who took a shot but Yomby recovered in time to clear the ball off the goal line. Rochester again looked to go up 2-0 in the 61st on a long range effort from Gregor but Gaudette was up to challenge yet again.

With the score still, 1-0 in favor of Rochester, the Islanders applied the pressure on a cross from sub Noel Fabrice to fellow sub and former Rhino Noah Delgado but the ball could not be handled and rolled out of harms way. Puerto Rico was there again, this time on a long ball from Jonathan Steele to Taiwo Atieno who took a touch inside the box before blasting a shot into the net to tie the score at one in the 68th minute. Rochester had a great chance to take the lead in the 86th minute but a Salles header off of a Luke Kreamalmeyer corner kick was turned away by another superb save by Gaudette.

With the tie Rochester moves to 7-7-8 with 29 points just two behind fifth place Atlanta. The Rhinos will take on rival Montreal on Wednesday August 13th in Montreal with a 7:30 p.m. start time.