Rhinos Defeated by Islanders 3-1

ROCHESTER, NY -- The Rochester Rhinos took on the Puerto Rico Islanders at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. The Rhinos are in the middle of their three-game road trip. The Rhinos beat the Islanders in their last meeting 3-0 on June 26th at Marina Auto Stadium.

The Rhinos wasted no time pressuring the Islanders. Aaron Pitchkolan intercepted an Islanders throw in near the corner flag on Puerto Rico’s end in the 4th minute. He tapped the ball toward Isaac Kissi, who tried to get a foot on it toward net. Islanders’ goalkeeper Bill Gaudette stepped off his line just in time to pick the ball up away from Kissi to avoid a dangerous shot.

Rochester had a great chance in the 10th minute, when the Islanders were called for a handball right outside the 18-yard box. Alfonso Motagalvan took the set piece, sending it in the box, but it hit the wall and right back out.

The Rhinos continued to control the majority of possession of the game. Pitchkolan blasted a shot at net in the 19th minute that went just over the cross bar keeping it at 0-0.

The Islanders started fighting back in the 31st minute when Logan Emory took a long throw in sending it into the Rhinos box. The ball was deflected forward causing goalkeeper Neal Kitson to go off his line. Sensing the open net, Nick Addlery, with his back to the goal, attempted a bicycle kick and blasted the ball in the back of the net to give the Islanders the lead.

Rochester had a great chance to even the score in the 45th minute off a corner kick. Rich Costanzo took the corner kick, finding Kissi right in the front of the goal. Kissi quickly controlled the ball at his feet and kicked it in the net to tie the game at 1-1 heading into halftime.

Both teams came out looking to take the lead in the second half. Midway through the half, Pitchkolan took a man down in the box. The call was initially a non-call, but the linesman overruled the call. Pitchkolan was given a red card ejecting him out of the game and giving the Islanders a penalty kick. David Foley converted on the penalty kick, making the score 2-1 with the Rhinos playing with ten men the rest of the match.

In the 70th minute, Chris Nurse got his second yellow, ejecting him out of the game, causing both teams to play with ten men the rest of the match.

Andrew Hoxie, looking for the equalizer in the 80th minute, ran the ball up the right side of the field toward the Islanders box. He shot the ball toward the center, just going wide of the far post. Tyler Rosenlund kept the ball in play sending it right in front of the goal line, but it went straight to Gaudette.

In the 87th minute, Puerto Rico took control of the ball advancing up the field quickly. Kendall Jadgeosingh got the breakaway causing Kitson to come off his line as two Rhinos defenders tried to get back. Kitson dove for the ball, but missed allowing Jadgeosingh to score on an open net to make the score 3-1.

Jadgeosingh had another breakaway three minutes later. Kitson came off his line yet again to stop him. This time he was able to get a piece of Jadgeosingh and the ball, causing a foul, but preventing another goal.

The Puerto Rico Islanders went on to beat the Rochester Rhinos 3-1. Rochester falls to 8-5-6 while Puerto Rico increases to 6-7-5.

The Rhinos will finish their three-game road trip Tuesday against the Carolina Railhawks. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.