Rhinos Knock Off Carolina 1-0

CARY, NC – The Rochester Rhinos traveled to Cary, North Carolina looking to rebound from a disappointing 3-1 loss to Puerto Rico on Saturday night.  Rochester entered the night in second place in the USL Conference just four points ahead of third place Portland. 

Both teams moved the ball well in the early going with neither able to generate many dangerous scoring opportunities.  The 30th minute saw the best chance to that point when Carolina’s Greg Richardson turned with the ball at his feet and labeled a shot on goal toward the bottom right corner, forcing Neil Kitson to make a diving stop to his left.  Moments later Kitson once again had to be sharp, stopping Allen Russell on a turn and shoot attempt in the 36th.

The RailHawks continued to increase the intensity as Richardson raced down the left flank crossing a ball into the middle of the field to Mark Schulte who dropped it back to Floyd Franks.  Franks rifled a shot from 35 yards that hit the crossbar above a leaping Kitson as the game remained scoreless. 

After second half substitutions for Rochester provided a spark early, it was Carolina’s Tiyi Shiplane who entered the game and nearly paid early dividends.  Shiplane fed Daniel Paladini who immediately recoiled and nearly gave the home side a lead, just missing to the right.

Moments later however, in the 76th minute Rochester’s Jamie Franks crossed a ball in from eighteen yards that RailHawks defender Matt Bobo’s attempted header skipped in past goalkeeper Eric Reed. 

The Rhinos and Neil Kitson were able to hold off the RailHawks for the remainder if the match to pick up their ninth win of the season.   For Kitson it marked his fourth shutout of the season. 

The victory brought an end to the Rhinos three-game roadtrip in which they finished 2-1.  The victory also moved the Rhinos (33 points) to within two points of first-place Austin (10-2-5) in the USL Conference. 

Rochester returns to action on Aug. 4 to face the Portland Timbers at Marina Auto Stadium.