2015 Rochester Rhinos season

Rochester Rhinos
2015 season
OwnerRob Clark
Head coachBob Lilley
StadiumSahlen's Stadium
USL1st, Eastern Conference
USL PlayoffsUSL Champions
U.S. Open CupFourth Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Christian Volesky (8)
All: Steevan Dos Santos (9)
Highest home attendance6,922
(July 26 vs. Charleston)
Lowest home attendance4,251
(July 8 vs. Montreal)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 5,599
All: 5,556
← 2014
2016 →

The 2015 Rochester Rhinos season was the club's twentieth season. It was the Rhinos fifth-consecutive year in the third tier of American soccer, playing in the United Soccer League Eastern Conference. The Rhinos finished the regular season in first place, clinching the #1 seed and home field advantage in the 2015 USL Playoffs. The Rhinos won the USL Championship, the club's 5th overall, by defeating LA Galaxy II 2–1 after extra time.

Background

The Rhinos debuted a new commemorative logo to be used during the 2015 season celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the club's founding.

The Rhinos started the season on a record nineteen game undefeated streak, after finishing the prior season in 6th place.

Competitions

Friendlies

March 6, 2015 Preseason Rochester Rhinos 6 - 1 Niagara Purple Eagles North Chili, New York
6:00 PM ET Totsch
Ugarte
Samuels
Rolfe ,
Volesky 80'		 Report Ferguson Stadium: Roberts Wesleyan College
March 8, 2015 Preseason Rochester Rhinos 3 - 0 Buffalo Bulls North Chili, New York
Volesky 23'
Duba 40'
Tsoulakos 59'		 Report Stadium: Roberts Wesleyan College
March 13, 2015 Preseason Ottawa Fury FC 1 - 1 Rochester Rhinos Rochester, New York
DeBellis Red card 25'
Haworth 75'		 Report Lanteri 20' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
March 15, 2015 Preseason Rochester Rhinos 0 - 0 Cornell Big Red Rochester, New York
3:00 PM ET Report Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
March 20, 2015 Preseason Rochester Rhinos 4 - 0 Syracuse Orange Rochester, New York
2:30 PM ET Rolfe 2'
Ringhof 12'
Walls 35'
Duba 55'		 Report Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
June 11, 2015 RCSD School Day Soccer Game Rochester Rhinos 3 - 0 FC Buffalo Rochester, New York
ET Samuels 8'
Ruggles 56'
Forbes 74'		 Report Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,000+
Note: 80-minute match

USL

Further information: 2015 USL season
March 28, 2015 Match 1 New York Red Bulls II 0 - 0 Rochester Rhinos Harrison, NJ
2:00 PM ET Report Garzi Yellow card 31'
Rolfe Yellow card 42'
Ringhof Yellow card 79'		 Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 547
Referee: Ryan Dos Reis
April 4, 2015 Match 2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1 - 2 Rochester Rhinos Pittsburgh, PA
7:00 PM ET Arena Yellow card 37'
Touloute 48'
Earls Yellow card 67'		 Report McMahon Yellow card 23'
Walls 27'
Volesky Yellow card 45'
Dixon 50'
Silva Yellow card 77'		 Stadium: Highmark Stadium
Attendance: 2,274
Referee: Vito Testa Jr.
April 11, 2015 Match 3 FC Montreal 0 - 3 Rochester Rhinos Montreal, Quebec
2:30 PM ET Dinkota Yellow card 57'
Lajoie-Gravelle Yellow card 60'
Zoue Red card 63'
Charbonneau Yellow card 88'		 Report Rolfe Yellow card 6'
Mendoza 33'
Volesky 67', 69'
McMahon Yellow card 87'		 Stadium: Saputo Stadium
Attendance: 258
April 16, 2015 Match 4 Louisville City FC 1 - 1 Rochester Rhinos Louisville, KY
7:30 PM ET West Yellow card 20'
Guzman 34'		 Report Dixon 21'
Ruggles Yellow card 40'		 Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
Attendance: 4,772
Referee: Aaron Hernandez
April 18, 2015 Match 5 Saint Louis FC 0 - 1 Rochester Rhinos Fenton, MO
8:30 PM CT Gaul Yellow card 37' Report Rolfe 77' Stadium: World Wide Technology Soccer Park
Attendance: 5,001
Referee: Cedric Adams
April 26, 2015 Match 6 Rochester Rhinos 2 - 0 New York Red Bulls II Rochester, NY
2:05 PM ET Obasi Yellow card 9'
Dixon 39'
Garzi Yellow card 83'		 Report Jean-Baptiste Yellow card 78'
Etienne Yellow card 89'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 6,184
Referee: Brandon Artis
May 2, 2015 Match 7 FC Montreal 1 - 2 Rochester Rhinos Montreal, Quebec
4:00 PM ET Gagnon Yellow card 17'
Riggi 87'		 Report Walls Yellow card 27'
Volesky 56', 63'
Ringhof Yellow card 71'
Mendoza Yellow card 76'		 Stadium: Saputo Stadium
Attendance: 330
May 9, 2015 Match 8 Rochester Rhinos 1 - 0 Toronto FC II Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Van De Casteele Yellow card 58'
Duba 90'		 Report Edwards Yellow card 49'
Babouli Yellow card 87' Yellow-red card 89'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,179
Referee: David Mon
May 16, 2015 Match 9 Wilmington Hammerheads 1 - 1 Rochester Rhinos Wilmington, NC
7:00 PM ET Rolfe Yellow card 70'
Duba 90'		 Report Fairclough 90+' Stadium: Legion Stadium
Attendance: 2,781
Referee: Doug Hartemann
May 23, 2015 Match 10 Toronto FC II 0 - 0 Rochester Rhinos Toronto, Ontario
12:00 PM ET Report Garzi Yellow card 69' Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 986
May 30, 2015 Match 11 Rochester Rhinos 1 - 0 FC Montreal Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Volesky Yellow card 8'
Duba 9'		 Report Alessandro Yellow card 34'
Hocine Yellow card 37'
Morelli Red card 46'
Ndiaye Yellow card 88'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 4,487
Referee: Vito Testa, Jr.
June 13, 2015 Match 12 Rochester Rhinos 2 - 0 Louisville City FC Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Walls Yellow card 24'
Forbes 44'
Duba 68'		 Report Rivera Yellow card 62' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 6,896
Referee: Jaroslav Werel
June 19, 2015 Match 13 Harrisburg City Islanders 1 - 1 Rochester Rhinos Harrisburg, PA
7:30 PM ET Plumhoff 44' Report Ringhof Yellow card 56'
Volesky 87'		 Stadium: Skyline Sports Complex
Attendance: 3,024
Referee: Mark Treilman
June 27, 2015 Match 14 Rochester Rhinos 1 - 0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Walls 79' Report Hunt Yellow card 53'
Earls Yellow card 82'
Arena Yellow card 90'
Hunt Red card 90'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 6,704
Referee: Jamie Herrera
July 3, 2015 Match 15 Charleston Battery 0 - 0 Rochester Rhinos Charleston, SC
7:30 PM ET van Schaik Yellow card 57' Report Garzi Yellow card 30'
McMahon Yellow card 35'
Rudy Yellow card 84'
Volesky Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Blackbaud Stadium
Attendance: 3,448
Referee: Aleksander Zhelyazk
July 8, 2015 Match 16 Rochester Rhinos 2 - 1 FC Montreal Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Rolfe 15'
Rudy Yellow card 29'
Volesky 32'
Rudy Red card 64'		 Report Paulmin Yellow card 14'
Messoudi Yellow card 56'
Gravelle 85'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 4,251
Referee: Ernie Constantine
July 11, 2015 Match 17 Toronto FC II 0 - 2 Rochester Rhinos Vaughan, Ontario
2:00 PM ET Report Duba 55'
Mendoza 57'
Duba Yellow card 63'
Volesky Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Attendance: 565
Referee: Alexis Vaughan
July 18, 2015 Match 18 Rochester Rhinos 0 - 0 Charlotte Independence Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Garzi Yellow card 68' Summary Martínez Yellow card 2'
DelPiccolo Yellow card 34'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,189
Referee: United States David Mon
July 26, 2015 Match 19 Rochester Rhinos 1 - 0 Charleston Battery Rochester, NY
4:05 PM ET Steevan Dos Santos 9'
Van De Casteele Yellow card 32'		 Summary Garbanzo Yellow card 24'
Ferguson Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 6,922
Referee: United States Charles Murphy
August 1, 2015 Match 20 Charlotte Independence 4 - 1 Rochester Rhinos Charlotte, NC
7:00 PM ET Mike Garzi Yellow card 25'
Grant Van De Casteele 32'
Pat McMahon Yellow card 39'
Tony Walls Yellow card 56'
Christian Volesky 59'		 [1] Yellow card 27' 34' Alex Martínez
38' Tomasz Zahorski
51' Enzo Martínez
61' (pen.) Yellow card 66' Caros Alvarez		 Stadium: Ramblewood Soccer Complex
Attendance: 2,145
Referee: Neil Barbulescu
August 9, 2015 Match 21 Rochester Rhinos 1 - 1 Richmond Kickers Rochester, NY
5:05 PM ET Kenardo Forbes 50' [2] Yellow card 37' 53' Jared Jeffrey
Yellow card 42' William Yomby
Yellow card 50' Travis Worra
Yellow card 67' Fred Owusu Sekyere		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,234
Referee: Vito Testa, Jr.
August 15, 2015 Match 22 Rochester Rhinos 2 - 1 Wilmington Hammerheads Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Mendoza Yellow card 37'
Forbes 26'
Apostolopoulos Yellow card 33'
Van de Casteele 81'		 [3] Moose 59'
Cole Yellow card 60'
Ackley Yellow card 82'
HeaneyYellow card 89'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 4,842
Referee: Tori Penso
August 22, 2015 Match 23 Rochester Rhinos 4 - 0 Harrisburg City Islanders Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Walls 16'
Mendoza Yellow card 19'
Duba 67'
Duba 71'
Samuels 86'		 [4] Leverock Yellow card 48'
Ekra Yellow card 55'
Noble Yellow card 60'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 6,272
Referee: David Mon
August 30, 2015 Match 24 Rochester Rhinos 2 - 0 Saint Louis FC Rochester, NY
4:05 PM ET Rolfe 4'
Walls 35'		 [5] Roberts Yellow card 30' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,532
Referee: Jamie Herrera
September 5, 2015 Match 25 Richmond Kickers 0 - 0 Rochester Rhinos Richmond, VA
7:00 PM ET Callahan Yellow card 36'
Robinson Yellow card 44'
Martin Yellow card 78'		 [6] McMahon Yellow card 69' Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 3,411
Referee: Neil Barbulescu
September 16, 2015 Match 26 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1 - 1 Rochester Rhinos Pittsburgh, PA
7:00 PM ET Hunt Yellow card 51'
Moloto 69'		 [7] Volesky 83' Stadium: Highmark Stadium
Attendance: 2,499
Referee: Guido Gonzalez Jr
September 19, 2015 Match 27 Rochester Rhinos 3 - 2 New York Red Bulls II Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Rolfe 3'
Rolfe 9'
McMahon Yellow card 31'
Mulgrew Yellow card 53'
Garzi Red card 60'
Mendoza Yellow card 88'
Mendoza 90'		 [8] Obekop 35'
Plewa Yellow card 38'
Williams Yellow card 44'
Bonomo 90'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 4,672
Referee: David Mon
September 24, 2015 Match 28 Rochester Rhinos 2 - 0 Toronto FC II Rochester, NY
7:05 PM ET Rolfe 69'
Samuels 85'		 [9] Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,612
Referee: Jaroslaw Werel

Standings (Eastern Conference)

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Rochester Rhinos (C, X) 28 17 10 1 40 15 +25 61 Conference semi-finals
2 Louisville City FC 28 14 6 8 55 34 +21 48
3 Charleston Battery 28 12 10 6 43 28 +15 46 First round
4 New York Red Bulls II 28 12 6 10 46 45 +1 42
5 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 28 11 8 9 53 42 +11 41
6 Richmond Kickers 28 10 11 7 41 35 +6 41
7 Charlotte Independence 28 10 10 8 38 35 +3 40
8 Harrisburg City Islanders 28 11 6 11 49 53 −4 39
9 Saint Louis FC 28 8 9 11 30 40 −10 33
10 FC Montreal 28 8 4 16 32 46 −14 28
11 Toronto FC II 28 6 5 17 26 52 −26 23
12 Wilmington Hammerheads 28 3 10 15 22 42 −20 19
Source: 2015 USL schedule
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots
(C) Champions; (X) Regular Season League Champion

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
28 17 10 1 39 15  +24 61 12 2 0 24 5  +19 5 8 1 15 10  +5

Last updated: October 6, 2015.
Source: USL

Results by matchday

Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
StadiumAAAAAHAHAAHHAHAHAHHAHHHHAHAH
ResultDWWDWWWWDDWWDWDWWDWLDWWWDDWW
Updated to match(es) played on October 6, 2015. Source: USL
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

USL Playoffs

Main article: 2015 USL Playoffs § Bracket
 
First roundConference SemifinalsConference FinalsUSL Championship
 
              
 
 
 
 
October 3
 
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos2
 
September 26
 
#4 New York Red Bulls II0
 
#4 New York Red Bulls II (a.e.t.)4
 
October 10
 
#5 Pittsburgh Riverhounds2
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos1
 
September 26
 
#2 Louisville City FC0
 
#3 Charleston Battery (a.e.t.)2
 
October 3
 
#6 Richmond Kickers1
 
#2 Louisville City FC (a.e.t.)2
 
 
#3 Charleston Battery0
 
 
October 16
 
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos (a.e.t.)2
 
 
#5 LA Galaxy II1
 
 
October 3
 
 
#1 Orange County Blues FC0
 
September 26
 
#5 LA Galaxy II2
 
#4 Sacramento Republic FC0
 
October 11
 
#5 LA Galaxy II1
 
#5 LA Galaxy II2
 
September 25
 
#2 Oklahoma City Energy FC1
 
#3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC2
 
October 4
 
#6 Seattle Sounders FC 20
 
#2 Oklahoma City Energy FC (p)2 (4)
 
 
#3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC2 (3)
 
 
 
 

Playoff Results

October 3, 2015 (2015-10-03) Conference Semi-finals Rochester Rhinos 2–0 New York Red Bulls II Rochester, New York
7:05 pm EDT Dos Santos 48'
Obasi Yellow card 63'
Dos Santos 69'
Van De Casteele Yellow card 77'		 Report
Report		 Plewa Red card 22' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 6,378
Referee: Greg Dopka
October 10, 2015 (2015-10-10) Conference finals Rochester Rhinos 1 - 0 Louisville City FC Rochester, New York
7:05 pm EDT Apostolopolous 23'
McMahon Yellow card 29'
Forbes Yellow card 49'
Walls Yellow card 60'
Dixon Yellow card 74'
Duba Red card 83'		 Report Quinn Yellow card 49' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,561
Referee: Matthew Kreutzer
October 16, 2015 (2015-10-16) Championship Rochester Rhinos 2–1 (a.e.t.) LA Galaxy II Rochester, New York
7:30 pm EDT Bourdeau Yellow card 58'
Forbes Yellow card 81'
Samuels 90+'
Samuels 113'		 Walker Yellow card 45'
Lassiter 65'
Maganto Yellow card 85'		 Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,247
Referee: Nima Saghafi

Championship Game MVP: Asani Samuels

U.S. Open Cup

Further information: 2015 U.S. Open Cup
May 20, 2015 Second round Rochester Rhinos New York (state) 1–0 New York (state) GBFC Thunder Rochester, New York
7:05 PM ET Forbes 39' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
May 27, 2015 Third Round Harrisburg City Islanders Pennsylvania 1 - 3 New York (state) Rochester Rhinos Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM ET Barril Yellow card 8'
Cruz Yellow card 57'
Tribbett Yellow card 68'
DiPrima Yellow card 75'
Jankouskas 106'		 Report Duba Yellow card 15' Yellow-red card 38'
Ringhof Yellow card 98'
Forbes 107'
Samuels 115', 120', Yellow card 119'
Walls Yellow card 119'		 Stadium: Skyline Sports Complex
June 16, 2015 Fourth Round Philadelphia Union Pennsylvania 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)		 New York (state) Rochester Rhinos Chester, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM ET Pfeffer Yellow card 104' Report
Box Score		 Totsch Yellow card 80'
McMahon Yellow card 90'
Walls Yellow card 98'
Volesky Yellow card 103'		 Stadium: PPL Park
Penalties
Edu soccer ball with check mark
Nogueira soccer ball with check mark
Sapong soccer ball with red X
Maidana soccer ball with check mark		 Mendoza soccer ball with check mark
Apostolopoulos soccer ball with red X
Walls soccer ball with red X
Volesky soccer ball with red X

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player Total Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals

Top scorers

Position Nation Number Name USL Pro U.S. Open Cup Total

Disciplinary record

Position Nation Number Name USL Pro U.S. Open Cup Playoffs Total (USSF Total)
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
TOTALS 41 2 — — 8 1 — —

Roster

as of April 28, 2015 [1]

No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Adam Grinwis  United States
2 MF Marcos Ugarte  United States
3 MF Alex Dixon  United States
4 DF Sean Totsch  United States
5 DF Vassilios Apostolopoulos  Greece
6 MF Christian Silva  United States
7 DF Onua Thomas Obasi  England
8 FW Christian Volesky  United States
9 FW Colin Rolfe  United States
10 FW Steevan Humberto Fortes dos Santos  Cape Verde
11 MF Jonny Mendoza  United States
12 FW Asani Samuels  Jamaica
13 MF Mike Garzi  United States
15 DF Pat McMahon  United States
16 MF Drew Ruggles  United States
18 DF Grant Van De Casteele  United States
20 DF Tony Walls  United States
21 MF Kenardo Forbes  Jamaica
22 DF Julian Ringhof  Germany
27 GK Sean Murdoch  Scotland
29 MF Tyler Rudy  United States
33 GK Brandon Miller  United States
92 FW Timi Mulgrew  United States

Technical Staff

as of May 30, 2015[2]

Position Name
Head coach United States Bob Lilley
Assistant coach Greece Georgios Kyriazis
Goalkeeping coach Republic of Ireland Gavin McInerny
Head Trainer United States Doug Graham

Transfers

In

Out

Loan in

Loan out

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rochester Rhinos Team Roster". Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  2. ^ "Rochester Rhinos Coaching Staff". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2015.