Rochester Rhinos
2017 season
OwnersDavid and Wendy Dworkin
Head coachBob Lilley
StadiumCapelli Sport Stadium
USL4th, Eastern Conference
USL PlayoffsConference semifinals
U.S. Open CupFourth Round
Highest home attendance3,459 (4/22 vs. NYRB2)
Lowest home attendance963 (10/10 vs. BST)
Average home league attendance2,031
Biggest winROC 4–0 CLT (4/29)
Biggest defeatCHS 5–0 ROC (4/15)
← 2016
2022 →

The 2017 Rochester Rhinos season was the club's 22nd overall and seventh with the United Soccer League, now known as the USL Championship. The Rhinos returned to playing in Division II of men's professional soccer, as the USL and all its teams were promoted from Division III after the 2016 season. They looked to return to the USL playoffs after losing to the New York Red Bulls II in the conference semifinals the previous year.

This was the Rhinos' final season in the second tier of American professional soccer. The team initially announced that it would go on hiatus for the 2018 season.[1][2] It later announced that it would not resume professional operations until 2020, at which time it will join USL League One, a third-level league operated by USL's parent company, United Soccer League (not to be confused with the Rhinos' former league), that will play its first season in 2019.[3]

Roster

as of June 25, 2017 [4]

No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Kyle Morton  United States
2 DF Raymond Lee  United States
3 DF Ryan Felix  United States
4 DF Bradley Kamdem  France
5 MF Jordan Dover  Canada
6 FW Christiano François  Haiti
7 MF Ryan James  Canada
8 MF Brandon Beresford  Guyana
9 MF Stefan Defregger  United States
10 MF Sofiane Tergou  France
11 MF Kenardo Forbes  Jamaica
12 FW Jochen Graf  United States
13 MF Mike Garzi  United States
15 DF Joe Farrell  United States
17 DF Wal Fall  Germany
18 FW Antonio Correia  Cape Verde
20 DF Todd Pratzner  United States
21 FW Darius Madison  United States
22 MF Jalen Brown  United States
23 GK Tomas Gomez  United States
24 FW Rayane Boukemia  France
25 DF Sergio Campbell  Jamaica
29 MF Samuel Edoung-Biyo  Cameroon
33 GK Daniel Lynd  United States

Competitions

Preseason

Regular season

Further information: 2017 USL season

Standings

Eastern Conference

Main article: Eastern Conference (USL)
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Louisville City FC (C) 32 18 8 6 58 31 +27 62 Conference Playoffs
2 Charleston Battery 32 15 9 8 53 33 +20 54
3 Tampa Bay Rowdies 32 14 11 7 50 35 +15 53
4 Rochester Rhinos 32 14 11 7 36 28 +8 53
5 Charlotte Independence 32 13 9 10 52 40 +12 48
6 FC Cincinnati 32 12 10 10 46 48 −2 46
7 New York Red Bulls II 32 13 5 14 57 60 −3 44
8 Bethlehem Steel FC 32 12 8 12 46 45 +1 44
9 Orlando City B 32 10 12 10 37 36 +1 42
10 Ottawa Fury 32 8 14 10 42 41 +1 38
11 Harrisburg City Islanders 32 10 7 15 28 47 −19 37
12 Saint Louis FC 32 9 9 14 35 48 −13 36
13 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 32 8 12 12 33 42 −9 36
14 Richmond Kickers 32 8 8 16 24 36 −12 32
15 Toronto FC II 32 6 7 19 27 54 −27 25
Source: 2017 USL standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots
(C) Champions

Match results

  Win   Draw   Loss

All times in Eastern Time.

April 1 1 Bethlehem Steel FC 2–3 Rochester Rhinos Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
4:00 PM EDT (UTC−4) Davies 45+3' (pen.)
Conneh 72' (pen.)		 Report Madison 9'
Fall 34'
Graf 88'		 Stadium: Goodman Stadium
Attendance: 3,102
Referee: Jorge Ramírez
April 7 2 Toronto FC II 0–0 Rochester Rhinos Vaughan, Ontario
7:30 PM EDT (UTC−4) Spencer Yellow card 80' Report Beresford Yellow card 55'
Fall Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Attendance: 525
Referee: David Barrie
April 15 3 Charleston Battery 5–0 Rochester Rhinos Charleston, South Carolina
7:00 PM EDT (UTC−4) Williams 15', 25', 26'
Guerra 31'
Chang 81'
Thomas Yellow card 82'
Anunga Yellow card 88'
Mueller Yellow card 89'		 Report Fall Yellow card 56'
James Yellow card 59'		 Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium
Attendance: 2,421
Referee: Howard Ashe
April 22 4 Rochester Rhinos 2–2 New York Red Bulls II Rochester, New York
6:05 PM EDT (UTC−4) Garzi 45+1'
Farrell 90+4'		 Report Allen 50'
Bezecourt 65'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 3,459
Referee: Geoff Gamble
April 29 5 Rochester Rhinos 4–0 Charlotte Independence Rochester, New York
5:05 PM EDT (UTC−4) Fall 27', Yellow card 48'
Garzi Yellow card 44', 46'
Madison 52'
Felix Yellow card 56'
Forbes 85' (pen)		 Report Davidson Yellow card 25'
Johnson Yellow card 37'
Herrera Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 1,941
Referee: Greg Dopka
21 May 6 Rochester Rhinos 1–1 Richmond Kickers Rochester, New York
4:05 PM EDT (UTC−4) Beresford Yellow card 16'
Forbes 32'
Farrell Yellow card 73'
Felix Yellow card 85'		 Report Gonzalez 45'
Asante Yellow card 81'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 2,003
Referee: Henrik Karlsson
24 May 7 Rochester Rhinos 1–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Rochester, New York
7:05 PM EDT (UTC−4) Fall 24'
Garzi Yellow card 39'		 Report Hristov Yellow card 33'
Lowe Yellow card 55'
Nanchoff Yellow card 81'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 1,140
Referee: Matthew Franz
June 3 8 Rochester Rhinos 1–0 FC Cincinnati Rochester, New York
6:00 PM EDT (UTC−4) Kamdem 65' CIN Report
ROC Report
Box Score		 Walker Yellow card 63'
Halfhill Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 2,158
Referee: Jorge Ramirez
Assistant referees: Gabriel Angelone
Assistant referees: Ankur Singh
Fourth official: Anthony Perdue
June 7 9 Orlando City B 1–1 Rochester Rhinos Orlando, Florida
6:30 PM EDT (UTC−4) Hines Yellow card 3'
Barry 23'
Laryea Yellow card 64'		 Report Correia 25'
Fall Yellow card 63'		 Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 967
Referee: Jonathan Weiner
June 10 10 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1–1 Rochester Rhinos St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 EDT (UTC−4) Cole 19'
Collins Yellow card 28'
Savage Yellow card 58'
Nanchoff Yellow card 89'		 Report Graf 5'
Fall Yellow card 68'
Kamdem Yellow card 78'		 Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,026
Referee: Kevin Broadley
June 17 11 Rochester Rhinos 1–0 Ottawa Fury Rochester, New York
6:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Felix 19', Yellow card 28'
Farrell Yellow card 78'
Tergou Yellow card 90+4'		 Report Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 2,548
Referee: Lorant Varga
June 23 12 Rochester Rhinos 0–1 Orlando City B Rochester, New York
6:00 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Defregger Yellow card 29'
Dover Yellow card 88'		 Report Timbó 18', Yellow card 45+1' Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 1,243
Referee: Charles Murphy
July 1 13 Charlotte Independence 2–1 Rochester Rhinos Charlotte, North Carolina
6:00 P.M. EDT (UTC−4) Estrada 12', 25'
Ross Yellow card 32'		 Report Farrell Yellow card 14'
Fall 67' (pen)		 Stadium: Matthews Sportsplex
Attendance: 1,623
Referee: Gustavo Solorio
July 5 14 Saint Louis FC 0–0 Rochester Rhinos Fenton, Missouri
8:00 PM EDT (UTC−4) Sheldon Yellow card 66' Report Lee Yellow card 60' Stadium: World Wide Technology Soccer Park
Attendance: 4,634
Referee: Dule Djurasevic
Note: Re-scheduled from May 6 due to flooding of World Wide Technology Soccer Park[5][6]
July 8 15 Rochester Rhinos 1–0 Harrisburg City Islanders Rochester, New York
6:05 PMEDT (UTC−4) Madison Yellow card 35'
Graf 85'		 Report Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 2,178
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
July 15 16 Ottawa Fury 1–1 Rochester Rhinos Ottawa, Ontario
2:00 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Barden Yellow card 33'
Bruna Yellow card 72'
Hume 89'		 Report Graf 15'
Garzi Yellow card 39'		 Stadium: TD Place Stadium
Attendance: 5,525
Referee: Chris Grabas
July 22 17 Rochester Rhinos 0–0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds Rochester, New York
6:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Report Adewole Yellow card 33'
Souto Yellow card 73'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 3,269
Referee: Jaroslaw Werel
July 26 18 Rochester Rhinos 2–0 Toronto FC II Rochester, New York
7:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Defregger 58', Yellow card 59'
Dunn 76' (o.g.)
Correia Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Onkony Red card 26' Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 2,148
Referee: Jared Simons
July 29 19 FC Cincinnati 2–3 Rochester Rhinos Cincinnati, Ohio
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) McLaughlin 29'
Djiby Yellow card 27', Yellow card 42' Red card
Josu Yellow card 44'
Berry Yellow card 81'
Jaye Red card 84'
König 86' (pen.)
Greig Yellow card 87'
Walker Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Graf 12'
Kamdem Yellow card 54'
Fall 78' (pen.) Yellow card 78', 82' (pen.)		 Stadium: Nippert Stadium
Attendance: 23,548
Referee: Guido Gonzalez Jr.
August 5 20 New York Red Bulls II 2–1 Rochester Rhinos Montclair, New Jersey
4:00 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Basuljevic 5'
Bonomo 55'		 Report Fall 70' (pen.) Stadium: MSU Soccer Park
Attendance: 582
Referee: Charles Murphy
August 8 21 Harrisburg City Islanders 0–1 Rochester Rhinos Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
7:30 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Grosh Yellow card 20'
Brent Yellow card 59'
Mensah Yellow card 83'		 Report Madison 25'
Garzi Yellow card 44'		 Stadium: FNB Field
Attendance: 2,078
Referee: Amber O'Connor
August 19 22 Rochester Rhinos 0–1 Charleston Battery Rochester, New York
18:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Madison Yellow card 45+1' Report Hackshaw Yellow card 21'
Williams Yellow card 25'
Portillo 83'
Cooper Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 2,319
Referee: Bardhyl Pashaj
August 26 23 Rochester Rhinos 1–2 Saint Louis FC Rochester, New York
6:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Fall 7' (pen)
Graf 55'		 Report Howe 3', Yellow card 74'
Rudolph Red card 6'
Alihodžić Yellow card 26'
Ledbetter Yellow card 90+1'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 1,607
Referee: Lucasz Szpala
September 2 24 Toronto FC II 0–1 Rochester Rhinos Vaughan, Ontario
7:30 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Report Brown 10'
Fall Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre
Attendance: 143
Referee: Alexis Vaughan
September 9 25 Rochester Rhinos 1–1 Ottawa Fury Rochester, New York
6:00 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) François 19' Report McEleney Yellow card 37'
Bruna Yellow card 63' Yellow-red card 88'
Dos Santos 71' (pen.)		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 2,345
Referee: Calin Radosav
September 16 26 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1–1 Rochester Rhinos Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Kerr 71' Report Tergou Yellow card 73'
Farrell 90'		 Stadium: Highmark Stadium
Attendance: 2,341
Referee: Greg Dopka
September 20 27 Louisville City FC 2–1 Rochester Rhinos Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Davis IV 23'
Spencer 90+5' (pen)		 Report Graf 43', Yellow card 73'
Lee Yellow card 45'
James Yellow card 61'
Gomez Yellow card 88'
Felix Yellow card 90+4'		 Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
Attendance: 6,698
Referee: Jon Freemon
September 23 28 Richmond Kickers 1–0 Rochester Rhinos Richmond, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Minutillo 80' Report Kamdem Yellow card 79' Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,969
Referee: Jorge Ramirez
September 30 29 Rochester Rhinos 0–0 Louisville City FC Rochester, New York
6:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Forbes Yellow card 71'
Felix Yellow card 85'		 Report Ownby Yellow card 67'
Morad Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 1,775
Referee: Eric Tattersall
October 7 30 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0–2 Rochester Rhinos Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Chevy Yellow card 57' Report Graf 1'
Fall 14', Yellow card 70'		 Stadium: Highmark Stadium
Attendance: 2,400
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
October 10 31 Rochester Rhinos 1–0 Bethlehem Steel FC Rochester, New York
7:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Graf 38' Report Conneh Yellow card 86' Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 963
Referee: Thomas Snyder
October 14 32 Rochester Rhinos 2–1 New York Red Bulls II Rochester, New York
6:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Graf 35'
Forbes 68'		 Report Valot 37' Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 1,402
Referee: Ismir Pekmic

Playoffs

October 21 Conference Quarterfinals Rochester Rhinos 2–1 (a.e.t.) Charlotte Independence Rochester, New York
6:05 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Dover Yellow card 11'
Graf 53'
François Yellow card 61'
Farrell Yellow card 83'
Defregger 113'		 Report A. Martínez Yellow card 53', Yellow card Red card 120'
E. Martínez 69'
Davidson Yellow card 85'		 Stadium: Capelli Sport Stadium
Attendance: 1,647
Referee: Bardhyl Pashaj
October 28 Conference Semi-finals Louisville City FC 1–0 Rochester Rhinos Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM EDT (UTC-04:00) Jimenez Yellow card 52'
Ownby 77'
Ranjitsingh Yellow card 90+1'		 Report Felix Yellow card 55' Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field
Attendance: 7,117
Referee: Victor Rivas

References

  1. ^ DiVeronica, Jeff (November 30, 2017). "Rhinos to take one-year hiatus, host 'several' USL matches". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Tsujimoto, Ben (November 30, 2017). "Rochester Rhinos to take hiatus from United Soccer League". The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  3. ^ "Rochester Approved for USL Division III" (Press release). Rochester Rhinos. August 22, 2018.
  4. ^ "2017 Roster". Rochester Rhinos. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "USL Announces May 6 Game Postponed". saintlouisfc.com. May 3, 2016. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Saint Louis FC vs. Rochester Rhinos Rescheduled to July 5th". saintlouisfc.com. May 12, 2016. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
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