This is a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The 4th-seed Rochester Rhinos head into the playoffs on a 3-match winning streak; their longest of the season, as they host the 5th-seeded Charlotte Independence Saturday night at Capelli Sport Stadium. Kickoff starts at 6:05 pm, with $2 Genny Happy Hour starting when the gates open at 4:45 pm. If you can’t make it to the stadium, all the action can be seen LIVE on ROC Sports Network channel 18/46.1, on the USL YouTube Channel, or tune into ChosenSpotRadio.com.
The winner will take on tonight’s winner of #1 Louisville City FC and #8 Bethlehem Steel FC. If the Rhinos and Steel both win, Rochester will host the Eastern Conference Semifinals next Saturday, Oct. 28, at 6:05 pm.
This is a rematch of last year’s 4-5 matchup, which the Rhinos won 3-1 to move to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Independence finished that match with only 8 men.
The two clubs split the regular season series, with Rochester handing Charlotte a 4-0 thrashing in their biggest loss of the season. Charlotte avenged the loss with a 2-1 victory in a match that was subject to many hours of rain delays and finished very late in the night.
The Rhinos clinched a playoff spot for the 21st time in 22 seasons in large part to their stout defense, which only has conceded 28 goals on the year – the 2nd-best record in the USL (San Antonio FC). Rhinos goalkeeper Tomas Gomez paced the Rhinos with 11 clean sheets, also 2nd-best in the league (Diego Restrepo, San Antonio FC). Gomez won his 2nd-straight USL Golden Glove, posting a league-best 0.73 goals-against-average. This marks the 4th-straight year a Rhino has won the award, with John McCarthy winning in 2014 and Brandon Miller taking the honors in 2015.
However, there has been a goalkeeper battle brewing, as Penfield-native Dan Lynd has been given opportunities during the second half of the season and has taken full advantage. Since conceding 5 goals in an early-season loss to Charleston, Lynd has made 9 starts, only conceding 7 times – posting 3 clean sheets and making several highlight-reel saves to make himself a real contender to win the starting job in the playoffs.
Jochen Graf has been spectacular in his debut USL season, tallying a team-high 10 goals. Graf has been instrumental in the Rhinos recent success and goes into the playoffs on a three-match goal streak.
Should the match go to penalty kicks, you can be sure that if Wal Fall is on the field, he’ll be one of the five guys. In addition to being a defensive star, the 6’3” center defensive midfielder is a league-best 7-for-7 from the penalty spot in 2017.
Christiano Francois has been a breakout star… when he’s been healthy. Despite featured in 12 matches this season, he contributed a team-high 6 assists from the right wing, including 2 in the Rhinos 4-0 win over Charlotte in April.
The Independence come in on a 5-match losing streak and are to be feared going into the playoffs – having spent the majority of the season in the top-2 of the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte is led by Enzo Martinez, who has scored a whopping 16 goals – tops in the USL Eastern Conference and tied for 2nd overall. Martinez also is second in the USL in shots with 94.
Expect the Independence to move the ball around very well and often – Charlotte as a team had the 2nd-most passes in the USL, as well as the 2nd highest passing rate, converting over 81% of their passing attempts. Playmaker Lewis Hilton leads the team with 45 key passes, and distributes at an 86.6% clip.