(Rochester, NY)…The Rhinos returned to Marina Auto Stadium Saturday night looking to rebound after dropping their last two league matches. After a tough-fought night against the Minnesota Thunder, neither team could break through and the match ended with a score of 0-0. The Rhinos outshot Minnesota 20-10 but their scoreless streak continues at 223 minutes and they are now 4-4-2 (14 points) for the season. The Thunder improve to 0-5-4 (4 points).

After enjoying much of the possession in the opening minutes, the Rhinos had a great chance to go ahead in the 14th minute after midfielder Tiger Fitzpatrick beat a couple of Minnesota defenders in the box. His ball was played across to the far side to midfielder Danny Earls, who beat another defender and layed a pass off to forward Tai Atieno but his shot was blocked. Three minutes later, Earls would beat his defender again down the left side but his cross was cleared out by a Minnesota defender.

In the 29th minute, Fitzpatrick played a ball down the left sideline to defender Darren Kenton on an overlapping run and Kenton’s cross would get to the feet of forward Johnny Menyongar. Menyongar’s first touch beat his defender but his shot was placed just over the far post. As the half-time break crept closer, defender Brent Sancho played a ball out of the back into the penalty area only to be punched out by Minnesota goalkeeper Nic Platter. Fitzpatrick would find the end of it but his volley from 25 yards out sailed over the empty net. The two teams would go into the half with the score knotted at 0-0.

The Rhinos continued to pressure Minnesota after the break. When Sancho was fouled 30 minutes into the second half, defender John Ball played the ensuing free kick into the box where forward Mauricio Salles, who came in as a substitute, volleyed a shot over the crossbar from eight yards out. Five minutes later, the Rhinos would get their eighth corner kick of the game and defender Kenney Bertz created another Rochester scoring chance. Bertz rose up for the header but the chance was put wide of the net.

Rochester was given a free kick from the top of the penalty area in the 86th minute and midfielder Andrew Gregor stepped up to the spot but the shot was blocked by the wall and collected by Platter. Three minutes later, Menyongar raced through the right side of the Thunder defensive half and ripped a shot from 20 yards out but his chance hit the crossbar. Deep into stoppage time, Menyongar hit a volley after Minnesota couldn’t clear out of their own box but the ball hit the outside of the net.

Rhinos goalkeeper Tim Melia finished with 6 saves in his second start of the year. 

The Rhinos return to action Tuesday night as they host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a U.S. Open Cup Tournament first-round game. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Marina Auto Stadium.