The Rhinos hosted the Vancouver Whitecaps Friday night hoping to improve on their 7-game unbeaten streak in the league. With smooth finishing and solid defending, the Whitecaps came out on top 3-1 at the end of a beautiful night at Marina Auto Stadium.

The first quality chance came for the home side in the 20th minute after Tiger Fitzpatrick slid a ball into the corner to newcomer Steve Kindel. Kindel was able to elude a defender and send a cross into the box to Ryan Heins but his header went just wide. Less than a minute later Heins and Johnny Menyongar went two v. one on goal but Heins’ pass went behind Menyongar.

Vancouver would strike first in the 41st minute through forward Marlon James. Rhinos defender Brent Sancho was penalized for a handball in the penalty area and the Whitecaps were awarded a penalty kick. James stepped up to the spot and gave the away side a 1-0 lead.

Coming out of the half-time break down a goal, the Rhinos wanted to push forward. But Vancouver enjoyed a number of chances at the beginning of the second interval. They went two goals up in the 60th minute after James received a pass from midfielder Tyrell Burgess and one-timed it off the left post and in to give him his second goal of the game. The Rhinos responded just two minutes later after defender John Ball beat his defender down the right end-line and midfielder Tiger Fitzpatrick found the end of the clearance. Tiger bent the shot to the far post to decrease Vancouver’s lead to 2-1.

In the 69th minute, the Whitecaps went up 3-1 when Burgess found the back of the net after finding some space and hitting a rocket of a shot from 20 yards out past Rhinos goalkeeper Tim Melia.

The Rhinos kept the pressure on Vancouver but were unable to finish any chances. The loss drops the Rhinos to 8-6-5 (29 points). The Whitecaps improve to 7-7-3 (24 points). Rochester will welcome the Carolina RailHawks to Marina Auto Stadium Wednesday night in a 7 p.m. match.