The Rochester Rhinos improve to 7-3-4 after outlasting the Richmond Kickers 3-2 at City Stadium in Richmond on Saturday, June 23.   JC Banks scored the Rhinos final goal of the match in the 92^nd minute. The Rhinos snapped a 6 game winless streak (0-3-3), the third time in club history to experience a winless streak of six or more, and continue to hold the third spot on the USL PRO table.

After 45 minutes of play the Rattlers and Kickers were tied with a goal apiece.  In the 8^th minute Luke Vercollone’s shot slid past Kristian Nicht off a pass from Christopher Agorsor.  The build-up to the goal began when Luke Vercollone intercepted a Rochester clearance in the attacking half and found Agorsor on the right flank.  Agorsor drove a low cross into the box, and Vercollone finished his shot into the lower corner to give the Kickers an early 1:0 lead.

The Rhinos first chance of the match would not come until the 25^th minute when right back Lucas Fernandez drove into the box and shot the ball just wide.  One minute later Rhinos front runner Graciano Brito forced Richmond keeper Ronnie Pascale into a fine save to keep the score at 1:0.   Nothing would be able to deny Brito the equalizer in the 27^th minute when he headed home a JC Banks cross at the far post to level the score at one.

Brito opened the second half with a chance to take the lead, but Vercollone cleared his shot from a corner kick off the line.

In the 80^th minute Richmond’s Jason Yeisley was fouled in the 80^th minute, and Nicht needed to make a decisive save to prevent Sascha Gorres from finishing the resulting free kick.  On the ensuing corner kick former Rhino Ryan Heins had a volley blocked at the far post, but the rebound dropped to Yeisley at the top of the six-yard box.  He calmly finished the ball past Nicht to give the Kickers the apparent winner in the 82^nd minute.

In the 85^th minute Rhinos midfielder Michael Tanke was fouled in the box and awarded a penalty kick.  Substitute Andrew Hoxie calmly stepped up and sent Pascale the wrong way to level the score at 2:2.

In stoppage time Rhinos star Isaac Kissi drove into the box and crossed the ball to Banks for a finish into the upper corner.  Banks now leads all Rhinos with four goals and five assists for 13 points in all competitions.

The Rochester Rhinos will be inducting Craig Demmin, Doug Miller, and Pat Onstad into their Hall of Fame in the Class of 2012 at their next home game on Saturday, June 30^th against the Harrisburg City Islanders. 

Get your tickets at the Sahlen's Stadium box office, charge by phone at 1 (800) 745 3000 , www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the Rhinos at (585) 454-KICK (5425).

Rochester – 3

Richmond - 2

Starting Lineups

Kickers:  GK Ronnie Pascale, William Yomby, Henry Kalungi, Ethan White, Jason Yeisley, Sascha Görres, Luke Vercollone, Michael Callahan (Matthew Delicate 90’), Gerson Dos Santos (Bobby Foglesong 32’[Stanley Nyazamba 70’]), Ryan Heins (David Bulow 86’), Christopher Agorsor

Rochester:  GK Kristian Nicht, Tyler Bellamy, Jack Traynor (Isaac Kissi 72’), Tyler Rosenlund, Troy Roberts, Quavas Kirk, Graciano Brito (Andrew Hoxie 61’), Danny Earls (Kyle Manscuk 90’), Lucas Fernandez (Kendall McFayden 46’), Michael Tanke, JC Banks

Scoring Summary

8^th minute: Vercollone (Agorsor)

27^th minute: Brito (Banks)

81^st minute: Yeisley (Heins)

85^th minute: Hoxie (pen.)

90^th minute: Banks (Kissi)

Cautions:

42^nd minute: Earls (Rochester)

45^th minute: Callahan (Richmond)

59^th minute: Tanke (Rochester)

90^th minute: Pascale (Richmond)

90^th minute: Nicht (Rochester)

Ejections:

90^th minute: Nyazamba (Richmond)