The Rochester Rhinos defeated the Antigua Barracuda FC 4:1 in Sahlen’s Stadium on Wednesday, July 4^th.  Rhinos head coach Jesse Myers gave newcomer Kendell McFayden his first start of the season, and he responded with two first half goals to pace the Rhinos.  Antigua superstar Peter Byers pulled on back for the Barracudas, but Andrew Hoxie’s second half brace put the match out of reach.  The victory gives the Rhinos two wins in their last three matches after ending a seven match winless streak two weeks ago in Richmond.

It only took three minutes for McFayden to open the scoring for Rochester.  Rhinos forward Tam McManus played McFayden a through ball, and he finished past a sliding Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James to give Rochester a 1:0 lead.  The goal was his first of the season while the assist was McManus second.

After the Rhinos goal the Barracudas responded with some pressure on Rochester’s goal.  After a Rochester turnover in their own half of the pitch, Antigua forward Kerry Skepple put Peter Byers through behind the Rhinos defense in the ninth minute.  Rochester center back Troy Roberts was able to track Byers down, and he made a sliding tackle to deny him a shot on goal at the Rhinos penalty spot.

In the 15^th minute Antigua midfielder Tamorley Thomas was able to make a sophisticated run off the ball between Rhinos right back Lucas Fernandez and center back Tyler Bellamy.  Antigua midfielder Randolph Burton played an early ball into the box, and Thomas dribbled in on goal.  Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht was quick off of his line and took it off Thomas foot before he could shoot on goal.

All of Antigua’s pressure on the Rhinos opened up space behind their back four, and the Rhinos were able to capitalize for one of the first times this year.  Rochester right winger JC Banks won the ball in the middle third and played a first time ball over the top to McFayden.  McFayden ran the ball down, advanced on James, and calmly finished past the veteran international goalkeeper to give Rochester a 2:0 lead.  The assist was Banks seventh of the season and leaves him two off of the single season club record of nine.

There would be no denying Byers and Antigua in the 29^th minute.  Byers ran through Rhinos center midfielder Michael Tanke forty yards from the Rhinos goal.  He settled the ball, took one more touch, and then hit a screamer on goal from 35 yards out.  The ball was driven over the head of the 6’5” Nicht and landed in the upper left hand corner of the goal to cut the Rhinos lead to 2:1.  It was Byers third goal of the season, and Antigua’s first goal of the season away from home.

After playing the first half in 90 degree heat with stifling humidity, the second half started out a little more slowly.  Rochester substitute Isaac Kissi had the first chance of the half in the 66^th minute.  He got on the end of a bouncing ball from twelve yards out and carefully shaped his finishing touch around James.  The Antiguan goalkeeper was able to get his hand on the ball and parry it around the far post.  Danny Earls whipped the ensuing corner kick into the near post, but left winger Quavas Kirk flicked his pot shot header past the near post.

The Rochester Rhinos showed an improved defensive shape in the second half that limited time, space, and chances for Antigua.  Fernandez, Roberts, Bellamy, and Earls were much tighter and cohesive in defending as a flat back four.  Center midfielders Tyler Rosenlund and Michael Tanke were more dedicated to screening the back four and working hard to control the middle of the park.  The improved defensive shape limited Antigua to one shot in the final 45 minutes of the match.

The Rhinos were able to put the match out of reach in the 77^th minute.  Earls whipped another corner into the near post.  This time it found the head of substitute Conor Chinn who was able to get a header on target.  James made a fantastic reflex save, but Hoxie was able to tap home the finish to give Rochester a 3:1 lead.

Hoxie completed his brace in the 81^st minute.  Striker Isaac Kissi played a through ball that the 6’4” Hoxie was able to get on the end of.  The big forward displayed his sublime technical skills and finished past a helpless James to make it 4:1 Rochester.

The victory pulls the Rhinos within two points of idle Charleston for second place in the USL PRO table, but the Battery have two matches in hand.  The three points moves the Rhinos six points ahead of Wilmington and leaves the Hammerheads with one match in hand.

The next Rhinos home game is Saturday, July 7^th at 7PM against the Dutch Lions in Sahlen’s Stadium. Tickets can be purchased by calling 585-454-KICK, by visiting rhinossoccer.com, or by visiting any Ticket Master retail location.

Rochester –  4

Antigua -  1

Rochester Rhinos:  24 – Kristian Nicht; 16 – Danny Earls, 2 – Tyler Bellamy, 12 – Troy Roberts, 20 – Lucas Fernandez; 27 – Michael Tanke, 8 – Tyler Rosenlund, 10 – Tom McManus; 29 – JC Banks, 22 – Kendell McFayden, 13 – Quavas Kirk

Reserves:  3 – Drew Cost, 7 – Gustavo Zamudio, 11 – Conor Chinn, 18 – Isaac Kissi, 21 – Kyle Manscuk, 23 – Andrew Hoxie, 25 – Brandon Miller

Antigua: 18 – Molvin James; 17 – George Dublin, 20 – Akeem Thomas, 11 – Quinton Griffith,  2 –  Ranja Christian; 6 – Luke Blakely, 19 – Matthew Aldred, 13 – Tamorley Thomas, 25 – Randolph Burton; 77 – Kerry Skepple, 16 – Peter Byers

Reserves:  21 – Keita DeCastro, 4 – Karanja Mack, 9 – Stefan Smith, 10 – Kimdi Alexander, 15 – Rolston Pheonix

Scoring:          Rochester – Kendall McFayden  (Tom McManus)  3^rd minute

                        Rochester – KendallMcFayden  (JC Banks)  18^th minute

                        Antigua – Peter Byers 29^th minute

                        Rochester – Andrew Hoxie (Conor Chinn)  77^th minute

                        Rochester – Andrew Hoxie (Isaac Kissi)  81^st minute

Substitutions: Antigua – Smith for Thomas, T.  21^st minute

                        Antigua – Alexander for Burton  45^th minute

                        Rochester – Hoxie for McManus  55^th minute

                        Rochester - Kissi for McFayden  62^nd minute

                        Antigua – Phoenix for Thomas, A.  70^th minute

                        Rochester – Cost for Fernandez  73^rd minute

                        Antigua – Mack for Christian  75^th minute

                        Rochester – Chinn for Kirk  75^th minute

                        Rochester – Zamudio for Rosenlund  83^rd minute

Caution:         Antigua – Kerry Skepple  85^th minute