Struggling Rochester Sneaks Through In Open Cup

• Democrat & Chronicle, Wednesday, June 11, 2008 2 PM

Remember when people were talking about Rochester as a viable location for a Major League Soccer franchise? This year has seen the United Soccer Leagues Division One team experience insolvency, the loss of its stadium to the city and a rebirth with a shortened name. On Tuesday, the Rhinos barely edged past an amateur team in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup before a record low crowd.
 
The no longer "raging" Rhinos are 1-4-4 in league play, and scraped past RWB Adria in overtime thanks to a winner from Ivory Coast forward Hamed Diallo. The announced crowd at PAETEC Park was 1,152. Maybe the second round encounter with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL2) set up by the 2-1 victory will attract more fans.
 
"Everybody wants to get you when you're the Rhinos," Rochester midfielder Johnny Menyongar said, possibly imagining that he was playing for a different team. Coach Darren Tilley, though, has located the side's problem. "We have guys who don't want to die to score," he said. "We haven't shown that yet." It may be asking a level of sacrifice that's one suicidal step beyond the expected contractual norms of a USL striker.

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