May 18, 2012
With 1-0 road wins over Charlotte and over Charleston last weekend, the Rhinos are a point behind Orlando City for first place in the USL PRO League and the Rhinos hold a game in hand over Orlando City.
Tonight, the Rhinos play their second home match of the season as they host a last place Dayton Dutch Lions squad. With the Rhinos yet to allow a goal this season and the Dutch Lions having only scored one goal in five matches, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Rhinos will extend the record shutout streak.
Rhinos GK Kristian Nicht was named the USL PRO Player of the Week and Captain D Troy Roberts joined him on the Team of the Week. Given how many huge saves Nicht had to make against the Battery, I would have been surprised if someone else was named the Player of the Week.
The Rhinos also announced this week that Craig Demmin, Doug Miller, and Pat Onstad will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. They will join last season's first inductee, Lenin Steenkamp.
If the Rhinos defeat the Brooklyn Italians on Tuesday evening in the 2nd round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tournament, they will travel to PPL Park to play MLS's Philadelphia Union on Tuesday May 29 in the 3rd round.
WPS Suspends Operations & other Women's Soccer Notes:
- Equalizer Soccer and SBI.net have the early news on today's announcement that WPS has suspended operations. It's not shocking news given the fact that the league had previously decided to take the 2012 season off.
- Alex Morgan is off to a hot start with 12 USWNT goals so far this year.
- All White Kit looks at the opening weekend of the WPSL Elite season.
- Hope Solo will join fellow Olympians Serena Williams and Ryan Lochte on the cover of Vogue.
- All White Kit also looks at the weekend that was around the world of women's soccer.
USL PRO League Notes:
- Soccer America & SBI.net wrap up last weekend's USL PRO action.
- Soccer America looks ahead to this weekend.
- The LA Blues have signed former MLS F Maykel Galindo.
- Soccer America, InsideMNSoccer.com, and SBI.net wrap up Week 6 in the NASL.
- InsideMNSoccer.com has the NASL Players of the Week for Week 6.
- Soccer America looks ahead to this weekend's NASL action.
MLS Notes:
- Chivas USA is making headlines by acquiring Juan Agudelo from NY and Danny Califf from Philadelphia.
- Apparently Agudelo wanted more playing time than he was seeing with Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry in NY.
- Is Heath Pearce exactly what the Red Bulls need? I hope so since they gave up Agudelo to get him.
- Brek Shea has been suspended three games for kicking a ball at a linesman.
- The new USOC draw could mean a lot more travel for MLS teams.
- I still hate Montreal.
- MLS Soccer.com has some Supporters Week stuff including a Rapids fan in his own words, a look at fans who go the extra mile, passion running deep with the Timbers Army, Seattle's Emerald City Supporters, and news that the Sons of Ben will be the focus of an upcoming documentary.
- In case you didn't know, Rancid drummer Branden Steineckert is a big time RSL supporter.
- The photos and video of the opening of BBVA Compass Stadium's opener are out.
- Bruce Arena talks about success in MLS.
Other news & notes:
- Jurgen Klinsmann named his first 16 players for the upcoming USMNT camp.
- The USMNT Blog has facts on the first 16.
- Soccer America looks at who will survive the camp.
- Timmy Chandler wants to take some time off from international play.....
- Steve Davis wonders what is up with Chandler. Like most USMNT supporters are.
- Here are all of Lionel Messi's 2011-12 La Liga goals.
- Former Colorado Rapids manager Gary Smith almost got his team into the Championship.
- Eric Wynalda's Cal FC upset the Kitsap Pumas in the 1st Round of the USOC tournament without their coach.
- Tim Ream is planning on staying at Bolton FC despite the club being relegated out of the EPL.
- KCKRS looks at why ESPN isn't getting out of the soccer business anytime soon.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to jamesrweise@gmail.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
