May 4, 2007
The results of the MRI are back and it is not good news for the Rhinos or their captain.
Vallow is expected to miss three months as he will need surgery to repair a ruptured right distal biceps tendon which was injured blocking a shot in practice on April 18th.
Vallow is scheduled to go under the nice on Tuesday and his return will depend on how his recovery and rehab goes. A three month layoff would mean that Vallow, whose started 35 straight USL 1st Division matches for the Rhinos, would miss 19 or 20 games depending on whether he were to come back on August 5th at Montreal or August 10th at home versus the Carolina RailHawks.
Tonight's home opener will be a rematch of the 2006 USL 1st Division Title Game
The opener at PAETEC Park this season won't lack for drama as the match will pit the two finalists from 2006, at the same stadium, and on the same TV network as last fall's season finale.
The Rhinos hope to get revenge for their 3-0 loss to the Whitecaps. But, the breaking news that captain Scott Vallow will be out with a biceps injury will mean that former Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Chase Harrison will have to step up big time for the Rhinos. It is ironic that Harrison, a graduate of Virginia Tech, will get his first start as a Rhino on the night that the team is wearing special jerseys honoring the 32 victims of the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, The jerseys will be signed by the players and auctioned off after the match with the proceeds going to the Virginia Tech Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.
Vancouver comes to Rochester having gained four points in their first two matches of 2007. The Whitecaps opened the campaign with a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders at home. Then they played the expansion California Victory to a 2-2 tie at home last Saturday night. All three of Vancouver's goals have come from ex-Rhinos with Eduardo Sebrango scoring twice and Martin Nash pulling the Whitecaps even with California.
The Rhinos two goals have come off set pieces as Hamed Diallo scored in Puerto Rico off a free kick and Kenney Bertz had the winner in Miami on a header off of a Johnny Menyongar corner kick.
My prediction for tonight:
I think that even despite the loss of Vallow, this will be a close match with Sebrango scoring for the third straight match for the Whitecaps, but the Rhinos pulling out the 1-1 tie at home.
Rhinos Women's Team signs four players
The Rhinos have re-signed midfielders Jacquie Lacek, Liz Masterson and Alex Sahlen, and defender Rachel Kruze for the 2007 season.
Kruze wore the captain's armband for the Rhinos in 2006 and is expected to be a core leader for Peter Amos' squad in 2007.
Also, Alex Sahlen will be a guest tomorrow on Kick This! to discuss try outs that begin tomorrow night for the 2007 edition of the team.
MLS News & Notes
- The fall out of Amado Guevara not wanting to go to Toronto is being talked about all over the place. From LA Soccer News.com saying that Amado may have left MLS to their interview with Amado's agent.
- Amazingly, that may not be the biggest news of the day. In Salt Lake, not only has GM Steve Pastorini resigned, but head coach John Ellinger was moved into the front office, Jason Kreis retired and was then named the new head coach of the struggling 3rd year franchise. Big Apple Soccer.com has Clint Mathis' take oin his old friend and teammate taking over the reigns at RSL and Soccer by Ives has his own take on the situation.
- Washington Post.com Soccer Insider Steven Goff has a link to the 2007 MLS salary listings. Some Rochester connections are DC United paying Jamil Walker $30,870 and John Wilson $39,930, Pat Onstad making $168,000 with Houston, and Carlos Mendes taking home $62,606.25 with the NY Red Bulls.
- Speaking of Jamil Walker, Goff's speculation that he could be on his way out of DC may be gaining some traction as Nicholas Addlery started for DC last night versus the New England Revolution. Addlery gave way to Jamie Moreno at halftime. But, the fact that he started and Walker wasn't on the gameday roster can't be a good sign for the Rochester native.
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 news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
