Rochester Rhinos

By: agiamba | Add Comments

It may have become obvious, but this blog has not been updated in some time. Unfortunately, for the few readers out there, I must bid adieu. This summer after graduating, I permanently moved out of Rochester, it unfortunately is thus very difficult (combined with starting a job) to continue writing for a team 1400 miles away in the 2nd division of US soccer. If there is anyone out there interested in continuing the page (preferably someone living in Rochester, and be advised, blogging is hard work) please email Daryl at daryl [at] theoffside (dot) com.

Of course, as one who attended the Rhinos inaugural match in 1996, I will forever remain a fan of the (currently) only professional soccer team in New York state, and the team that remains one of the hidden jewels of US Soccer, truly the pride of the Upstate region and minor league soccer.

For anyone interested in following me, I write for the Juventus Offside and occasionally for the Bari Offside, or check me out on Twitter.

By: agiamba | 1 Comment

News to consider before the Rhinos take the field in Miami this weekend…

-Rhinos defeat Colgate University 3-0 in the last preseason friendly

-Rhinos plan on “Dynamic Attack”

-Get to know new forward Darren Spicer

-Get to know new forward Anthony Hamilton

This new season promises to be a strange one. The management wasn’t the only thing overhauled, though Ercoli, Sedgewick, and Lilley are great changes, I’m not a fan of the others. There are only 3 players from the old team who have been retained- standouts like Johnny Menyongar, Tiger Fitzpatrick, Brett Sancho, Kenney Bertz, etc, have all left. Bertz has moved on to a job in law enforcement, which I don’t fully understand…he was one of the best defenders in the USL-1. Anyways, we say farewell to the old, and welcome to the new!

By: agiamba | 1 Comment

In the first signing of the offseason, the Rhinos have decided to bring back Frankie Sanfilippo from Carolina, a great signing. You may remember Frankie from the 2005-2006 seasons, a steady presence in the backline during a tumultous period. He helped the Rhinos to make it to the 2006 USL-1 Championship game, where we unfortunately lost to current coach Bob Lilley and the Vancouver Whitecaps, at home 3-0. Despite the heavy loss, Sanfilippo must have left a decent impression on both Lilley and the league, as he was named to the 2006 USL-1 All Star team. He left for the Railhawks, and then to Charleston, but he’s back. Read the rest of this entry »

By: agiamba | 3 Comments

The 2010 Rochester Rhinos schedule has been posted. Here it is: Read the rest of this entry »

By: agiamba | Add Comments

A lot of times, a new management will make odd moves that no one particularly understands. Or, will not make the moves everyone is calling for.

I’m finding it impossible to dislike Rob Clark- While some of his earlier decisions were a bit odd, the last year has shown he is a capable manager of the club. He has done all the right things, heavily promoting the Rhinos and pushing to get people out to the stadium. This summer, after a stale last few years under ex-Rhino Darren Tilley, he shook things up. Pat Ercoli is back as a GM, our new coach is a proven, experienced winner, and the latest news is just as exciting.

Ryan called for Rob Clark to appoint an ex-Rhinos as coach, I wasn’t so much in favor of the Guardiola effect, it didn’t seem to go that well with Darren Tilley. It is important, however, to have a legacy of our great side in the management, so joining as an assistant coach the Rhinos announced a few days ago is Billy Sedgewick, our ex-defender/midfielder over a 7-season period, who is currently ranked 3rd in franchise history for starts and games played.

Sedgewick will make it a priority to connect the players to the Rochester community, hopefully taking them out on some garbage plate runs after victory. He started two charity campaigns, Quarters for Cancer and Strides for Shaun, running the LA Marathon in honor of his friend and teammate Shaun Tsakiris when he got testicular cancer.

Sedgewick played for a while under new coach Bob Lilley, and the two hit it off well.

Lilley said Sedgewick contacted Ercoli shortly after Ercoli was hired as GM in October. Then Lilley and Sedgewick talked, but Ercoli left the decision up to Lilley, a veteran of 10 USL seasons as a coach with Hershey, Montreal and Vancouver.

“The more we talked about it, the more it made perfect sense,” Lilley said. “He knows what this organization is all about.”

Lilley said Sedgewick relied on effort and guile as a player, traits he’ll try to impress upon young players, and Sedgewick regularly admitted he had to get by on that because he wasn’t as talented.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I have a great familiarity and the same vision as Bob does and the way he goes about things.”

From the Rhinos Offside, a very warm welcome home to Billy Sedgewick!

By: agiamba | 6 Comments

Who said the offseason in America is boring?? The big news, today is that the Rochester Rhinos decided to break away from the USL-1 and join the newly formed NASL. Yes, the same name as the league from the early 70s and 80s. For the past few honors, ever since the news broke, I’ve been trying to figure out what the deal is with the USL-1, and the clubs that decided to join the NASL. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Ryan | 1 Comment

As alessio wrote about, Darren Tilley is out. Pat Ercoli is back, but as GM. Our roster is talented, deep, and ready to make a serious run for the USL-1 Title. We’re just missing one, teeny tiny crucial thing…a coach. Now I do not claim to be a genius on USL-1, or even know many names in North American second-league soccer who are available to coach, but I do have an ego, which gives me more than enough reason to make a suggestion to the Rochester (Ragin’ …man I miss that adjective) Rhinos Management. Doug Miller.

First, who is Doug. If you don’t know, then you were living under a rock during the 1990’s. Doug Miller was a special class of striker, making plays that made MLS teams look dumb (hello Open Cup trophy). Doug Miller also currently resides in Rochester, having opened his own youth development team. Because of this, we can safely assume he has some knowledge of how to coach. Now before you all get on me about the whole difference between coaching kids and adults, I’m aware. And I have full faith in Doug that he can handle it. He will come in well respected by the players, and be able to make the difference we need.

Now I made my vote. Let’s hear yours. And with any luck, The Rhinos Management (we all know they read this blog to make critical decisions, because let’s be honest, we’re awesome) will take our suggestions and we will bring some silverware to Rochester this season.

By: agiamba | Add Comments

And I couldn’t be more pleased! Read the rest of this entry »

By: agiamba | 1 Comment

[From Rhinossoccer.com] (Rochester, NY)… The Rochester Rhinos announced today the organization will not be entering into negotiations with head coach Darren Tilley for a new contract for the 2010 season and beyond. Read the rest of this entry »

By: agiamba | Add Comments

Islanders 4-1 Rhinos (5-3 on aggregate)

And that’s how the season ends, not with a bang, but a whimper. Read the rest of this entry »