Soccer News: Rochester Rhinos Look to Extend Unbeaten Streak Against Louisville City FC in Week 13
OKC Energy FC hosts Tulsa to wrap up five-game homestand at Taft Stadium
The Eastern Conference-leading Rochester Rhinos host Louisville City FC and look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. The Rhinos (7-0-4) have tied for the second-longest unbeaten streak in their history and are 3-0-0 at Sahlen’s Stadium this year.
Also in Eastern Conference play for Week 13, the league’s top offensive team, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, go on the road to take on the Charlotte Independence.
In the Western Conference, OKC Energy FC will wrap up its five-game homestand against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday. OKC, which briefly held first place in the West earlier this week, could regain the lead with a victory at Taft Stadium. Six teams have held first place in the West this season: Arizona United SC, Orange County Blues FC, OKC Energy FC, Portland Timbers 2, Sacramento Republic FC and Seattle Sounders FC 2.
GAMES TO WATCH
Charlotte Independence vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, Eagle Field
Pittsburgh has posted a 2-0-2 stretch in league play during the past month, coming off a 1-1 draw against Saint Louis FC on Rob Vincent’s league-leading ninth goal of the season. Riverhounds head coach Mark Steffens will return to Charlotte after building a strong history with the Charlotte Eagles. He coached the Eagles for 18 seasons. The Independence fell 2-1 to the Richmond Kickers their last time out, and their last league win was a 3-0 victory against Richmond on May 8. The game originally was going to be the opener at Ramblewood Soccer Stadium, but because of construction delays, the game will now take place at Eagle Field at Winthrop University.
Rochester Rhinos vs. Louisville City FC
Saturday, 7:05 p.m. ET, Sahlen’s Stadium
With every game, Rochester is inching toward a club-record unbeaten streak. The 11-game unbeaten run ties second (2006, 5-0-6 start) and trails only the 14-0-0 mark of the 1998 A-League team. The USL’s top defensive team will face a Louisville side that is coming off its first road victory of the season, a 2-0 win against FC Montreal on Wednesday at Stade Saputo. Rochester, meanwhile, has not played a league match since its 1-0 win against Montreal on May 30. Earlier this season, the Rhinos and Louisville City tied 1-1 on April 16 at Slugger Field. City’s Juan Guzman struck in the first half and Rochester’s Alex Dixon found the equalizer midway through the second half. The league’s top two goalkeepers could square off as Rochester’s Brandon Miller has allowed only three goals in eight games (0.40 goals-against average) and Louisville’s Scott Goodwin has given up eight goals in 11 games (0.72). (Preview)
OKC Energy FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Taft Stadium
Energy FC is the hottest team in the USL at the moment. OKC has won four consecutive games, including an impressive three consecutive shutout wins. All of this has happened during its homestand at Taft Stadium, and OKC (6-2-3, 21 points) briefly held first place in the West before Seattle Sounders FC 2 (7-4-2, 23 points) reclaimed the lead Thursday night. This is the third time OKC and Tulsa have faced each other. They played to a 1-1 draw to open the season on March 28. In third-round play of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Energy FC earned a 1-0 victory on May 27. The Roughnecks had their best performance of the season the last time out against S2, earning a 5-1 victory on June 5 at Starfire.
NEWS AND NOTES
– Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC has won four consecutive matches at home after dropping its home opener against OKC Energy FC on April 4. The Switchbacks will have a chance to extend the streak to five when they host Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday. Colorado Springs earned a 5-2 win against the Monarchs on April 17. (Preview)
– Harrisburg City Islanders head coach Bill Becher travels back to his native St. Louis on Saturday. Saint Louis FC hosts the City Islanders at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo. Harrisburg (4-3-2) and Saint Louis (3-3-4) are sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Eastern Conference standings. (Preview)
HOW TO FOLLOW
Every game of the 2015 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD on YouTube (www.Youtube.com/USL), with updates from throughout the league also available via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
