Forwards who can finish help fuel Rhinos
Jeff DiVeronica
@RocDevo
The Rhinos have scored 22 goals in their final 13 matches after a slow start.
While Rochester's 40-goal total is 12th in the USL, its plus-15 goal differential is first.
The 24 goals scored by the forwards is the most for a group of Rhinos forwards since 2003.
A solid and smart defense is the biggest reason the Rhinos have had so much success this season, but a retooled attack that produced more goals than Rochester has scored in a decade deserves credit, too.
"I think our team is better than it was last year and a better team is going to create more, score more and defend better in most cases," said coach Bob Lilley, whose top seeds open the USL playoffs on Saturday night at home by hosting the fourth-seeded New York Red Bulls II. "You've just got to get everyone on the same page."
The defense tied franchise records for shutouts (17) and fewest goals allowed (15) during a remarkable 17-1-10 regular season, but the attack also scored 40 times. That's the most for a Rhinos team since 2005.
"I think it's resiliency. We're all willing to work hard for one another," rookie forward Christian Volesky said.
That unselfishness is rare among front runners but a good thing and it's a feeling that runs through the whole squad, team captain Tony Walls said. But Lilley also found talent upgrades up top in the off-season to boost the attack, bringing in new forwards Steevan Dos Santos (8 goals), Volesky (8) and rookie Asani Samuels (2) to complement returnee, Colin Rolfe (6). The 24 goals is the most from a group of Rhinos forwards in 12 years. That's back when Doug Miller had 17 to lead a cast that converted 34 times.
Ball-winning returning midfielders like Walls, Mike Garzi and Jonny Mendoza along with the addition of Kenardo Forbes, 27, can't be overlooked, either. Named the club's Offensive Player of the Year with three goals and five assists, the Jamaican-born Forbes has been one of Rochester's most creative midfielders in years for an attack that lost former team MVPs and veterans, JC Banks and Tyler Rosenlund.
"They have three different skill sets," midfield returnee Alex Dixon said of the forwards. "Volesky likes to get in behind, he's very quick. He makes good runs. He's a good finisher. Colin's more of a hold-up type of guy. He's really good bringing others into the play. He can hold it up, spin out, link up. Steevan's kind of a mix between both. He's not the quickest, but he can hold it up and if he needs to get in behind he can do that as well."
They all have good size, too. Volesky and Rolfe are 6-foot-1. Dos Santos, whose pace and power is deceptive, is 6-4 and the speedy Samuels is 6-5. Samuels is out of Canisius College. Volesky played at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and was drafted by Portland in MLS but didn't stick. Lilley has rotated them when needed due to injuries or a busy schedule, so that has helped spread playing time. Dos Santos has become the main target.
"He'll do stuff in practice that turns your head," Rolfe said about the big man's touch and skill.
A native of Cape Verde whose nickname is "Duba," Dos Santos just turned 26 and has come on strong, like the entire attack, in the second half of the season. His four game-winners lead the team, just ahead of Rolfe (three) and Volesky (two) among the forwards. Rolfe, 25, has been on fire lately with four goals in his last five matches.
"The guys have really bought into what Bob has been preaching. We listen to what he wants," Rolfe said.
Some skeptics call Lilley a defensive-minded coach, a reputation that doesn't sit well with him.
"I've never restricted any team but when the ball turns over everyone defends," the USL Hall-of-Famer said. "There's no freeloaders."
That's the difference. Lilley makes his forwards work to retrieve possession and when the Rhinos do get it, "there's no chains on them," to go forward. Just ask Onua Obasi and Pat McMahon. When Rochester has the ball and they see an opportunity, he wants them to make overlapping runs.
Lilley also doesn't put much stock in goal totals. Other statistics are better indicators of success, Lilley said. While the Rhinos' 40 goals ranked 12th in the 24-team league, their goal-differential (plus-25) was first. They also score 2.67 goals for every one they allow. That's also No. 1.
"If you're a good team you score goals when you need them; if you're a bad team you don't do that enough," Lilley said, making it very simple. "These guys have been efficient, more so in the second half of the season."
The Rhinos scored only 18 times in first 15 matches. In the last 13 they scored 22. Another key: Rochester has scored the game's first goal in 25 of 28 matches.
"That's a big part of it," Lilley said. "When you need a goal can you find it and I think our group this year has done a good job with that."
JDIVERON@Gannett.com
Playoff opener
Matchup: Top-seeded Rochester Rhinos (17-1-10) vs. No. 4 N.Y. Red Bulls II (13-10-6) in the USL Eastern Conference semifinals.
When/where: 7:05 p.m. Saturday/Sahlen's Stadium.
Tickets: From $10.
Series: Rhinos have done 2-0-1 vs. NYRB.
Format: Single elimination.
At stake: A spot in the conference finals against No. 2 Louisville (14-8-6) or No. 3 Charleston (13-6-10).