LAST SEASON:

2005 results: 15-6-7; 51 points; +18 diff; 2nd place; lost in playoff semifinal
RD's 2005 prediction: 15-4-9, 4th place

First-year coach Laurie Calloway turned the struggling Rhinos back into contenders in 2005, supercharging the offense (45 goals vs. 36 in 2004) and de-Zagar-fying the defense (18 goals allowed vs. 32 in 2004).  Still, the Ghost of Ercoli Past haunted Rochester in the playoffs: They’ve still not scored a goal in the run of play in their last seven post-season matches.  The season ebbed and flowed on the shoulders of 37-year-old defender Rene Rivas.  Rochester was 9-6-1 with him starting, and 6-1-7 when he didn’t.

 

Ball
Howes
Juninho

Menyongar
Delicâte
Lines
Seacrest, Out:

F Mauro Carabajal (3+3=9)

M Rene Rivas (3+2=8)
M Pato Aguilera (4+1=9); two TOW
M Kirk Wilson (9+5=23); All-League First Team
F Doug Miller; three-time All-League
M Lenin Steenkamp; three-time All-League
D Craig Demmin; five-time All-League
D Scott Schweitzer; six-time All-League
Back in the Fold

F Jonathan Bolańos (5+4=14); one TOW

F Greg Howes (5+1=11); one TOW; one POW
M Rey Martinez (4+1=9); three TOWs
M John Ball (4+1=9); one TOW
M Juninho DaSilva (2+2=6); one TOW; one POW
F Frankie Sanfillippo (1+2=4); three TOWs
GK Scott Vallow; 0.920 GAA; 9 SO; one TOW
Fresh Meat

F Matthew Delicâte; from Richmond

F Charles Gbeke; from Montreal
F Johnny Menyongar; from Minnesota
F Chad Severs; from Harrisburg City (USL D2)
M Aaran Lines; from Portland
D Kenney Bertz; from DC United (MLS)
D Ricky Lewis; from Colorado (MLS)
Rivas
Schweitzer
Demmin

 

THE LOWDOWN:

While some of them may not have contributed much in 2005, Rochester lost seven of their all-time leaders in minutes played.  In other words, you will not know this team without a scorecard.  On the plus-side, Calloway finally gets a chance to see what he can do with a roster containing no holdovers from the Ercoli years.  Big upgrades at the forward position, with Delicâte, Gbeke, Menyongar, and Severs combining for 33 goals in 2005.  Not quite as impressive as offensive additions in Montreal, but definitely nothing to sneeze at, either.  Bertz and Lewis will have big shoes to fill in replacing long-standing Rochester backs Demmin and Schweitzer, but there’s not much happening in the midfield, though, so maybe Calloway will be sticking to the best-defense-is-a-good-offense strategy.  The Rhinos must learn to score/win on the road to be successful, though.  The early portion of the season, when Rochester will be on the road prior to the opening of their brand new facility, could get pretty ugly.

 

RD's 2006 prediction: 18-4-6; 3rd place and out in playoff semifinal

Back to the 2006 preview