May 16, 2001

Next match. The Rhinos are back at Frontier Field this Saturday for the home leg of the US Open Cup tie with 1999 D3 champs the New Hampshire Phantoms. These qualifiers don’t count in the standings, but winning their three-team group will mean the Rhinos won’t have to face an MLS opponent in the Cup’s first round (they’re currently tied with Western Mass at nine points).

Why you need to go. Because the concession lines at Frontier won’t be nearly as long as those at the Lilac Festival. It’ll also be the last chance to see ’keeper Pat Onstad before he skips town to join the Canadian national team for the prestigious Confederations Cup in Japan. Depending on how well the Canadians fare, Onstad could be out of A-League action until mid-June (what goalkeeping controversy?). Saturday’s match will also be our first chance to see new Rhino Jamal Mitchell in action. Mitchell should start at forward, taking over for Mickey Trotman, who has joined the Trinidad & Tobago national team for the Caribe Cup.

History. The only previous meeting between these two teams took place last weekend in Manchester, with the Rhinos posting a 2-1 victory.

Scouting report. Just because the Phantoms are in a lower division, they won’t necessarily be a pushover. Prior to last weekend, the Rhinos had faced four opponents who play a bit further down the food chain, and although they won each match, two of them went to overtime. And the two last weekend weren’t exactly cakewalks, either.

Last weekend. The Rhinos spent Mother’s Day weekend in New England, where they escaped with a pair of come-from-behind, 2-1 wins over Western Mass and New Hampshire. Goals came courtesy of veterans (Tommy Tanner and Lenin Steenkamp each provided a goal and one assist) and youngsters (supersubs Dan Annan and Steve Butcher came on to net the game-winners).

Upcoming matches. The Rhinos will be home again next Saturday as they face Western Mass at Frontier before traveling to Toronto for a Sunday night match against the Lynx. The Safari is making the trip north of the border --- call 544-4694 for more details.

Around the league. Midfielder Brian Hinkey, a late cut from the Rhinos’ roster, has signed with the A-League Nashville Metros. Billy Andracki, who is currently on loan to the Atlanta Silverbacks, won in his first start between the pipes. Andracki was on the 1995 Atlanta Ruckus side that won the A-League title. Connecticut goalkeeper Adam Throop was rewarded with A-League Player of the Week honors after allowing only one goal in two overtime showdowns against both participants from last year’s championship match (Rochester and Minnesota). And according to ESPN.com, the Kansas City Wizards have filed a Discovery Option on MIA forward Onandi Lowe.

Revolving door. The season is still quite young, but a surprising number of players have found themselves playing in both MLS and A-League matches ---sometimes in the same week. Injuries and suspensions in Tampa Bay led the Mutiny to “call up” Paul Schneider and Don Gramenz from Minnesota and Scott Cannon from Charleston. Long Island has been without the services of Mersim Beskovic and Cordt Weinstein, who have both been playing with the Metrostars. But it’s not just the MLS bigwigs who are raiding the A-League rosters, either. Milwaukee, which still has several players tied up in the NPSL (indoor soccer) finals, received defender Jim Curtin on loan from the Chicago Fire. Fire midfielder Jamar Beasley even made an appearance for Milwaukee last week. And just last weekend, the Rhinos faced 20-year-old Bolivian midfielder Fernando Ortiz Solis, a graduate of the prestigious Tahuichi Academy, which also schooled D.C. United’s Marco Etcheverry and Jamie Moreno. Solis was on loan to the New Hampshire Phantoms for last weekend’s matches, so we won’t have to worry about him on Saturday.

Read the last issue of The Score here.