skip navigation

Volesky Leads Rhinos to Win in Home Opener

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/23/16, 7:12PM EDT

Share

Pair of goals allows Rochester to rally from early second half deficit


Photo courtesy Kristen Stacy / Rochester Rhinos

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Christian Volesky continued his mastery of FC Montreal with both of the Rochester Rhinos goals as the defending USL Champions took a 2-1 victory in their home opener on Saturday evening at Rhinos Stadium. Montreal took an early second-half lead, but Volesky struck twice in four minutes for his seventh goal in the past two seasons against the Rhinos’ rival to the north.

The first half saw only a handful of chances, but Montreal had a pair of opportunities to take the lead as Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla was denied by Rhinos goalkeeper Adam Grinwis, and a cross by Charles Joly wasn’t met by a finishing touch. Sean Totsch had the first good chance for the Rhinos but saw his shot saved by Maxime Crepeau seven minutes before the halftime break, but the teams went to the break scoreless.

Montreal took the lead three minutes into the second half, as the Rhinos committed an uncharacteristic defensive error that was gratefully claimed by Joly. The 20-year-old turned and lifted his finish over an advancing Grinwis for a 1-0 lead.

The Rhinos quickly got back on level terms, as four minutes later a run into the left side of the penalty area by Marcos Ugarte saw him slip a pass to Volesky, whose first-time finish found the left side of the net.

Almost as quickly, Rochester had the lead as the Rhinos were awarded a penalty kick for a foul on Vassilios Apostolopoulos in the penalty area off a corner. Volesky stepped up and sent his low finish into the right corner as Maxime Crepeau went the wrong way.

Volesky almost completed his hat trick in the 67th minute when he cleverly stepped in front of a defender to send himself through on goal with an excellent first touch, but his finish went high and wide of the right post with only Crepeau to beat.

Montreal got a dangerous chance from a free kick on the right side of the penalty area when a pass slid to the side opened up a shooting chance for Alessandro Riggi, but the forward’s shot sliced wide of the left post.

Last season’s USL Championship MVP, Asani Samuels, attempted the spectacular with eight minutes to go as he controlled with his chest at the top of the penalty area and fired a volley, but the shot sailed well wide of the net.

While both teams pushed late on, Montreal for an equalizer, and the Rhinos for an insurance goal, Volesky’s two goals proved decisive as Rochester claimed its second win of the season.

Upcoming Games

  • April 30: Rochester Rhinos vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 6:05 p.m. ET, Rhinos Stadium

  • May 1: FC Montreal at Orlando City B, 7:30 p.m. ET, Titan Soccer Complex

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Christian Volesky, Rochester Rhinos – The young forward scored his second and third goals of the season to lead the Rhinos back from a surprise deficit to bring a smile to new owners David and Wendy Dworkin’s faces at the club’s home opener.


Photo courtesy Kristen Stacy / Rochester Rhinos