ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos scored a goal in each half en route to a 2-1 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday at Rhinos Stadium.

Kenardo Forbes and Ryan James tallied their first goals of the season – for James, his first as a professional – as Rochester improved to 3-1-1 (10 points) on the season and now 2-0-0 at home. Harrisburg dropped to 2-4-0 (6 points) and 1-3-0 on the road this year.

The City Islanders’ Craig Foster added a late second-half tally to cut the deficit in half, but Rochester would hang on the rest of the way.

The Rhinos took the lead in the 23rd minute when Christian Volesky played a through ball to split Harrisburg’s defense down the right side. Forbes received the ball at close range with a charging Nick Noble off of his line. Forbes calmly chipped over the City Islanders goalkeeper and into the net for a 1-0 Rhinos lead.

In first-half stoppage time, the Rhinos pushed for a potential two-goal advantage when Bradley Kamdem beat City Islanders defenders down the left side, then crossed into the box toward Volesky. The timing was flawless, but the connection was just a little off as Volesky’s header went over the bar.

The City Islanders made three substitutions to open the second half, and save for a couple of decent spells, Rochester managed to add to its lead in the 60th minute.

Rhinos midfielder Tony Walls, making his first start of the season, provided a right-footed cross from the left side in which Noble only partially deflected with his left glove. Because he was unable to clear the ball out of the area, James was in the vicinity to claim the loose ball and shot into a relatively open net for a 2-0 Rhinos lead.

Rochester pressured Harrisburg in the 72nd minute with a couple of attempts. Forbes had the initial strike, which was knocked away by Noble. Marcos Ugarte had a whistling follow-up, which the City Islanders’ defense deflected out of bounds.

In the 86th minute, Harrisburg cut into the deficit. Paul Wilson’s initial shot was deflected, and amid the chaos, Foster tracked down the ball and from a difficult angle on the right side fired into the net to make it 2-1.

Saturday’s game was the second of a four-game homestand for Rochester. With back-to-back multi-goal games, Rochester’s front line will be at full strength next week against the Charleston Battery as Steevan Dos Santos served the second of his two-game suspension Saturday night.

Upcoming Games:

• May 6: Charleston Battery at Rochester Rhinos; Sahlen’s Stadium, 7:05 p.m. ET

• May 7: FC Cincinnati at Harrisburg City Islanders; FNB Field, 7 p.m. ET

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match
Kenardo Forbes, Rochester Rhinos - Forbes jumpstarted the Rhinos' offense with the team's first goal and was effective in breaking down Harrisburg's defense from the get-go.