USL News Release

Friday, October 16, 2015

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – It took more than 90 minutes for the Rochester Rhinos to find their first shot on goal, and second-half sub Asani Samuels twice rose to the occasion.

Samuels scored two set-piece goals – an equalizer in second-half stoppage time and the game-winner in the 112th minute – as the Rhinos defeated the LA Galaxy II 2-1 in overtime to capture the 2015 USL Championship at Sahlen’s Stadium. For his heroics, Samuels was named the match MVP.

“My coach told me to go out there and do my best; I just went there and did my best and worked hard for every ball,” Samuels said. “Everything, I tried to challenge and win.

“It’s all about confidence. My teammates, two of our better strikers were out, so I had to step up to the plate. … This is the best moment of my life.”

Rochester earns its first USL title since the league’s inception in 2011, and the Rhinos become the first team since the 2011 Orlando City SC side to win both the regular-season title and USL Championship. The win capped off a historic season for Rochester, which showcased the league’s top defense and went unbeaten at Sahlen’s Stadium this year.

Samuels’ heroics lifted a Rhinos side that hadn’t threatened the net all night against the Galaxy II. In second-half stoppage time, down 1-0, the Rhinos finally struck when Jonny Mendoza’s corner was driven to the middle of the box. Samuels positioned himself in front of LA goalkeeper Clement Diop, rose high for the snap header and drove it into the net to tie the score at 1-1 and force overtime.

In the 112th minute, it was another set-piece chance as Kenardo Forbes took the corner from the left and Samuels found some space in the middle of the box. The Galaxy II defense and LA goalkeeper Bennett Sneddon, who had to replace an injured Diop, were unable to fend off Samuels who again headed the ball home for the Rhinos’ winner.

Before Samuels’ heroics, it appeared that LA was on the verge of the crown.

LA Galaxy II forward Ariel Lassiter’s scoring presence was constant in the postseason, and that continued Friday night as his second-half goal gave Los Dos a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute. Lassiter drew the free kick that was taken by Bryan Olivera from the left side. He whipped the ball in toward the edge of the six, where Bradley Diallo redirected off of the crossbar. The shot ricocheted back down to the left of the six-yard box and Lassiter converged to slot it home for the 1-0 lead.

With steady rain to open the match, it took some time for both sides to create some chances and rhythm. Rochester had an early opportunity off of an Alex Dixon header in the seventh minute. Mendoza darted down the right side and crossed the ball in from near the end line, but Dixon’s attempt went wide left of the goal.

The Galaxy II had the game’s first chance on goal in the 18th minute, nearly capitalizing on a free kick opportunity just outside the box after the Rhinos handled the ball. Olivera’s left-footed free kick deflected off of the wall, bounced back out and Olivera was there for the follow-up strike. His shot broke through the traffic and Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller made a clutch reaction save to his right to keep the match scoreless.

Both Miller and Diop came up with interceptions from the opposing teams’ crosses throughout the half, but for the most part the first 45 minutes did not heavily threaten either team’s goal as half ended 0-0. Rochester was unable to put a shot on goal in the first half.

Rochester’s offensive shortcomings continued in the second half, and as regulation wore on toward the final 10 minutes, LA found ways to keep the ball in the attacking half. When the Rhinos did find some attacking moments, the Los Dos defense smartly had numbers behind the ball to limit Rochester’s threat on goal.

Samuels, however, was able to turn the match around with the game-tying header in stoppage time and the momentum swung the Rhinos’ way.

The Rhinos had to battle through some roster setbacks, particularly on the attacking side of the ball. Striker Steevan dos Santos was serving a suspension after he was sent off during Rochester’s Eastern Conference Final victory against Louisville City FC. Christian Volesky was not available because of a head injury. Rhinos head coach Bob Lilley had to burn an early substitution in the 35th minute as Nate Bourdeau replaced Mike Garzi, who was forced to leave with an ankle injury.

The Galaxy II’s Raul Mendiola, who had two assists during the USL Playoffs, had to depart in the early minutes of the second half, with midfielder Ignacio Maganto replacing him in the 50th minute. LA head coach Curt Onalfo confirmed that Mendiola was battling an illness and dizziness during the first half.

Galaxy II goalkeeper Sneddon, at 18 years old, was thrust into the match in a pressure situation as he had to replace an injured Diop in the 105th minute. Diop appeared to take a knee to his head in a previous sequence and Onalfo made the goalkeeping switch.

Though the fifth-seeded Galaxy II out of the Western Conference saw their season end in a loss, LA had a strong run through the USL Playoffs, defeating defending champion Sacramento Republic FC, top-seeded Orange County Blues FC and then host OKC Energy FC, with every victory coming on the road.

USL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:
2011: Orlando City SC 2, Harrisburg City Islanders 2 (Orlando City wins 3-2 in PK shootout)
2012: Charleston Battery 1, Wilmington Hammerheads FC 0
2013: Orlando City SC 7, Charlotte Eagles 4
2014: Sacramento Republic FC 2, Harrisburg City Islanders 0
2015: Rochester Rhinos 2, LA Galaxy II 1 (OT)

USL CHAMPIONSHIP MOST VALUABLE PLAYER:
2011: Sean Kelly, ORL
2012: Jose Cuevas, CHS
2013: Dom Dwyer, ORL
2014: Rodrigo Lopez, SAC
2015: Asani Samuels, ROC

2015 USL PLAYOFFS RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Saturday, September 26
No. 3 Charleston Battery 2, No. 6 Richmond Kickers 1 (OT)
No. 4 New York Red Bulls II 4, No. 5 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2 (OT)

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Friday, September 25
No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2, No. 6 Seattle Sounders FC 2 0

Saturday, September 26
No. 5 LA Galaxy II 1, No. 4 Sacramento Republic FC 0

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Saturday, October 3
No. 1 Rochester Rhinos 2, No. 4 New York Red Bulls II 0
No. 2 Louisville City FC 2, No. 3 Charleston Battery 0 (OT)

Western Conference Semifinals
Saturday, October 3
No. 5 LA Galaxy II 2, No. 1 Orange County Blues FC 0

Sunday, October 4
No. 2 OKC Energy FC 2, No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2 (OKC wins 4-3 in shootout)

Eastern Conference Final
Saturday, October 10
No. 1 Rochester Rhinos 1, No. 2 Louisville City FC 0

Western Conference Final
Sunday, October 11
No. 5 LA Galaxy II 2, No. 2 OKC Energy FC 1

USL Championship
Friday, October 16
Rochester Rhinos 2, LA Galaxy II 1 (OT)