New England Soccer Today

Rhinos Battle Charleston to Scoreless Draw

Photo Credit: Charleston Battery

Photo Credit: Charleston Battery

The Rochester Rhinos extended their franchise-best start with a 0-0 draw against the Charleston Battery on Friday night, maintaining their unbeaten record.

The Rhinos faced a difficult challenge travelling on the road facing the Battery, who were unbeaten at home with a 5-0-3 record entering Friday night’s match. However, the Rhinos came out in a defensive 4-5-1 formation and limited the Battery’s chances throughout the match.

The match was a defensive struggle throughout with neither team registering a shot on goal in the first half, and the Rhinos making the only two shots on target in the second half. The Battery fired a total of eight shots, none of which on target.

The Rhinos, known for their strong defense and goalkeeping, have now only conceded five times in 15 games, and have only conceded once in the last six games.

Revolution loanees Tyler Rudy and Timi Mulgrew both made appearances in the match. Rudy started and played 87 minutes before coming off for Colin Rolfe in the closing minutes of the match. Timi Mulgrew came in as a sub in the 77th minute.

The Rhinos remain not only the last unbeaten team in the USL, but the only team with fewer than two losses. Their 9-0-6 record moves them to 33 points, which keeps them five points above the Charleston Battery and seven points above the Richmond Kickers in the USL Eastern Conference, with a game in hand over both teams.

The draw extends the unbeaten streak to 15 games, a franchise-record of longest unbeaten streak to start a season. The Rhinos are in the midst of an 8-day stretch with three matches, as they return home for a mid-week match against FC Montreal on Wednesday before travelling to face Toronto FC II next Saturday.

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