USL clubs shatter goal-scoring records in U.S. Open Cup

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

The volume of the USL teams’ goal-scoring during the Second Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup marked a new peak for several clubs who advanced in the tournament with some record-shattering numbers.

Three sides posted a single-game record for goals during Wednesday’s matches to move on to the Third Round on June 1.

Leading the charge were the defending USL champion Rochester Rhinos who bounced Southie FC 7-0 at Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. That seven-goal effort, led by Asani Samuels’ hat trick, topped the organization’s previous high of five goals during the 2006 U.S. Open Cup, when the then-named Raging Rhinos defeated the New Hampshire Phantoms 5-1 on July 12 of that year.

Wilmington Hammerheads FC also changed its Open Cup record books with a dominating 6-0 victory against the NPSL’s Miami Fusion, with Austin Martz and Kyle Parker recording braces.

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.

Rhinos capture USL championship

USL News Release

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.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.

Rochester Rhinos credit resilience to historic unbeaten start

Rochester Rhinos captain Tony Walls

The Rochester Rhinos have been one of the most consistent successes of the 2015 USL season. Rochester’s unbeaten run is one of the club’s best in its history, just three games shy of matching the 14-game streak during the 1998 A-League campaign.

Captain and midfielder Tony Walls credits the team’s resilience toward this run, which sees the club at 7-0-4 atop the Eastern Conference and 3-0-0 at Sahlen’s Stadium heading into Saturday’s home game against Louisville City FC.

“I think the guys have bought into the formations and positions, which we try to switch up,” Walls said. “We’re an organized and solid team. That can wear other teams down and make it tough for them going up against our defense. They run out of gas offensively.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.

Fire advance to Open Cup quarters

The Chicago Fire endured a slow start and defeated the USL Pro's Rochester Rhinos, 1-0, on Tuesday in a third-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

Fire forward Diego Chaves netted the game's lone goal as Chicago advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

"When you go into a game like this, you've got to be ready," Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson said. "We started a little slow and had a tough time getting used to the field conditions. But we picked things up as the game went on, especially once we got that goal."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire face Rochester in Open Cup

Diego Chaves -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire take a short detour from their MLS slate when they take on the USL Pro's Rochester Rhinos on Tuesday in third-round action of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

The Fire are providing a live stream of the match on their official site, Chicago-Fire.com, with the opening kick at 6:35 p.m. CT.

The four-time Open Cup champion Fire managed to qualify for the tournament for a 14th straight time, defeating MLS sides Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes in a pair of play-in matches.

This third-round match marks another short turnaround for the Fire, who played to a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, preceded by a scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake last Wednesday.

"The Open Cup is a tournament that we want to win," Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said. "We talked about the goals we set in the beginning [of the season], but there are a lot of games and a lot of traveling. We have a very good group of players, and we're going to assess them all."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.