Lynx stand in way of Frontier final

By Jeff DiVeronica
Democrat and Chronicle

(September 22, 2000) -- Last year, the Rhinos seethed when the A-League awarded the title game to Minnesota despite Rochester's ability to attract more fans and media coverage -- the majority of the criteria the league says it considers.

Yesterday, the Rhinos rejoiced -- to an extent.

Before they can worry about playing host for the title game, the Rhinos must get there.

The A-League announced yesterday that if Rochester beats Toronto in this weekend's Eastern Conference Finals, the championship match will be at 8:05 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at Frontier Field.

"We're very pleased with the decision," Rhinos general manager Chris Economides said before boarding the team bus to Toronto for Game 1 tonight.

League commissioner Francisco Marcos has the final say in the decision where to play the title game. Toronto was not in the equation because the Lynx average only 2,620. The Western Conference champion -- either Minnesota (3,587) or Milwaukee (3,654) -- were in the running, but Marcos chose Rochester. The league will get a some ticket revenue, Economides said but declined to reveal specifics. Minnesota or Milwaukee will host if Toronto upsets the Rhinos.

Rochester was host in 1998 and before a sellout crowd of 13,772 beat Minnesota, 3-1, for its first title. But last year, despite having a better fan base and more media attention, the league awarded the title game rematch to Minnesota. Rhinos officials were upset. They thought finishing with the most regular-season points should be a factor in their favor, but that's not part of the criteria. Marcos said he wanted to "spread the wealth," by giving it to Minnesota, which won, 3-1, in front of 9,987 fans.

Mellow yellow: Rhinos forward Onandi Lowe and Adrian Serioux, the Toronto defender who probably will guard him, are the only players in the Eastern Finals with accumulated yellow-card concerns.

Each has two in the playoffs. One more and they will be suspended for the team's next game. If it happens tonight, they would sit Sunday. If it happens Sunday and their team advances, they would miss the league championship match.

"Onandi's been made aware of it," coach Pat Ercoli said.

Expect the physical Lynx to try to rattle Lowe, not known for a cool head, into an early card.

In the house: Rhinos fans were so well represented in the last match in Toronto, a 3-2 loss on Aug. 13, Rochester goalkeeper Scott Vallow knew immediately they were there.

"To come out of that tunnel and hear cheers was very encouraging," Vallow said.

Injury update: Rhinos midfielders Martin Nash (concussion) is OK, but Tommy Tanner (quad) is questionable.

Homecoming? Gates Chili graduate and former Indiana University midfielder Yuri Lavrinenko hasn't spent much time with the Chicago Fire (MLS) because he's done so well on loan to Milwaukee, which plays Minnesota in the A-League Western Conference Finals.

He has 5 goals and 3 assists (15 games) and scored the tying goal in Milwaukee's Game 2 win, 2-1, at Seattle.