Rhinos find friendship at Frontier

By Jeff DiVeronica
Democrat and Chronicle

(September 24, 2000) -- It's been more than four months since the Rhinos lost in Rochester. They've won 16 straight within the friendly confines of Frontier Field.

Opponents say part of the reason is the narrower dimensions of the pitch. And while Rhinos players don't deny that size matters, they say their home-field advantage extends beyond the white lines.

"The crowd plays a big part, sort of like the 12th man out there," defender Craig Demmin said.

It means more adrenaline, more hustle and more fight for every 50-50 ball.

"There's a lot of pride to play hard in front of these fans," Demmin said.

A big crowd -- by Rochester standards, not the A-League -- isn't expected for tonight's playoff match against Toronto. Ticket sales have been slow. But maybe the fans who show up will be as loud as the 2,811 in Toronto on Friday. The Rhinos need all the help they can get. Their season is on the line.

Fourth-seeded Rochester plays No. 7 Toronto in the deciding match of the two-game, total-goal Eastern Conference Finals. The series is even at a goal each after Friday's 1-1 draw in Toronto. The Rhinos needed a 75th-minute strike by Dan Stebbins to tie it.

Today's winner faces Minnesota or Milwaukee, who played the deciding game of the Western Finals last night in Blaine, Minn., in the A-League Championship Game. The Rhinos defeated visiting Minnesota 3-1 in 1998 before losing 3-1 in Minnesota last year.

If Rochester advances today, the game will be 8:05 p.m. Saturday at Frontier.

There are some scenarios, including a tie score of 1-1 or higher, in which Rochester could advance without winning. But the Rhinos will show up to win.

"If we don't win at home we don't deserve to (advance)," Demmin said.

Toronto happens to be the only team to beat the Rhinos at Frontier. The Lynx won the May 6 season opener 2-1 but then lost 1-0 and 2-1 in Rochester.

"They are the toughest team to beat at home," Toronto defender Marco Reda said. "The size of the field is particularly good for them defensively, but we're used to playing there. We're going to come in and hopefully get a win."

Coach Peter Pinizzotto's club was 4-7-2 on the road during the season, but has won its last four away games by one goal, including playoff wins at Northeast Division champion Long Island and Atlantic runner-up Richmond.

Stebbins said the Rhinos can't relax just because they're at home.

"You still have to go out and do the work," said the forward who has a team-high three playoff goals. "This is a (Toronto) team that's been battling."

The Rhinos will be without Onandi Lowe, who must serve a one-game suspension for accumulated yellow cards. That's bad news because the Jamaican National team forward has been their conduit to the back of the net lately.

Since the third goal in the playoff opener against Hershey, Lowe has has assisted or scored four of Rochester's last six.

"Yeah, it's a surprise to us (he's out)," Reda said after Friday's tie. "But they've got good forwards on the bench. Jimmy (Glenn) and (Eduardo) Sebrango aren't slouches."

Those two haven't even dressed the past two road matches. Forward Ernest Inneh has. He joined the team just before the playoffs and has played sparingly. Yesterday Rhinos coach Pat Ercoli wouldn't tip his hand to who he may start, but he did say he's leaning toward another forward rather than pushing up first-team, all-league midfielder Yari Allnutt (team-high 12 goals).

No Rhinos have much experience with Inneh, who had 18 goals last year for Staten Island.

"We'll put our best team on the field," Ercoli said. "It was evident Friday that when we put in some fresh legs it made a difference. So it's important for us to do that again at some point. That could be where the difference would be."

The Rhinos have a much deeper bench. They used four substitutes Friday; Toronto used one. Ercoli doesn't expect Toronto to sit back and play for a scoreless tie.

"Why would they want to come here and not play?" he said, alluding to their recent road success. "Plus they're not a team that gives up many goals."

If either team takes an early lead, it may force the other to play more offensive and that could open up the game. But if it stays scoreless long, expect another close result.

None of the seven meetings -- three ties, two wins and two losses each -- have been decided by more than a goal. Which all-league keeper -- Scott Vallow (first team) and Toronto's Theo Zagar (second) -- comes up biggest or makes a bad mistake could be the difference.

"This is our homefield," said Rhinos defender and fiery leader Scott Schweitzer. "If they want a battle, they've got one."

Notes: Midfielder Tommy Tanner (quad injury) remains questionable, along with Toronto defender Milan Kojic (hamstring). Each missed Game 1.