Rhinos, Riverhounds focus on defense

2 first-teamers Rhinos defender Scott Schweitzer and midfielder Stoian Mladenov were named first team All-League picks by the A-League. Midfielder Lenin Steenkamp, voted Rhinos MVP with career highs in goals (9) and points (22), was a second-team selection. Schweitzer earned first-team honors for the fifth straight year. He had 1 goal and a career-high 4 assists. Mladenov had 7 goals and 8 assists after arriving via a trade from Minnesota. He also was first team last year.

By Jeff DiVeronica
Democrat and Chronicle

(Wednesday, September 26, 2001) -- Heading into the playoffs, the Rochester Rhinos and Pittsburgh Riverhounds were two of the hottest teams in the A-League.

Pittsburgh's push to reach the postseason included five wins in seven matches while outscoring opponents 17-6.

The Rhinos recovered from two straight road losses at Pittsburgh and Montreal to go 4-0-1, finding their offense to outscore opponents 13-5.

But don't expect to see a shootout in their two-game, quarterfinal playoff series, which begins at 7:35 tonight in Bethel Park, Pa., near Pittsburgh. Each team will emphasize defense first and then counterattack.

"I think they're taking the same approach we have over the years," Rhinos coach Pat Ercoli said before boarding the team bus yesterday. "Basically, the idea is that they're capable of scoring, but they have to focus on not letting goals up."

Pittsburgh has switched from a more offensive 3-5-2 alignment with three defenders and five midfielders, to the 4-4-2 that Rochester plays with an equal number of defenders and midfielders.

"At this point, we're prepared for all situations," said Ercoli, who scouted Pittsburgh's Game 1 win over No. 5 Charleston, 2-1.

Riverhounds coach Kai Haaskivi fewer defensive mistakes has been his team's key. It also has done well away from Bethel Park, where it plays on a narrow high school football field with a steep crown. Pittsburgh has outscored opponents 18-4 in winning its last five road matches.

"The crown plays a huge part because you can't play it down the sidelines or the ball will run out of bounds," Rhinos midfielder Lenin Steenkamp said.

Right-sided midfielder Gary DePalma (2 goals, 1 assist) had a foot in three of Pittsburgh's five goals against Charleston, and in the past four matches Welton (3-1), midfielder Paul Dougherty (2-1) and forward Phil Karn (2-0) have come alive.

Rhinos defenders Fuseini Dauda (groin injury) and Carl Fletcher (knee) didn't make the trip.

... The winner plays either No. 1 Richmond (16-7-3) vs. No. 8 Milwaukee (14-10-2), which features ex-Rhino Steve Butcher.