Rhinos maintain defensive priority

By Jeff DiVeronica
Democrat and Chronicle

(Saturday, September 29, 2001) -- Trailing by a goal with 90 minutes left in their playoff series, will the Rhinos change things at the start to spark some offense in tonight's win-or-go-home quarterfinal match?

"There's no reason to play any different now," coach Pat Ercoli said. "We have 90 minutes. That's a lot of time. I don't expect either of us to change."

Ercoli's defense-first philosophy has drawn some criticism, but he said, "we'll evaulate as the game goes along." The team with the most goals in the series advances. Rochester trails 2-1 after losing Game 1.

It needs to win by more than one goal tonight at Frontier Field -- where it has done that four times this season, all against non-playoff teams -- to advance. Pittsburgh could advance with a tie -- it drew 2-2 here July 27 -- but don't expect the 'Hounds to only defend.

That's not what they did in Game 2 at Charleston in the same situation. Gary DePalma scored in the third minute for a commanding two-goal lead in the series. It won Game 2, 3-1.

"We went there to win," Pittsburgh coach Kai Haaskivi said. "It's an awkward situation to be in because a tie gets you through, but we haven't won by sitting back and defending."

Update: Pittsburgh gets top-scorer David Flavius (thigh), defender Ricardo Iribarren (knee) and midfielder Jaman Tripoli (hamstring) back from injuries. Flavius has eight goals.

Rhinos defenders Fuseini Dauda (groin) and Carl Fletcher (knee) are still out. Midfielder Nate Daligcon will not have to sit because of two yellow cards and a Game 1 ejection.

In goal: Expect Billy Andracki to start for the Rhinos. "As long as he's focused, that's our concern," Ercoli said.

Andracki failed to clear a ball played back to him by Scott Schweitzer in Game 1 and it led to Welton's tying goal.

"In hindsight, I should have let the ball go out," Andracki said. "But I didn't want to give up a corner kick."

He also didn't want to give up a deep throw-in. Andracki made the right decision coming out but gambled. "It was a split-second decision and a tough play. I'll be the first to admit it was my mistake," he said. "I'm not down, I'm (mad). I wish the game was (last night or Thursday). I want to get back out there."

I'm ready to go."

At a glance

This season: The Rhinos and Riverhounds series is tied 2-2-1, but Pittsburgh has won the past two games, in Pittsburgh.

In Rochester: Pittsburgh has never won at Frontier Field (0-5-1), but earned a tie July 27 when it led 2-1 until the 81st minute. A tie is all Pittsburgh needs tonight.

Format: Team with the most goals in the series advances, but if it's tied after regulation tonight, there will be 30 minutes of sudden-death overtime. If that doesn't settle it, a penalty-kick shootout will.

Fast fact: Rhinos are 28-1-3 at Frontier the past two years and were shut out just once -- a 1-0 loss to Hershey in an Open Cup match this season. But Pittsburgh has won five straight road matches.