Rampage loses key player for semifinals

By Jeff DiVeronica
Democrat and Chronicle

(Wednesday, October 3, 2001) -- The Rhinos are nearly injury free for their A-League playoff semifinal series, which begins today, but Milwaukee will be without playmaker David Hayes.

A former D.C. United midfielder, he broke his jaw during the quarterfinals vs. Richmond. The injury happened in Game 1 and Hayes thought it was just a broken tooth, so he played in Game 2, Milwaukee coach Boro Sucevic said. Hayes, 25, had his jaw wired shut on Monday. He had six goals and a team-high seven assists.

"He was a key piece to the puzzle," Sucevic said.

The name of his probable replacement might sound familiar yet vague to Rhinos fans. Bato Radoncic, 21, was at Rochester's training camp last year but was released before the season. The Yugoslavian has started four times and has one assist.

Rhinos defender Fuseini Dauda (groin) is on the trip but defender Carl Fletcher is still working his way back from a knee injury. Each missed the Pittsburgh series.

Miller vs. Tilley: Speaking of familiar names, two former Rhinos MVPs square off in the other semifinal as Doug Miller (1997) and second-seeded Hershey (18-7-3) play Darren Tilley (1998) and Vancouver (16-8-2).

Game 1 is 10:30 tonight in Vancouver.

After losing Game 1 to San Diego 2-0, Vancouver rallied for a 4-1 rout to win the series. Tilley, making his first start in some time, scored the game's first goal and assisted on the winner. He has 23 career playoff goals, but it was his first strike in three months. Coach Dale Mitchell said he started Tilley, 34, because of his experience.

"A very good side," Tilley told the Vancouver Sun of Hershey. "I think I always scored against them when I was with Rochester."

Miller has two goals and four assists in six games with Hershey. Ex-Vancouver forward Eddy Sebrango, a Rhino last year, also plays for Hershey.

Vallow in goal? Rhinos coach Pat Ercoli wouldn't say last night who will start in goal tonight but it's expected he'll give Scott Vallow the nod for the second game in a row.

Ercoli pulled Billy Andracki (4-1-2) after a Game 1 miscue vs. Pittsburgh and Vallow (12-6-1) shut out the Riverhounds, although he wasn't tested much.

Downright defensive: Although offensive soccer might be entertaining, three of the four semifinalists ranked 1-2-3 in fewest goals allowed.

No. 1 Hershey allowed 20, Rochester 27 and Vancouver 33. Milwaukee, meanwhile, ranked 12th with 40 allowed.

The Rampage plays an offensive style, but they were seventh in goals (45), just ahead of Rochester (43) at No. 10. Then again, the Rhinos scored 11 goals in the final three matches.

Odds and ends: Milwaukee beat Nashville in penalty kicks in round one and then narrowly avoided PKs in the second.

A controversial PK awarded to Richmond in the 90th minute in Game 2 on Sunday allowed the host Kickers to tie the total-goal score at 3 and force overtime. But Rampage defender Alen Soso scored three minutes into sudden-death for the win.

Throw-ins: Milwaukee was 11-3 at home; the Rhinos were 5-6-1 on the road. The Rampage lead the overall series, 2-1, but the teams haven't played since 1999... . Rochester must adjust to a much larger pitch -- 12 yards longer and 10 yards wider than Frontier Field -- in Milwaukee. "Widest field I've ever seen," Rhinos general manager Chris Economides said.