Rhinos roll into championship game

Rochester plays Hershey for the title Saturday at Frontier

DANESE KENON Rhinos forward Neathan Gibson is surrounded by teammates as they celebrate his goal in the 41st minute. The Rhinos defend their title Saturday. Title match Matchup: The No. 4 seed Rhinos (19-7-4) play No. 2 Hershey Wildcats (19-8-3) in the A-League title game. Where/when: 8 p.m. Saturday at Frontier Field. TV: Fox Sports World. Tickets: From $14 to $22. On sale starting tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Frontier ticket office or by calling 423-9464.

By Jeff DiVeronica
Democrat and Chronicle

(Sunday, October 7, 2001) -- Hershey, the only team that has beaten the Rhinos in the past 34 matches in Rochester, will have the season's biggest stage to show it was no fluke.

The fourth-seeded Rhinos beat No. 8 Milwaukee 1-0 last night before 6,817 fans at chilly Frontier Field to advance to Saturday's 8 p.m. A-League Championship Game -- its fourth straight and fifth in six seasons. They will play No. 2 Hershey, which beat No. 3 Vancouver 4-1 in its total-goal semifinal series.

The Northern Con-ference rivals, who split four 1-0 matches this season, have met in the playoffs the past three years and Rochester has won each time. The Rhinos are 7-2 at Frontier, but on July 2 Hershey beat them 1-0 in a Cup match -- Rochester's only home loss since last year's season opener. The Rhinos are 2-0 in title matches at home, winning in 1998 and last year.

"Give Hershey credit, they've had a great season," defender Mali Walton said. "I'm sure they'll bring their guns here and we'll bring ours. It'll be interesting."

Even more so because ex-Rhinos star Doug Miller now plays for Hershey.

The Rhinos neutralized Milwaukee (16-13-3) last night -- just like they did in winning Thursday's Game 1 of this total-goal series 3-2.

Forward Neathan Gibson scored in the 41st minute, nailing the winner for the second consecutive match. He has scored in three straight after not converting in his first 12.

"The lads have helped me just as I've helped them," said Gibson, 31. "I was in the right place at the right time."

He's being modest.

Gibson schooled two younger defenders, beating Igor Soso and Destin Makumbu, 19, to the ball.

Stoian Mladenov chipped a free kick toward the near post. Gibson cut in front of Soso and Makumbu to score on a 10-yard header.