ROCHESTER, N.Y.
– Former Timber
Aaron Lines
scored his first goal of the season and tallied an assist as the Rochester Raging Rhinos defeated the Portland Timbers 2-1 at PAETEC Park Saturday night. The loss ended the Timbers’ record-setting string of four consecutive shutouts.
Rochester (5-3-5, 20pts) scored its first goal of the match in the fourth minute and was the first goal allowed by
Josh Wicks
and the Timbers’ defense in five games - a span of 377 minutes. Prior to the match, the last goal allowed by the Timbers (4-2-2, 14pts) was in the 77th minute against the Seattle Sounders on May 11 at PGE Park.
Lines helped Rochester score two goals in the first 28 minutes of the match, including his first goal of the year in the 4th minute.
Timbers defender
Leonard Griffin
scored his second goal of the season in the first half to trim Rochester’s lead 2-1. It was his second goal of the season against Rochester and goalkeeper
Chase Harrison
. Griffin scored his first professional goal against Harrison in a 2-0 win over Rochester at PGE Park on May 13.
Rochester took a 1-0 lead early in the match with a 15 yard shot by Lines. Timbers midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer, under pressure, attempted to clear the ball from the penalty area, but his effort went directly to Lines who finished the half volley inside the back post.
In the 28th minute, Lines found forward
Matthew Delicate
who had snuck behind the Timbers backline. Delicate made one quick move around Wicks, who was charging off his line, and finished into an open net for a 2-0 Rochester lead.
Timbers forward
Chris Bagley
nearly found his first goal of the season in the 37th minute with a header from Griffin. Bagley’s shot on the back post hit Harrison in the chest for one of his four saves in the match.
Griffin put the Timbers on the board 41st minute with a 22 yard shot into the upper corner on the near post. Charging up field, Griffin’s right-footed shot on the run froze Harrison and cut Rochester’s lead 2-1.
The Timbers took 11 shots in the match including five in the second half, but the Raging Rhino defense prevented Portland from capitalizing on dangerous changes throughout the game.
Midfielders
Tom Poltl
and
Andrew Gregor
were both booked in the second half – the only cards issued in the match. Gregor received a caution in the 53rd minute while Poltl received his in the 85th.
The Timbers return home Sunday but leave again on Monday for the first round of the U.S. Open Cup in Bakersfield, Calif., against the Bakersfield Brigade of the Premier Development League (PDL) on June 12. Held at Bakersfield Christian High School, kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Notes:
Timbers wore their yellow uniforms against Rochester … The Timbers have not conceded more than two goals in a game all season … The Timbers remain winless in Rochester with an all-time record of 0-3-1 … Gregor and Rochester midfielder
John Ball
leave for Spain to join the U.S. Futsal National Team for a six-day training session leading up to the 2007 Pan-American Games in July. Gregor will miss the Timbers’ U.S. Open Cup match in Bakersfield on Tuesday …
Line ups:
POR – GK Wicks, D J. Thompson (Morrison, 45), D S. Thompson, M Knowles, M Poltl, M Gregor, M Kreamalmeyer, M Lara (Higgins, 45), F Bagley, F Jordan
ROC – GK Harrison, D Bertz, D Perry (Bonseu, 86), D Palguta, D Burns, M Menyonger, M Ball, M Lines, M Kramer (Scheufele, 81), F Delicate (Shirley-Black, 68), F Ambersley (Martinez, 45)
Scoring Summary:
ROC: Lines, 5
ROC: Delicate (Lines), 28
POR: Griffin, 41
