Junior Rhino's U-15 Boys - National Champions

1-0 Winners in National Championship match over Aiken Fire

Junior Rhinos - 1 Aiken Fire - 0

In a rubber match of the first game of the preliminary round, the Rochester Junior Rhino's met the Aiken Fire of Aiken, South Carolina.  Aiken bounced back from a 6-2 spanking by the Rochester (N.Y.) Jr. Rhinos Elite Wednesday with a win and a tie to advance. Eric Baffour scored his third goal in two days to give Aiken a 1-1 draw with the Palos Verdes (Calif.) Raiders and a rematch Sunday against Rochester (3-0). Aiken was determined not make this a repeat and played a much tighter defensive game. However, early in the first half, Michael Lentine scored to give the Rhino's a 1-0 lead which held at the half.

 
The second half was equally intense as Aiken pressed their attack to try and gain the equalizer. 

Photo Courtesy of M. Mellander
They nearly found their opportunity when in the last two minutes of the game, off a foul in the penalty area when they were awarded a penalty kick.  The Rhino's goalie, David Cappuccio, was equal to the task and stopped the shot to preserve the win.
 
Other accolades bestowed on this Junior Rhino team, David Cappuccio received the adidas "Golden Glove" award for his goalkeeping, and Brian Usinger was awarded the adidas "Golden Boot" for scoring the most goals in the tournament.
 
The U-15 Rochester Junior Rhino's were the lone NYSW entry and the first NYSW team to advance to the Snickers US Youth Soccer National Championships.  They now go into NYSW history as our first National Championship team.
Junior Rhinos - 1 Aiken Fire - 0

David Cappuccio, Golden Glove Winner
Brian Usinger, Golden Boot Winner
Women's soccer star Michelle Ackers presents the Rhinos award.
In a rubber match of the first game of the preliminary round, the Rochester Junior Rhino's met the Aiken Fire of Aiken, South Carolina.  Aiken bounced back from a 6-2 spanking by the Rochester (N.Y.) Jr. Rhinos Elite Wednesday with a win and a tie to advance. Eric Baffour scored his third goal in two days to give Aiken a 1-1 draw with the Palos Verdes (Calif.) Raiders and a rematch Sunday against Rochester (3-0). Aiken was determined not make this a repeat and played a much tighter defensive game. However, early in the first half, Michael Lentine scored to give the Rhino's a 1-0 lead which held at the half.

The second half was equally intense as Aiken pressed their attack to try and gain the equalizer.  They nearly found their opportunity when in the last two minutes of the game, off a foul in the penalty area when they were awarded a penalty kick.  The Rhino's goalie, David Cappuccio, was equal to the task and stopped the shot to preserve the win.

Other accolades bestowed on this Junior Rhino team, David Cappuccio received the adidas "Golden Glove" award for his goalkeeping, and Brian Usinger was awarded the adidas "Golden Boot" for scoring the most goals in the tournament.

The U-15 Rochester Junior Rhino's were the lone NYSW entry and the first NYSW team to advance to the Snickers US Youth Soccer National Championships.  They now go into NYSW history as our first National Championship team.


 
U15 Boys
Team P W D L GF:GA Pts.
Rochester Jr. Rhinos (NYW) 3 3 0 0 11 : 5 9
Aiken Fire (SC) 3 1 1 1 6 : 8 4
Sockers FC Chicago (IL) 3 1 0 2 6 : 7 3
PVSC Raiders (CAS) 3 0 1 2 3 : 6 1
Wed. July 24 12:00 PM   Aiken Fire (SC) vs. Rochester Jr. Rhinos (NYW) Field 4 2:6 
Wed. July 24 12:00 PM   Sockers FC Chicago (IL) vs. PVSC Raiders (CAS) Field 5 3:1 
Thu. July 25 8:00 AM   Rochester Jr. Rhinos (NYW) vs. PVSC Raiders (CAS) Field 11 2:1 
Thu. July 25 8:00 AM   Aiken Fire (SC) vs. Sockers FC Chicago (IL) Field 5 3:1 
Fri. July 26 10:00 AM   PVSC Raiders (CAS) vs. Aiken Fire (SC) Field 4 1:1 
Fri. July 26 10:00 AM   Sockers FC Chicago (IL) vs. Rochester Jr. Rhinos (NYW) Field 5 2:3 
 
Finals
Sun. July 28 9:00 AM   Rochester Jr. Rhinos (NYW) vs. Aiken Fire (SC) Field 10 1:0