USSF D-II: Islanders hold Aztex, Rochester, Carolina earn wins

Posted Jul 4, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 4, 2010 at 11:13 AM

Puerto Rico earns a point in Austin, while Carolina jumps Montreal with victory in St. Louis in Saturday’s USSF Division II action.

AUSTIN 1, PUERTO RICO 1: The Islanders came away with a point from their trip to Texas, a drive from outside the penalty area by Keon Daniel in the 75th minute cancelling out an early own goal.

The Aztex, in fact, took the lead in the first minute as Islanders defender Richard Martinez’s attempt to head back to goalkeeper Bill Gaudette went awry and ended up going in off the right post. Austin had other chances to add to their lead but was unable to take advantage and Daniel made them pay as he fired a shot in from 25 yards that gave Miguel Gallardo little chance, earning his side a draw.

VANCOUVER 0, PORTLAND 0: The Whitecaps completed an undefeated five-game road-trip with a lot of help from goalkeeper Jay Nolly, who made seven saves as the Timbers outshot the Whitecaps 20-6 at PGE Park.

Nolly’s biggest stops came in the second half, tipping a header over the crossbar from Mandjou Keita in the 57th minute and then foiling Bright Dike in stoppage time as the Timbers tried to continue their recent run of form.

ROCHESTER 2, MONTREAL 1: Goals in either half gave the Rhinos their fourth win in their six-game undefeated streak, a late goal by Rich Costanzo proving necessary as the Impact tried to perform another act of escapism.

Troy Roberts had given Rochester the lead in first-half stoppage time, finishing from 10 yards out as he got on the end of Max Ferdinand’s free kick. Costanzo then scored on an individual effort in the 85th minute to give the Rhinos an insurance goal which proved necessary when Reda Agourram pulled a goal back in the final minute, but the Impact were unable to find an equalizer as the Rhinos gained a little ground on Austin at the top of the USL Conference.

CAROLINA 2, ST. LOUIS 0: The RailHawks moved into second place in the NASL Conference as a goal in each half gave them victory against the Saints.

Joseph Kabwe had a goal and an assist for Carolina, opening the scoring in the 16th minute with a 25-yard drive. Kabwe then found Josh Gardner for another long-range effort in the 62nd minute, and Gardner beat goalkeeper Alex Dufty to his near post from the right corner of the penalty area.