USSF D-II: Portland, Whitecaps to meet, Rhinos try to continue streak

Posted Jul 3, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 3, 2010 at 12:53 PM

Portland tries to end Vancouver’s currently undefeated road-trip on with a defeat, while Rochester tries to continue its five-game undefeated streak against Montreal in the USSF Division II on Saturday.

MONTREAL (4-4-5) AT ROCHESTER (6-3-4): The Rhinos and Impact played to a 1-1 draw two weekends ago, Eduardo Sebrango’s late equalizer earning a point for Montreal in that contest.

Rochester then dispatched Puerto Rico 3-0 at the Marina Auto Stadium, where the Rhinos are 4-1-2 this season. Anthony Hamilton still leads the Rhinos with four goals, but they now have five players with more than one goal this season.

Montreal is 2-2-2 away from the State Saputo this season, and hasn’t won since a 2-1 victory against Tampa Bay on June 12. The Impact held a lead against Vancouver on Wednesday night, but two goals in the final 20 minutes gave the Whitecaps victory, putting them seven points clear at the top of the NASL Conference.

CAROLINA (3-2-6) AT ST. LOUIS (2-7-2): Carolina and St. Louis have both played the fewest games in the NASL Conference, but the RailHawks will want to take advantage of their games in hand on the rest of the league to put them in a solid position for the playoffs with victory tonight.

The RailHawks have drawn more than they’ve won or lost this season, all four of their league games in June ending deadlocked including a 2-2 tie against Montreal where they held a 2-0 lead with 17 minutes to play. One concern has been the form of Barbara Etienne, who despite leading the team with five goals has only one in his last four, that coming on a penalty kick.

St. Louis only played twice in the league in June, but earned a win and a draw in those contests. The Saints earned a 0-0 draw against Vancouver last Saturday as they couldn’t find a way past the 10-man Whitecaps late in the game.

PUERTO RICO (4-6-1) AT AUSTIN (9-2-3): The Aztex hold a six-point lead at the top of the league after back-to-back victories against Miami FC in the last two weeks. A pair of goals by Eddie Johnson, his seventh and eighth of the season, earned the side victory at Lockhart Stadium a week ago.

Austin now has double the points of Carolina, which would be the No.8 seed in the playoffs if the season ended today. That will post a tough test for the Islanders, who sit bottom of the USL Conference and need to start taking advantage of their games in hand if they are to contend for a playoff spot. Rochester handed Puerto Rico a 3-0 defeat last Saturday, the latest setback in what has been a tough season.

VANCOUVER (6-2-6) AT PORTLAND (5-5-4): The Whitecaps will come into Portland on a high after grabbing victory against Montreal in stoppage time on Wednesday. The Timbers, though, have put together a good recent run of their own in the league, earning back-to-back victories to get their season back on track.

Portland took the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season, Ryan Pore scoring twice, including the game-winner in the 86th minute. Pore has cooled off lately, but the addition of Bright Dike has been a big boost to the Timbers, who can continue to bolster their playoff credentials with a victory tonight.