By Randy Agness
Nothing about the night was pleasant for the upstart LA Galaxy II soccer club being greeted by sleets of rain and bitter temperatures including a load and loyal crowd waiting in Sahlen Stadium for the USL League Championship game to kick-off. The USL League office representative had hoped for the best, after announcing that an agreement with ESPN to broadcast the Title Match in Rochester had been signed. The Rochester Rhinos had just completed one of those dream seasons finishing with 17-1-10, undefeated at home, a #1 Seed in the USL Playoff and marching through the Eastern Conference given up only 15 goals in the process. Rochester handily dispensed with the New York Red Bull II and Louisville City FC in consecutive weekends not allowing a goal by either team.
In only their second year in existence, LA Galaxy II enter the USL League Championship match winning the Western Conference championship and knowing their ended the Rhinos playoff run last year in a quarter final round game. In the USL, the Eastern and Western teams don’t play against one another during the regular season until the USL Title match. Playoff format changed as well with a winner-take-all based on a single game. Unlike the atmosphere in the stadium of buzz of crowds cheering, chanting and banging of drums, inside the Press Box was an uneasy silence with the chatter of laptops pounding out the outlines and notes ready to find the place in the articles and broadcast about to begin.
There was also the drama that overflowed from the Eastern Championship when the Rochester Rhinos leading scorer Steeven dos Santos was ejected from the game in the 82nd minute for a head butt of a Lou City defender after being unmercifully tripped, kicked, pushed and elbowed throughout. The Red Card prevented dos Santos from being available to play in the USL Title game. “Right after the win over Lou City, I began to formulate reshuffling the starting lineup and developing a strategy to the League Championship game,” noted Head Coach Bob Lilly. dos Santos also lead the Rhinos in the playoffs with two goals against New York Red Bull II. “We have had balanced scoring all season,” reminded Lilly, “It was a very immature decision.”
Over the previous sixteen games at home, the Rhinos defense had only given up five goals. Yet, LA Galaxy II rode the back of their start striker Ariel Lassiter having score three goals in the playoff chase and goalkeeper Clement Diop recording consecutive shutouts. As a fifth seed, LA Galaxy II would become the lowest seeded team to win a USL Championship.
Without hesitation, the Rhinos begin to challenge the LA Galaxy II defense with a couple of shots going both high and wide, an Alex Dixon header off a Johnny Mendoza cross went just wide, and shortly followed by a Sean Totsch blast sailing over the LA Galaxy crossbar, It was a reminder that Rochester has a scoring punch and a stingy defensive as well. LA fired off a few blasts of their own, but they were harmlessly handled by Rhinos kicker Brandon Miller. The best opportunity for either side came as a hand ball by Onua Obasi allowed a direct edge of the penalty box, as LA Galaxy’s Bryan Oliveri shot into the wall and took his own rebound requiring a driving save by Rhinos Keeper Brandon Miller, then cleared. And the score remained even at half, 0-0. LA had gained confidence throughout the first 45 minutes while Rochester’s offense was seemingly ineffective without even having a ball shot on goal requiring a save by Diop.
The host team has never lost a USL Championship, and Rochester appears better suited to the weather, but LA put the first shot of the second half on net by wide left. Physical play opened the second half as LA Galaxy started to make something out of nothing dominating early, resulting in a direct kick headed by LA Galaxy’s Bradley Diallo touched up off the crossbar saved by Miller. Yet the rebound to an alert Ari Lissiter that put a knee on the ball, passed Miller for the first goal of the night. As the second half continued, the rain ended, but the Rhinos offensive attempts to drive into the Galaxy side of the field were difficult to come by.
Midfielders Johnny Medoza and Kenardo Forbes took turns streaking down the side lines and lobbing the ball toward Alex Dixon in an effort to ignite life in the sputtering Rhinos attacks. Then in the 59th minute, on a corner kick from Diallo, Lassiter placed a header straight on to Miller who reached and tipped the ball up and off the crossbar that rebounded to Lassiter. The replay clearly indicated that Lassiter got a knee on the ball which passed by Miller being on the ground. A shocked crowd went silent for the first time as LA opened the scoring. Sensing that a single goal might be enough to win the game, LA Galaxy Head Coach Curt Onalfo began a series of changes to the starting lineup seeking a strong defensive posture when substituting midfielders and defenders for the strikers. Rhino Coach Lilly countered the moves adding Nate Bordeau, then Colin Rolfe to add to spark a possible comeback.
The changes by both sides seem to turn against Galaxy and for Rochester as the Rhinos recorded its first serious shot on net after 70 plus minutes without any. Rookie Asani Samuels was tapped to enter the game next. “During the week, the coach said that by the end of the game, the players off the bench will have to make the difference,” stated Samuels – a former Canisius College soccer player. “I knew that Samuels and Rolfe worked together well and the team needed a boost,” explained Lilly, “with the OT periods, they played the equivalent of a full half.”
Now without an effective offense, LA could not sustain any push into the Rochester end. “They began to pack in the defense trying to hang on to the one goal lead for the win,” said Grant Van De Casteele. As the time ticked off, approaching the 90 minute mark, the USL Representatives started to suggest the name of Ariel Lassiter as the Championship MVP for what, at the time, would have been the game winning goal, but three minutes of extra time were added due to the four yellow cards issued by Referee Nima Saghafi for rough tackles – two for per team. Those few precious extra minutes were all that was necessary for the Rhinos – who had been gaining momentum – and sparked by Rolfe’s energetic efforts. Rochester ramped up the pressure on the LA Galaxy II defense resulting in a corner kick that Mendoza lined up for.
“Everyone came forward for the play,” explained Rhino Defender Pat McMahon, “it was our last chance to pull even.” A green smoke canister reserved for goals went off in the stands as smoke floated onto the field. After this short delay, Mendoza’s corner flew directly into the keeper box as Samuels leaped above the pack, knocking the ball with the side of his head down to the turf by Diop for the equalizing goal. The crowd, the press box and possibly everyone watching the action at home on ESPN3 erupted in joyful cheer. “There goes the deadline” exclaimed one reporter as two full 15 minute overtime periods were added, definitely making it impossible to determine the winner before the early edition submission deadline.
“They clearly came back onto the field in overtime not having the desire to win,” commented Van De Casteele. In the first overtime, the time seemed to dissappear quickly as twice the Rhinos raced by the Galaxy players putting the ball across the goal mouth. Seconds later in a 50/50 scramble for the ball in the penalty area, Rolfe and Diop dashed after the loose ball running into each other as Diop fell to the ground visibly hurt. With a lone substitute remaining for LA, Coach Onalfo was forced to bring in his backup Goalie Bennett Sheddon who entered the Championship game without ever having playing one minute in a USL league match. Sheddon was immediately challenged as he came off his line, the Rhinos ball lobbed in, bouncing over his head, and cleared by a Galaxy defender before rolling into the net. Several other chances crossed across the goal mouth without being touched. The level of play climbed for Rochester as the Galaxy defensive showed signs of weakening. “The Galaxy defense lost its shape and poise when we ramped up the pressure,” mentioned Rhinos Midfielder Sean Totsch, “it seemed as if it was just a matter time before we scored again.”
Seven minutes into the second overtime period, Kenardo Forbes sent a corner kick across to Samuels, in what looked like the exact same play as the first goal, headed the ball past Sheddon for his second goal the eventual game winner.
“This has been the greatest day of my life,” exclaimed Samuels. The Rhinos defense and goalkeeper prevented the ball from becoming any kind of threat as time expired. For LA Galaxy II it might have ended up being a big mistake by subbing out their offensive players with the lead. The winning goal from Forbes to Samuels will be known as the Jamaican Connection Comeback.
Asani Samuels was recognized as the MVP of the USL League Championship game with the final score Rochester 2 LA 1. USL officials stunned by the turn of events declare the game the most exciting USL Championship ever. For the Rochester Rhinos, the victory becomes the team’s fourth League Championship Title and the first since the glory year running from 1996 thru 2001.
“I am so proud of all our players,” stated Coach Lilly, “they did a wonderful job all season and deserved being Champions.”
PHOTO BY: JOE TORRITO
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MACEDON: Rudy was born on September 30, 1932 and passed away peacefully, on October 15, 2015 with his family by his side, at age 83. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia of 50 years; children, Michael (Maria D.), Maria (Dave) and Michelle (Kirk); grandchildren; great grandchildren; brother, Juan; sister, Vilma. Contributions in Rudy’s name may be directed to Lifetime Care Hospice, 800 W. Miller St., Newark NY 14513. 
