With a bye week to recuperate from a tough 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Toronto FC II continues their eight game road trip this Saturday at 7 PM ET against the Rochester Rhinos.
TFC II made the best of the bye week to prepare for their biggest challenge yet in Rochester. The Rhinos sit at the top of the USL’s Eastern Conference standings with 17 points, beginning the season with an unbeaten record of 5-0-2.
Focus for Saturday
Coach Jason Bent took the bye week to work on areas needing improvement, focusing on the team’s shape and defensive responsibilities going into Saturday’s match.
“[We’re] looking at our defensive shape and our relationship between the back four and the goalkeeper, as well as the midfield and even up to the strikers, trying to slow down opposition attacks and dictating to the opposition where we want to win the ball.”
“Just trying to improve every single day and give ourselves the best possible chance to keep clean sheets.”
Midfielder Raheem Edwards also spoke to the significance of focusing on starting off on the right foot.
“We have to been confident going out, a good first half will do us some justice and continue to play our game how Jason [Bent] told us to.”
“Just hitting our strides in the first 45 minutes and I think we’ll be fine.”
INTERVIEWS: Jason Bent | Anthony Osorio | Raheem Edwards | Emeka Ononye
The Opposition
The Rhinos have been outstanding defensively, recording four shutouts and allowing three goals in seven matches.
Coach Bent has kept a close eye on the Rochester team as a whole, as well as a few individuals in particular.
“We’ve analyzed them; we know their strengths and weaknesses.”
“They have a player, [Alex] Dixon up the front, who went off injured. He might come back into the fold.”
Dixon has some Major League Soccer experience under his belt after playing three seasons with Houston Dynamo from 2011-2013. He has matched his entire 2014 scoring campaign already this season with 3 goals in 7 matches for the Rhinos.
Rochester forward Christian Volesky also made it onto Coach Bent’s radar.
“Christian Volesky scored a couple goals recently. I remember seeing him down at the Vegas combine in December so some of our players will know of him.”
Volesky is coming off a two-goal performance against FC Montreal and leads the Rhinos in goals scored with four in seven matches.
Rochester’s Defense
Currently the Rhinos are leading the league in lowest goals against average, least goals allowed, and are tied for first in shutouts.
Coach Bent understands the challenge Rochester’s back line poses but is keen on focusing on his game plan.
“The back four is pretty big. Their left back and two centre backs are 6 foot 2, 6 foot 3.”
“It’s a big side but we want to focus on us and what we want to do with the ball, [keeping] our same playing style.”
“[We want to] try to dictate the game to them, create chances and hopefully score some goals.”
First Team Experience
TFC II players Chris Mannella, Jordan Hamilton, Jay Chapman, and Quillan Roberts were all called up to the first team for the opening leg of the Voyageurs Cup semifinal against Montreal Impact on Wednesday.
Coach Bent encourages first team experience for the development of these young players.
“It’s a huge learning experience just being up there and being in that first team environment. They’ll take positives from it regardless if they play or not.”
When asked if they will be available for the match against Rochester, Bent commented:
“Providing they are fit then they will be available, yes”.
TFC II takes on the Rochester Rhinos this Saturday, May 9, at 7:00PM ET. Follow along on Twitter @TorontoFCII using the hashtag #TFCLive and watch the action via livestream at torontofc.ca/live.
