CONTEXT
> After five games, the Impact has yet to be defeated (3-0-2).
> Last weekend, the Impact shut out the Toronto Lynx 1-0 at Centennial Stadium, thanks to Kevin Wilson’s third goal of the season. Captain Mauro Biello assisted on the goal, his third this year.
> Goalkeeper Greg Sutton earned his fourth consecutive shutout of the season last Sunday against the Lynx. Sutton can equal his personal best of five consecutive shutouts, set last year. Sutton has not allowed a goal in 430 minutes of play. The goalkeeping record for the longest streak without allowing a goal is 503 minutes, set by Sutton last season.
> The Montreal Impact’s 12th official home opener will take place May 29th at 4 pm against the Rhinos at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
IMPACT VS RHINOS
> The Impact has a lifetime record of 17-11-2 against their rivals, the Rhinos.
> In 2004, the Impact tallied six out of a possible nine points against the Rhinos. During a home and away series on the 7th and 9th of July, the Impact blanked the Rhinos both times by a score of 1-0. The Impact suffered a 2-0 loss at Frontier Field on August 27th, which ended an eight game undefeated streak.
> The Impact eliminated the Rhinos last year in the first round of the playoffs. Montreal scored a pair of 1-0 wins against the Rhinos on goals by Eduardo Sebrango to eventually move on to win the USL First Division championship. It was the first time the Impact ever beat the Rhinos in the playoffs.
> The Rhinos have a single victory this season as they beat the Puerto Rico Islanders 3-1, at home, May 7. Rochester lost three times on the road in as many games, with two of those losses coming in Puerto Rico last weekend.
> The Rhinos can count on some leadership as they field veterans in Doug Miller, Lenin Steenkamp, and former Impact players Bill Sedgewick and Yuri Lavrynenko.
> Defender Scott Schweitzer played in his 150th game in a Rhinos uniform, playing 13 397 minutes. Forward Doug Miller became the fifth player in franchise history to pass the 10 000 minute mark.
COMMENTS
>Head coach Nick DeSantis: It’s never easy playing the Rhinos, but it will be even tougher after they’ve lost three of four games this season. We have to come into this game with confidence and we must be especially patient. Both teams are disciplined defensively, so we must limit any mistakes and take advantage of theirs. We absolutely want a positive result from their small home field.”
NOTES
> The Impact made some roster moves on Thursday as they traded defender Abraham Francois and striker Sita-Taty Matondo to the Toronto Lynx in return for striker Ali Gerba.
> Gerba finished fourth in league scoring last season with 15 goals and 34 points, and was leading the Lynx this year in goals (2), points (4), shots (22), fouls (17) and minutes played (630). Gerba finished the 2003 season with the Impact and will be part of the line-up for the game against Rochester.
> Midfielder Sandro Grande could miss a few more days with a groin injury.
> Defenders Jason Di Tullio and David Fronimadis have been training this past week with the Impact, re-habilitating knee injuries.
> Nevio Pizzolitto, who suffered a mild concussion against the Lynx, will be in the line-up.
> Newcomer Lars Lyssand and captain Mauro Biello were named to the United Soccer League’s all-star team of the week.
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Source: Patrick Vallée
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27) or 514-919-0539
