WHO:

Rochester Rhinos, 5-3-3, 18 points, 6th place, Eastern Conference

WHAT:

Louisville’s first game against the Rhinos since the Eastern Conference Finals last season

WHEN:

Saturday, June 18, 6:05 p.m. Eastern

WHERE:

Sahlen’s Stadium, 460 Oak St, Rochester, NY 14608

WATCH:

With us at Saints! Or at Against the Grain! Or at Great Flood Brewing in Douglas Loop! Either way it’ll be a good time! But if you can’t make it out to a watch party because you locked your keys in your car, you can watch it on the YouTubes here:

WHO, AGAIN?

Taylor H.’s keys to the match are here in case you missed them. From United Soccer League Soccer dot com’s weekend preview:

The defending USL champion Rhinos (5-3-3, 18pts) are coming off back-to-back defeats in the past seven days, after Toronto FC II took a 2-1 win last Saturday at the Ontario Soccer Centre, and then Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls took a 1-0 win in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night. Christian Volesky scored his fifth goal of the season against Toronto, and will likely be a key figure in Saturday’s game.

We all remember Rochester. They were otherworldly on defense in 2015. But this is 2016, and the Rhinos aren’t quite the same team. There are points to be gotten in that little green stadium up in northern New York. Let’s hope City bucks up, plays smart, and bury what chances they get.

STATISTICAL COMPARISONS OF DUBIOUS VALIDITY:

Time to bring this time-honored graf back to these previews! Rochester’s only scored 14 goals on the season, and eight of those came in the first half. Most of the goals they’ve given up, one per game on average, happen in the second half. Another interesting wrinkle is while Louisville’s hit 145 shots in 13 games, Rochester’s only taken 95 in 11. Also, while Louisville’s been a little more foul-y in 2016 (172 on the season), Rochester is nearly as prolific, with 149 in two fewer league games. So this promises to be yet another ugggggly game against the Rhinos.

TUPPERWARE-TIGHT PREDICTIONS:

There will be fouls. There might be a goal, but I’d be shocked if there were two. Let’s hope City keep their wits about them, play smart, and grind out a point or three. If you’re ever gonna beat the Rhinos, this slide they’re on might be the time to do it. 0-1 to Elsie!

COME ON, CITY!