[Frank Cunha]

Rhinos Open 2004 Season At Frontier Field
Pair of Matches in Puerto Rico Also Highlights Road Schedule

Courtesy of the Rochester Raging Rhinos
08.Jan.2004
(Rochester, NY)… The A-League has released the 2004 schedule for the Rochester Raging Rhinos. The Rhinos will begin their ninth season of play on Saturday, May 1st at Frontier Field, marking the seventh time in nine seasons the club has begun the season at home. The Rhinos have recorded a 2-4-2 all-time record in home openers.

The Rhinos' 2004 A-League schedule consists of 14 home matches, ten of which will be played on Friday and Saturday nights. Rochester will also play three home matches on Sunday and one on a Wednesday night. The Rhinos season ticket package will provide for 18 home matches, with the remaining four to be comprised of Major League Soccer/International exhibitions ("friendlies"), U.S. Open Cup tournament matches and playoff games.

Rochester will play Eastern Conference foes, which include the Atlanta Silverbacks, Charleston Battery, Montreal Impact, Richmond Kickers, Syracuse Salty Dogs, Toronto Lynx, Virginia Beach Mariners and the expansion Puerto Rico Islanders at home this season. The Rhinos will also see action against the Western Conference Minnesota Thunder at Frontier Field.

The 2004 schedule is marked by Rochester's first ever match off the U.S. mainland when they travel to face Puerto Rico in a two-game set on May 27th and 29th. In addition the Rhinos will also travel to take on the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders in June.

The 2004 season will see the A-League return to the two conference alignment with the Eastern Conference playing home to nine teams, including the Atlanta Silverbacks, Charleston Battery, Montreal Impact, Puerto Rico Islanders, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Raging Rhinos Syracuse Salty Dogs, Toronto Lynx, Virginia Beach Mariners.

The Western Conference will be the home of seven teams which include the expansion Edmonton Aviators as well as the Milwaukee Wave United, Minnesota Thunder, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Team Calgary and Vancouver Whitecaps.

The playoff format will consist of the top four teams in each conference qualifying for the "second season." The top seeds in each conference will take on the fourth seed while the second and third seeds will battle it out in a two-legged aggregate goals series in Round One and in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. Overtime will not be played following the first match, and will only be played after the second 90-minute match if the aggregate score is tied. If the aggregate score is tied after the second match, the two 15-minute "golden goal" overtime periods will be played. If a winner is not determined in overtime, the FIFA penalty kicks will decide who advances to the next round. The A-League Championship will be decided in a one game winner-take-all championship.

2004 A-League Conference Alignment


Eastern Conference Western Conference

Atlanta Silverbacks Edmonton Aviators
Charleston Battery Milwaukee Wave United
Montreal Impact Minnesota Thunder
Puerto Rico Islanders Portland Timbers
Richmond Kickers Seattle Sounders
Rochester Raging Rhinos Team Calgary
Syracuse Salty Dogs Vancouver Whitecaps
Toronto Lynx
Virginia Beach Mariners

Rochester Raging Rhinos
2004 A-League Schedule

Date Time Opponent
Saturday, May 1 7:35 p.m. Toronto Lynx
Friday, May 7 7:35 p.m. Puerto Rico Islanders
Friday, May 14 7:30 p.m. @ Syracuse Salty Dogs
Sunday, May 16 4:00 p.m. @ Toronto Lynx
Saturday, May 22 7:35 p.m. Syracuse Salty Dogs
Thursday, May 27 8:00 p.m. @Puerto Rico Islanders
Saturday, May 29 8:00 p.m. @Puerto Rico Islanders
Friday, June 4 7:35 p.m. Toronto Lynx
Sunday, June 6 6:05 p.m. Atlanta Silverbacks
Saturday, June 12 7:35 p.m. Virginia Beach Mariners
Thursday, June 17 10:00 p.m. @ Portland Timbers
Saturday, June 19 10:00 p.m. @ Seattle Sounders
Saturday, June 26 7:35 p.m. Richmond Kickers
Wednesday, July 7 7:30 p.m. @ Montreal Impact
Friday, July 9 8:00 p.m. Montreal Impact
Sunday, July 11 6:05 p.m. Charleston Battery
Saturday, July 17 7:30 p.m. @ Virginia Beach
Sunday, July 18 7:00 p.m. @ Richmond Kickers
Friday, July 23 8:00 p.m. @ Richmond Kickers
Saturday, July 24 7:30 p.m. @ Virginia Beach
Friday, July 30 7:35 p.m. Minnesota Thunder
Sunday, August 1 6:00 p.m. @ Syracuse Salty Dogs
Friday, August 6 7:35 p.m. Syracuse Salty Dogs
Sunday, August 8 6:05 p.m. Charleston Battery
Friday, August 13 7:30 p.m. @ Charleston Battery
Sunday, August 15 6:00 p.m. @ Atlanta Silverbacks
Wednesday, August 25 7:35 p.m. Atlanta Silverbacks
Friday, August 27 7:35 p.m. Montreal Impact