PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- First-half goals by Rich Costanzo, Andrew Hoxie and Drew Cost ignited an offensive surge that propelled the Rochester Rhinos to a 3-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Sox Harrison Stadium on Friday night.
Costanzo opened the scoring in the ninth minute, rifling in a shot from just outside the penalty area low into the left corner of the net. It was the first goal of the season for the Maryland grad. The Rhinos’ pressure continued, and Hoxie fired a brilliant strike in the 26th minute to double the Rhinos lead. For Hoxie it was his team-leading third goal of the season and his third in the last four league matches.
With Rochester up by two goals heading toward the half, Cost put an exclamation point on the Rhinos’ first half when he drove in another goal from 18 yards three minutes before the break. It was the first professional goal for the rookie out of Penn State University.
The win improves Rochester to 6-4-3 and gives them a four point lead over second place Los Angeles.
Rochester, which is now unbeaten in five straight mactches, including U.S. Open Cup matches will next travel to face the Harrisburg City Islanders on Tuesday night in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup before hosting the Dayton Dutch Lions next Saturday at Sahlen’s Stadium.
