The theme from Superman blared as Scott Vallow was introduced to the crowd of 10,029 at PAETEC Park on Friday night.On cue, Vallow flexed his biceps to the fans.
But it wasn't just the veteran keeper being back in goal for the first time in nearly four months that led the Rhinos to a 2-0 win over rival Carolina and their first shutout since June 1. As a unit, Rochester played like men of steel and it needed to, because Carolina had the Rhinos under siege.
"I'm really proud of the guys. We really fought tough for 90 minutes and that's what it took," said Vallow, who made six saves, including two big ones in the second half, as the 10th-place RailHawks outshot fourth-place Rochester, 15-8.
"A team (like Carolina) that's desperate for points, we knew we had to be at our best." Newcomer Jamie Holmes scored in the 11th minute off a pass from midfielder John Ball, and Ball iced the win in the 83rd minute with an 18-yard free kick off the left post. Ball, the veteran who always plays on tilt, also was involved in a brief post-match skirmish as Rochester gladly dimmed the lights a little more on the RailHawks' playoff hopes.
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