Pittsburgh's loss clinches playoff spot for Rhinos

The Rhinos are back in the USL PRO playoffs. Pittsburgh's 2-1 loss at home to an Arizona United team that had nothing to play for but pride eliminated the Riverhounds from contention and put Rochester back in the postseason after a one-year absence. But there is still something at stake for the Rhinos (9-10-8) in Sunday's 4:05 p.m. regular-season finale at Sahlen's Stadium against Wilmington (9-11-7).

A win would leapfrog Rochester (35 points) over Wilmington (38) and make it the No. 6 seed based on the USL's second tiebreaker (most wins). Wilmington would be No. 7 and Harrisburg (37 points), which won 4-2 on Saturday in Charlotte to clinch, would be eighth. Rochester would face the No. 3 seed, which will be Richmond (13-3-12), which lost 1-0 in Orlando on Saturday, or L.A. Galaxy II (14-7-6), which plays at second-place Sacramento late Saturday night.

If the Rhinos lose or tie on Sunday, they'd be the eighth seed and have the unenviable task of traveling to No. 1 Orlando (19-4-5), where they've never beaten the MLS-bound and defending USL champion Lions. Then again, Rochester was winless all-time against Orlando until winning 1-0 on July 27 at Sahlen's Stadium to stop City's 18-match unbeaten streak and spoil what was then an unbeaten season.

"I'm just proud of the way the guys have played the past two weeks and I hope we can keep it going (Sunday)," Rhinos coach Bob Lilley said shortly after his team clinched on Saturday. "Some teams rest players after they get in, but we want to win. We want momentum going into the playoffs."

LOOK FOR MY PREVIEW OF THE MATCH IN SUNDAY'S EDITIONS ...