It's no surprise that the nucleus of players who led the Rhinos to four championships in consecutive seasons from 1998-2001 dominated the franchise's first ever all-time team.
The squad, determined through voting by fans, was revealed before Saturday night's regular-season finale at Frontier Field. With this being Rochester's 10th season, it's essentially a "Team of the Decade."
Twelve players, including eight current Rhinos, were named to the team and former midfielder Tommy Tanner served as honorary captain. The Syracuse native wore the captain's armband for most of his seven seasons with Rochester and was the only non-active member to attend the pregame ceremony. All-time team goalie Pat Onstad, who plays for San Jose (MLS), sent a videotaped message of thanks that was shown on the videoboard.
Current Rhinos on the team are defenders Scott Schweitzer, Craig Demmin, Bill Sedgewick and Rene Rivas, midfielders Lenin Steenkamp, Kirk Wilson and Stoian Mladenov and forward Doug Miller, the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
Others were Onstad, forward Darren Tilley, midfielder Yari Allnutt and defender Mali Walton.
Most of that group won league crowns in 1998, '00 and '01 and were on the Rhinos' squad that made national news by beating four straight Major League Soccer teams in '99 to win the U.S. Open Cup. From 1998-2001, Rochester went 79-25-6 in regular-season play, 20-5 in playoff matches and 7-3 in Cup action (106-33-6 overall).
"That first team went 30-4 (including playoffs). We bonded so quickly because we started on a two-week road trip and we didn't lose," Tanner said of the squad that opened with 13 straight wins and outscored opponents 72-15. "We never thought we were going to lose. That started it all."
No. 19 retired: As part of pre-game ceremonies, the Rhinos also retired Miller's No. 19 jersey. He is retiring after the season.
"I never expected to go this far," said Miller, 36, who holds team records for goals (75) and points (166) in league play.
While introducing Miller, team general manager Chris Economides called the New Jersey native, who since 1996 has made Rochester his home, "the man that opened Frontier Field," referring to Miller's second-half hat trick that toppled Montreal, 3-2, in the first sporting event at the stadium on July 12, 1996.
Wilson named MVP: Wilson was named the Rhinos' 2005 MVP to highlight the annual team awards, which are voted on by the players. In his fifth season with the team, he has career and team-highs in goals (nine) and points (23). His team-leading five assists are one off his career high.
"It means a lot. I'm flattered," he said. "I thought it could go to a number of guys, so I was surprised."
More awards: Winner of the first Rhinos "Rookie of the Year" award was Scott Palguta, the former Cornell University defender.
Sedgewick won the Iacovangelo Community Service Award for a team-record fourth time and Schweitzer won the Leadership Award.
All-time team
Forwards: Doug Miller, Darren Tilley.
Midfielders: Lenin Steenkamp, Yari Allnutt, Stoian Mladenov, Kirk Wilson.
Defenders: Craig Demmin, Scott Schweitzer, Bill Sedgewick, Rene Rivas, Mali Walton.
Goalkeeper: Pat Onstad.
Team captain: Tommy Tanner.