5 Things to Watch vs. Baltimore - Winter Break Camp - Real Super-Hero Night
February 17, 2017 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release
1. Will Nine Be Enough
Syracuse GM Tommy Tanner believes if the Silver Knights can get to nine wins, they can squeak into the to playoffs over Harrisburg and Florida, possibly via the goal differential tiebreaker. To get there, Syracuse needs no worse than a split this weekend against defending MASL champions Baltimore. Coach Ryan Hall has to inspire his troops to believe they can still make the postseason and that nine - instead of eight - is enough.
2. Fortune Favors the Bold
Syracuse is a team that has lost too many close games. Whether it was an unlucky bounce of the ball here, a questionable call there, or a short spell of poor play out of nowhere, the team must put all of that in the past and bravely take the game to Baltimore. Syracuse needs its luck to change and, as the saying goes in soccer, fortune favors the bold.
Syracuse's Slavisa Ubiparipovic scored a hat-trick in his last match.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Arnold
3. The Difference in Defense
Syracuse has given up twice as many goals as Baltimore this season, 104 to the Blast's 50. Goalkeeper William Vanzela leads the MASL in goals against average at 3.24/game. To beat the Blast, the Silver Knights have to not only find a way past Vanzela, but they need to play their best defense of the season.
4. Freeze-Out the Forwards
Only one Baltimore midfielder or defender has more than 10 points this season. The vast majority of the Blast's scoring has come from forwards Tony Donatelli, Vinicius Dantas and Andrew Hoxie. For Syracuse to emerge with a win, the Silver Knights have to shut down these big three forwards from scoring.
5. The Freshness Factor
Baltimore hasn't played since a 5-2 win over Milwaukee on Feb. 4, whereas Syracuse played in two high-intensity matches against Florida last weekend. Will the Blast be a touch rusty from the layoff - or will Syracuse be a tad sluggish from facing Florida?
Watch the match LIVE on Youtube!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZyfKU4Z-uE
Silver Knights Winter Break Camp Starts Next Monday
If you have a young soccer star in your family, the Silver Knights have a great program of instruction and activities for players over Winter Break.
It's the team's annual soccer camp, and it's a wonderful opportunity for children to learn from the pros, make new friends and get some exercise.
To register a player for Winter Break Camp, call the Silver Knights offices at 315-303-7261.
The Word Is Out About
Real Super-Hero Night
on Friday, Feb. 24
It's a chance to say thanks to the many men and women in local police and fire departments for all the good work they do in our community.
We've set up a page on Facebook, so you can help spread the word about this awesome event!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1805022813090990/
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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 17, 2017
- 5 Things to Watch vs. Baltimore - Winter Break Camp - Real Super-Hero Night - Syracuse Silver Knights
- Sockers Sweep Coyotes, Playoffs on the Frontier - San Diego Sockers
- Tacoma Topped by Ontario, 7-5 - Tacoma Stars
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