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Heat Grinds Out Win Over Conference Rivals

December 7, 2002 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Harrisburg Heat News Release


Harrisburg, PA - Genoni Martinez scored the game-winning goal with just under two minutes left in the game as the Harrisburg Heat defeated the Cleveland Force by the score of 14-13 in front of 3,514 fans at the Farm Show Arena on Saturday night. With the win, Harrisburg's second straight, the Heat improves to 6-7 on the year.

Harrisburg came out roaring and snagged the momentum early, taking a 4-0 lead on first-quarter deuces from David Bascome and Marco Lopez. Kiley Couch quieted the run with a 3pg for the Force at 14:41 to make it 4-3 at the end of one, but the real fireworks were about to begin.

The teams totaled seven goals in the second quarter. Martinez (17 seconds) and Bascome twice (at 2:25 and 5:38) gave Harrisburg a 10-3 edge, but Cleveland responded with a 6-0 run of their own, using two goals from Chris Stathopolous (7:20 and 10:01) and one from Lee Edgerton (8:02) to pull within 10-9. Harrisburg seized the momentum heading into the half when Matt Tanzini stroked a two-point restart goal at 14:42, and Harrisburg led 12-9 at the break.

The offensive eruption ended with the start of the third, as both teams played a scoreless quarter. Neither side would score again until the 11:18 of the fourth, when Cleveland's Giuliano Oliviero pounded home a 2pg from the right side of the box to make it 12-11, Harrisburg. The visitors took their first and only lead of the night shortly thereafter, when Lee Edgerton slid home a double at 12:53 to make it 13-12.

The Heat immediately inserted Martin Hernandez as the sixth attacker and pushed forward. Just 25 seconds later, Marco Lopez skimmed a pass from the right wing all the way across the field to Martinez's lethal left foot, and the highest scoring defender in the MISL made no mistake, hammering a perfect shot over Force keeper Jim Larkin for a 2pg and a 14-13 lead.

Cleveland then turned to sixth attacker John Ball and earned themselves plenty of chances, especially when the Heat's Hernandez received a two-minute penalty for intentional handball with 1:02 to play, giving the Force a two-man advantage. But the Heat dug in and valiantly held off Cleveland's final thrusts, securing the win.

Hernandez (2-0) gets the win in goal, but Doug Petras made 7 saves in the start for Harrisburg. Larkin (7-5) made 11 saves in the defeat.

NOTES: The Heat now prepares to face the Conference-leading Philadelphia KiXX. Philly visits the Farm Show tomorrow, Sunday December 8. Kickoff is 6:05 p.m.

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