Lancers Win in Shootout
December 20, 2014 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Rochester Lancers News Release
(Rochester, NY) - The Rochester Lancers welcomed the Syracuse Silver Knights to the War Memorial at the Blue Cross Arena on Saturday in a key Eastern Division matinee. The Lancers entered the match, having gotten off to their best start in team history at 3-1. After falling behind 9-2, the Lancers fought back to overcome the deficit and late in the game fought back again to force overtime in the waning moments, before finally winning 2-1 in a shootout.
Rochester struck first with just over five minutes gone in the opening frame. With control of the ball along the sidewall, Joey Tavernese, sent a pass to the penalty spot where Brian Knapp connected, placing a high shot past Syracuse netminder Rick Pflasterer. Rochester nearly increased their lead three minutes later when a scrum near the side of the goal led to a loose ball, but before Tavernese could finish Pflasterer pounced on it keep the score 2-0 Rochester, which is where the first quarter would end.
The second period began with Syracuse's Kenardo Forbes nearly getting the equalizer. Bo Jelovac's long shot from the right side boards ricochet off the end boards to Forbes who blasted a shot wide to the right side. The Silver Knights managed to take the lead just over a minute into the quarter when Rochester's Jake Schindler played the ball back to goalkeeper Marcelo Moriera from beyond the arc. The ball took an awkward bounce and eluded Moriera giving the visitor's a 3-2 lead. Syracuse increased their lead to 5-2 off a restart when Nelson Santana fed Forbes whose quick right foot found the net. Rochester's Andrew Hoxie nearly cut the deficit when he shook off a defender and turned from close range only to see Pflasterer up for the challenge. With time winding down to end the first half Syracuse added another goal, again it was Forbes, this time from Neto to increase the Syracuse lead to 7-2.
Facing a five point deficit after one half of play the Lancers came out pressuring Syracuse and it nearly resulted in an immediate score but Brian Knapp's point blank shot was turned aside by Pflaster. Despite the early pressure, the Silver Knights increased their advantage to seven as Forbes once again scored off a restart making the score 9-2 Syracuse. The early Syracuse goal didn't seem to deter Rochester as the pressure continued. Moments after Hoxie hit the crossbar Yaikel Perez found Tavernese to the left of the "Ëkeeper and Tavernese lifted a shot over Pflaster cutting the deficit to 9-4. With the momentum on their side Jayme Kapinos laid a ball of to Salles who played the ball to his left foot and hit a low shot from behind the arc to make the score 9-7. Two minutes after the Lancers couldn't capitalize on catching Pflasterer out of the net, Salles converted a powerplay attempt to even the score at 9-9 at the end of three.
With the match up for grabs entering the final stanza Syracuse seemingly took command with six minutes remaining after a beautifully executed pass from Forbes was one-timed by Slavisa Ubiparapovic past Moriera for an 11-9 lead for the visitors. With under two minutes remaining in regulation and playing with the extra attacker Rochester's Andrew Hoxie connected to once again pull the Lancers even at eleven and force overtime.
The overtime session saw both teams play aggressively creating multiple scoring chances. The best opportunity of the extra frame came when Hoxie blasted a shot that rang off the right post with 17.6 seconds left. Neither team was able to score during overtime, bringing the match to a shootout. In the shootout Rochester's Moriera stopped Nelson Santana before Hoxie tallied putting Rochester up 1-0. Kenardo Forbes connected on Syracuse's next opportunity before Yaikel Perez scored to make it 2-1. With one chance left to force another shooter Slavisa Ubiparapovic was stopped by Moriera sending Rochester on to the win and a 4-1 start.
The Lancers will be back in action next Saturday, December 27th when they host the first place Baltimore Blast at the War Memorial at the Blue Cross Arena.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from December 20, 2014
- Lancers Win in Shootout - Rochester Lancers
- Silver Knights Drop First Game in the Thruway Rivalry - Syracuse Silver Knights
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