Outlaws Not Fooled by Illusion, Win 9-3 at TCG Arena
December 8, 2009 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
Texas Outlaws News Release
Keegan Hudson scored 4 goals and added an assist, leading the Texas Outlaws to a 9-3 thrashing of the St. Louis Illusion on Sunday afternoon at TCG Arena. Dominic Schell contributed pairs of goals and assists, and goalkeeper Adam Jochelson and the Outlaws defense kept the Illusion off the scoreboard for nearly 3 full quarters in the victory. The matchup of last year's divisional rivals saw Texas scoring in bursts in a game that remained close almost until half time. Roger Gemoules scored twice for the visitors, but St. Louis could not keep pace with the Outlaws, scoring only one other time - the three goals is their lowest total for the season, so far. The Outlaws have enjoyed consistent scoring production resulting in consecutive wins by a margin of 6 goals as they chase division leader San Diego.
Though both teams generated several good chances to score in the first quarter, neither goalkeeper would yield and the teams entered the first break knotted at nil. Hudson broke the scoreless tie just 90 seconds into the second period, heading a rebound off a shot from Renato Pereira. He followed with his second goal four minutes later, scoring hockey-style tipping a long shot from Jose Castro enough to fool the St. Louis keeper. Only one minute later, Alex Sabando sent a pass slicing behind the Illusion's defense finding Schell on the back post for the put-away and a 3-0 lead. Defender Jared Lee took a turn next with what would ultimately be the game winning goal. Finishing a long run to the front by receiving a Shaun David set-up, Lee deposited the ball in the back of the net 90 seconds before half time. The Outlaws headed into the locker room with their first midpoint lead of the season.
Both defenses tightened up again in the third period, but Hudson made sure Texas never looked back, earning his hat trick four minutes into the quarter with a power play goal. End-to-end play continued as St. Louis stepped up the pressure, launching as many shots in the 3rd quarter as in the whole first half. Jochelson held firm, keeping the Outlaws' net clean until Gemoules found a seam a minute and a half shy of the third intermission. But the Outlaws pushed the lead back to 5 early in the fourth when Schell scored his second goal of the day, another back-post finish assisted this time by John Andrews. Gemoules did his best to keep up, scoring for St. Louis with 11:40 left making it 6-2. But neither team would score again until the Outlaws reeled off 3 straight in one minute starting with 4:36 left to go in the game. Hudson got his assist at that point, setting up David for a shot into the low corner of the goal, followed just 26 seconds later with his final score, stretching the lead to 8-2. The Illusion tried to close the gap with a sixth attacker, but Sabando made them pay scoring from midfield into the empty goal. Down 9-2, St. Louis managed one sixth attacker goal, and didn't give up any more empty-netters. At the final buzzer the scoreboard read 9-3 in favor of the home squad.
With the win the Outlaws improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Illusion drops to 1-2. The next game for both teams is a rematch Friday evening (11 December) in St. Louis. Texas then carries on to meet the Kansas City Kings on Saturday, 12 December. The Outlaws return to TCG Arena to face the Springfield Demize on Saturday, 19 December at 7pm, followed on Sunday by a regional final match in the U. S. Arena Open Cup (5pm kickoff). Texas hoped to debut Ricardinho against St. Louis, but last minute contractual obligations prevented his participation. Tickets to all Outlaws games are available online at www.txoutlaws.com or by calling (817) 846-8843.
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from December 8, 2009
- Illusion Face Outlaws In Rematch - St. Louis Illusion
- CMISL releases 2009/2010 schedule - PASL
- Outlaws Not Fooled by Illusion, Win 9-3 at TCG Arena - Texas Outlaws
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