Rampage Edged By Blast, 10-8
December 27, 2009 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Rockford Rampage News Release
ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Rockford Rampage came up short against the Baltimore Blast, 10-8, on Sunday in Major Indoor Soccer League play at the MetroCentre. Baltimore takes sole possession of first place with a 4-1 record, while Rockford drops to 3-2, in second place with the Milwaukee Wave (3-2).
The Blast were led by rookie Max Ferdinand's hat trick and Lucio Gonzaga's game-winning goal late in the fourth quarter. For Rockford, Matthew Stewart and Bato Radoncic each had a goal and assist.
Next up for the Rampage is a home-and-home series against the Philadelphia KiXX. Rockford travels to Philadelphia for a 6:05 p.m. (CST) match on Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Liacouras Center. On Sunday, Jan. 10, the Rampage host the KiXX at 5:05 p.m. at the MetroCentre.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Rampage capitalized on the tail end of a power play opportunity early in the second. On a restart, Semir Mesanovic gave Rockford the 2-0 lead, with Stewart assisting 51 seconds into the second quarter.
The Rampage made a quick counter attack at the 4:01 mark of the second quarter when Stewart scored at close range off of a Jamar Beasley assist, giving Rockford a 4-0 advantage. Baltimore cut into the Rampage lead with 3:09 remaining in the second off of Ferdinand's unassisted three-point goal, making the score 4-3 Rampage at halftime.
In the second half, Rockford improved to 2-for-2 on power-play chances when Radoncic scored off of Beasley's assist at the 1:51 mark of the third to give Rockford a 6-3 lead. About 30 seconds earlier, Baltimore was penalized for having too many men on the field.
Ferdinand added to his career day in the third with his second three-point goal at the 4:57 mark and a two-point goal at the 8:57 mark to give Baltimore an 8-6 lead.
Rockford's Eric Lukin netted his first goal of the season to tie the score at 8-all at the 11:58 mark of the third. But the Rampage offense was held in check the rest of the way, while Baltimore mustered one more tally.
With 3:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, Gonzaga gave Baltimore a 10-8 lead, with Pat Healey assisting from the left corner. Machel Millwood started the attack earlier in the sequence.
Rockford utilized Fabinho as a sixth attacker for the final 2:02 of the game, but could not strike offensively down the stretch.
In the net, Rampage goalkeeper Danny Waltman made 19 saves. Blast goalkeeper Dave Kern made his first start of the season in place of regular starter Sagu. Kern made nine saves on the night.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from December 27, 2009
- Wave Fend Off Monterrey In Overtime, 19-17 - Milwaukee Wave
- Rampage Edged By Blast, 10-8 - Rockford Rampage
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