Silver Knights Close Regular Season with Dramatic Win
March 2, 2014 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Silver Knights (12-8, MISL #4) closed the 2013-2014 MISL season against the Rochester Lancers (6-14, MISL #5) on Sunday, getting a hat-trick from MF Kenardo Forbes to beat their Thruway Rivals 17-16.
Sunday's win gives the Silver Knights a two game winning streak heading into the 2014 MISL playoffs. The victory moves the Salt City club to 5-1 against the Lancers in the campaign. This match helped support Breast & Ovarian Cancer. The Silver Knights wore specialty Pink & Teal Jersey's which were auctioned off immediately following the game. Proceeds will go to Hope for Heather, Crouse Health Foundation, and The Silver Knight Foundation.
The Silver Knights got off to a rough start, trailing at the end of the first quarter due to an DF Edgar Batolomeu blast from three point range. The strike was the first of the defender's two three-point goals in the game.
The Knights pulled back the points in the second quarter, starting it off in the fourth minute of the frame through a moment of brilliance. FW Neto struck a ball that was saved by GK Mark Sotille, and off the carom off of the boards, MF Cory Elenio had an opportunity to strike. The Michigan native hit a laser into the far post to make it a 3-2 game with 12:49 left in the half. That started an 8-2 run for the hosts in the second quarter. At the break, Syracuse held an 8-5 advantage.
The Lancers tied up the game after the intermission. At the 14:09 mark in the third quarter, Edgar struck from distance again. Off of a FW Doug Miller restart, the defender laced a shot past GK Bryan O'Quinn.
The visitors took the lead moments later through an unfamiliar source. DF Troy Cole finished his second of the game, and only his third of the campaign, when he shifted his way to the middle of the turf. The defender blasted a shot that rocketed over O'Quinn's outstretched hand, giving Rochester a 10-8 lead with 9:40 left in the third.
Luckily for Coach Tommy Tanner, his squad had an instant response. FW Slavisa Ubiparapovic shimmied his way past a Lancer defender and hit a dart into the far post. The Serbian's strike gave the Knights an 11-10 advantage with 9:15 to go in the quarter.
The teams traded the lead a couple more times, as Rochester earned a response through Miller's foot. The 2013 MISL MVP finished his ninth goal of the season on a 1v1 on O'Quinn at the 7:16 mark of the third frame to give his squad a 12-11 lead. But Syracuse-native FW Vittorio Petrera picked the hosts up with 3:21 to go until the fourth quarter. Petrera beat Sotile through the five hole to put the Knights ahead 13-12.
The separation didn't come until the final frame, when Kenardo Forbes finished his hat-trick on a clever pass from Neto with 13:02 left in the game. The Jamaican's strike notched his 24th total goal of the season and gave the Orange, Silver and Black a 15-14 lead. Cory Elenio recorded the insurance goal with 8:21 to go in the quarter to make it a three point lead.
MF Luis Enrique made the game interesting, scoring with 1:10 left in the game, but the Lancers failed to generate any opportunities to win the game at the end.
The Salt City club's next match will be in the 2014 MISL Semi-Final Playoff against the Baltimore Blast on Friday, March 7th, at 7:30 p.m. EST at the Oncenter War Memorial Arena. Game 2 will be played on Tuesday, March 11th, at the Baltimore Arena at 7:35 EST. The Playoffs will be a Best of 3 Series with a home-and-away format. If the teams are tied after the first two, a 15-minute mini-game played after Game 2 will decide the winner.
Tickets are still available for Game 1. Seating priority will be made when orders and payments are received based on purchaser's request and seat availability at that time. Fans will receive credit towards their 2014-15 Season Tickets for any Playoff tickets purchased for games not played. For Information and tickets call the Syracuse Silver Knights office and 315-303-7261.
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Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from March 2, 2014
- Silver Knights Close Regular Season with Dramatic Win - Syracuse Silver Knights
- Blast Win MISL Regular Season Title - Baltimore Blast
- Rodriguez, Comets Hand Wave Defeat - Milwaukee Wave
- 2014 MISL Playoff Match-Ups Set - MISL
- Comets End Regular Season on Five Game Winning Streak - Kansas City Comets
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