Silver Knights Extend Home Winning Streak, Defeat Ambush 7-5
February 16, 2018 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A Slavisa Ubiparipovic brace and a new single-season assist record for Joey Tavernese proved to be the difference for the Syracuse Silver Knights (11-7), defeating the St. Louis Ambush (3-17) 7-5 at the Oncenter War Memorial Arena.
The first of a weekend doubleheader between the Silver Knights and Ambush saw both teams play defensively to start. Both teams would play this game without notable midfielders. Syracuse midfielder Kenardo Forbes missed the game with a point accumulation suspension, while St. Louis midfielder Pablo Da Silva missed the game after striking the opponent in the head.
The first true opportunity came to Syracuse's Slavisa Ubiparipovic, whose pass from Ben Ramin found the back of the net to put the Silver Knights up 1-0.
Silver Knights added their second of the game through defender Domenico Vitale. A one-two between Patrick Thompson and Joey Tavernese went passed the midfielder, however Vitale was there to slot it into an open net to give the Silver Knights a two-goal advantage. This was Tavernese's 22nd assist of the season, a new single-season record the Silver Knights.
However, St. Louis bounced back. Less than 20 seconds later, Ambush midfielder Corey Adamson found himself alone in the box and slotted the ball past a frozen goalkeeper Andrew Coughlin to make it a one-goal advantage.
It remained a 2-1 score-line until the beginning of the second half when Thompson added his fifth goal of the season. The midfielder from Virginia stepped in front of an Ambush clearance and powered a shot wide of the goalkeeper and into the goal.
The Silver Knights utilized the counter attack to add their fourth. A low save by Coughlin initiated the attack, finding Tavernese. The forward founding a sprinting Liam Callahan, who scored. This was Callahan's fifth goal of the season. The Silver Knights brought the three-goal lead into half time, hopeful to grab their fourth-straight win at home.
The Ambush grabbed two goals early in the third quarter through Hewerton Moreira and Vadim Cojocov to make it a 4-3 game. This forced Silver Knights Head Coach Ryan Hall into a timeout.
However, his team kept its composure and trusted its strong force. Syracuse midfielder Nate Bordeau scored his 14th goal of the year off a blocked shot from Bo Jelovac to make it a 5-3 game. The next goal came minutes later after St. Louis Ambush goalkeeper Paulo Nascimento handled the ball outside the box. Ubiparipovic stepped up, dribbled his way majestically past the goalkeeper and scored to make it a 6-3 Silver Knights lead.
The Ambush still wouldn't quit, though. A shot from Hewerton bounced off Lucas Almeida and Jerjer Gibson and trickled into the net. This was Gibson's 13th goal of the season, who spent last season with Syracuse.
Tavernese grabbed his sole goal of the game off a off-balanced shot that fit perfectly into the corner of the goal to make it a 7-4 Silver Knights lead. However, an extra attacker for St. Louis proved critical when defender Richard Schermermund released the kraken and shot it over Coughlin's hands and into the goal to make it a two-goal game.
These two teams face off again on Sunday, February 18 at 4:05 p.m. For tickets, call 315-303-7261 or log on to syracusesilverknights.com.
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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 16, 2018
- San Diego Extends Win Streak to Three - San Diego Sockers
- Blast Fall to Rampage 6-5; Clinch Eastern Division Title - Baltimore Blast
- Silver Knights Extend Home Winning Streak, Defeat Ambush 7-5 - Syracuse Silver Knights
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