Silver Knights Voyage to Battle Lancers in Regular Season Series Finale

February 14, 2013 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Silver Knights of the Major Indoor Soccer League will travel to Rochester to face the Lancers on Saturday, February 16, at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Arena at 1 P.M. in a regular season elimination game for the visitors.

With a record of 6-15, the Knights have an opportunity to leapfrog into the top four and earn a bid into the MISL playoffs with wins in at least four of their final five games, pending other results around the league. Despite their sub-par record, Syracuse has been more than competitive with each of the league's other six teams, with six of their losses coming by a single goal.

Saturday's game in Rochester marks the fifth and final time the I-90 rivals will meet in the 2012-2013 campaign, with the Silver Knights earning wins in each of the first four match-ups. Led by the rowdy and passionate Salt City Supporters, there is an anticipated 100 plus Syracuse fans making the trip down the Thruway.

"Saturday's game in Rochester is easily the biggest one of the season for us," said Tanner. "It's extremely hard to sweep any team in this league, especially our biggest rivals. Everything is on the line for both sides, and our guys know there's no looking beyond this one."

Despite their recent struggles, Head Coach Tommy Tanner remains confident that his squad can achieve the improbable by winning out the remainder of the regular season schedule and finding their place into the post-season tournament, "We obviously can't afford to look beyond Saturday. At this point in the season, it's really important to focus on the task at hand. Our guys are professionals and we know how important it is to go into each game with the right mindset, doing whatever it takes to get the win every time we take the field."

As things stand now, Chicago holds the fourth and final playoff spot with a record of 9-13 through 22 games, with Rochester, Wichita, and Syracuse each nipping at their heels. With a win at Rochester on Saturday, the Knights will sit just two games back of the Soul with four games to go and a road match-up in Chicago on March 1 in their back pocket.

If the Knights are able to earn wins against Rochester, Chicago, and Wichita, all teams vying for the final playoff spot, Syracuse still faces the hurdle of playing the defending champion Milwaukee Wave twice through the final stretch. In their previous two match-ups with the wave, a 12-11 home loss on December 26 and a 13-10 road loss on January 15, the Knights have competed neck and neck with the 15-2 first place, two-time defending champion juggernauts, but have fallen just short in both of the two games' dying embers.

"I really don't want to look past this weekend, but we have played Milwaukee really hard this year and know that if the time comes, we will be ready," Said Tanner. "We know our schedule and realize that will be their third game in four days."

The Knights will return home next Friday, February 22, to face the Wichita Wings at 7:30 P.M. The game will feature a special Happy Hour starting at 5:30pm with SAMMY award nominated The Mike McKay Band . The Knights will be wearing and auctioning Pink Jerseys to benefit the Caroline M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. Members of the local media will square off in the 2nd annual "Halftime Media Game." Wichita, like Syracuse, Rochester, and Chicago, is fighting to work its way into the playoff picture and everything will be on the line when the Wings take the Oncenter War Memorial field. The Knights will be relying on the Syracuse faithful to provide a major home field advantage as the game will also mark the third consecutive road trip for the Wings. Call the Silver Knights office at 315-303-7261 and ask for the 2 tickets for $25 Dunkin' Donuts special and receive a $5 gift card.

This week, the Knights' front office added more depth to the squad for their final push by signing developmental players Ryan Brooks-Newton and Vittorio Petrera.



Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 14, 2013


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