Syracuse Clinches Playoff Spot Despite Loss to Harrisburg
February 24, 2018 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release
HARRISBURG, P.A. - The Syracuse Silver Knights (12-8) suffered a tough loss to the Harrisburg Heat (6-16) on Saturday by a score of 8-7. Despite the loss, Syracuse clinched a playoff spot due to Florida's loss to Baltimore earlier in the day.
"The guys have done a great job battling through adversity, injuries, and buying into the system," said Silver Knights Head Coach Ryan Hall. "It's not the result we wanted tonight and hats off to Harrisburg on a great game. But I'm proud of the guys this season and they deserve a playoff spot."
Harrisburg struck first in the match after a slow pace to the game. The first goal from Dominic Francis didn't come until 12:07 into the first quarter. The Heat stretched its lead out to 2-0 in the second quarter after a wide shot from Jose Luiz Birche deflected into the net. Ricardo Carvalho received credit for the goal.
Syracuse then turned on the offensive pressure with 5 straight unanswered goals. Two of those goals came in the second quarter from Jake Schindler and Slavisa Ubiparipovic. After the halftime break, the Silver Knights scored three more goals to create a 5-2 advantage. Ubiparipovic, Joey Tavernese, and Nate Bourdeau scored during that timeframe.
Harrisburg then decided to flip the script and went on a four-goal run between the third and fourth quarter to retake the lead. Two goals in the third cut the Silver Knights lead to 5-4 after Carvalho scored his second goal and Danny Diprima scored as well. Diprima started the scoring in the fourth quarter as well, and Thiago Freitas scored to give the Heat the lead once again.
Syracuse responded with a goal from Ubiparipovic to tie the game at 6-6, but Harrisburg wouldn't go away. Tyler Fabian scored to give the Heat the lead once again. With Bourdeau on as a sixth attacker, Diprima scored to complete his hat trick. Bo Jelovac got one goal back, but the score came with eight seconds left in the match. Harrisburg restarted the match and ended the contest with an 8-7 victory.
Syracuse controlled most of the offensive chances throughout the middle of the match. 16 of the 22 Silver Knights' shots came between the second and third quarter. The Harrisburg defense turned away many of the Syracuse chances, led by 13 saves from Heat goalkeeper Hugo Silva.
Tavernese assisted on two goals during Saturday's match, with moves him to 52 points on the season. He joins Sonora's Franck Tayou and Milwaukee's Ian Bennett as the only players in the MASL with over 50 points this season.
Ubiparipovic also recorded his first hat trick of the season against the Heat. His last trick came on February 17th, 2017 against Baltimore.
Despite the loss against Harrisburg, Syracuse clinches a playoff berth after failing to qualify for the playoffs last season. This marks the fourth time in franchise history that the Silver Knights have qualified for postseason play.
Syracuse is set to take on Baltimore in the first round of the Ron Newman Cup Playoffs. The first round is a two-game series with a third mini-game if necessary. The first match between Syracuse and Baltimore is scheduled for Thursday, March 8th at 7:05 p.m. at the Oncenter War Memorial Arena.
The Silver Knights are back in action on Sunday, February 25th against the Milwaukee Wave in Central New York. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. For tickets and more information, call 315-303-7261 or log on to syracusesilverknights.com.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 24, 2018
- Syracuse Clinches Playoff Spot Despite Loss to Harrisburg - Syracuse Silver Knights
- Tropics Battle Baltimore to Overtime But 8-7 Loss Eliminates Florida from Playoff Contention - Florida Tropics SC
- Blast Defeat Tropics 8-7; Clinch #1 Seed in Eastern Conference - Baltimore Blast
- San Diego Sockers Match Notes vs. Rio Grande Valley - San Diego Sockers
- Tacoma Stars Stay Alive with 8-6 Win over Ontario - Tacoma Stars
- Ontario Fury's Playoff Hopes Take Blow in Loss to Tacoma - Ontario Fury
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