Syracuse Wins Overtime Match at Florida
January 9, 2018 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release
LAKELAND, F.L. - Kenardo Forbes scored his second overtime goal of the season to give the Syracuse Silver Knights (5-4) a 10-9 victory over the Florida Tropics (6-5). Syracuse earned its second overtime win of the season.
"This game shows a lot of heart and determination," said Silver Knights Head Coach Ryan Hall. "The indoor game is all about momentum and swings. Incredible resiliency by the boys to get the result."
Florida took advantage of their chances in the first half. The Tropics surged out to a 3-1 lead after one quarter of play with goals from Freddy Moojen, Mauricio Salles, and Ricardo De Quieroz Diegues. Syracuse's lone goal came from Joey Tavernese.
Syracuse battled back in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 5-4 heading into halftime. Tavernese scored his second and Bo Jelovac converted a shot in the period. The fourth Syracuse goal came as a result of an own goal by Marco Rodriguez. Ben Ramin received credit for the goal. Lucas Coutinho scored twice for the Tropics to preserve the Florida lead heading into halftime.
The Silver Knights did have most of the offensive chances in the first half, however. Syracuse outshot Florida 15-9 through the first two quarters of play. The play of Tropics goalkeeper Piotr Sliwa kept the Tropics ahead at the break.
Syracuse took control in the third quarter. The Silver Knights outscored the Tropics four goals to one in the third to take an 8-6 lead heading into the final frame of regulation. Kenardo Forbes scored twice in the period, while Nate Bourdeau and Patrick Thompson added on goals as well for Syracuse. Moojen scored his second goal in the third.
The Silver Knights started the fourth quarter strong with a power play goal from Bourdeau 50 seconds into the period. After that, Florida ramped up the pressure. The Tropics scored three goals within a span of two minutes and four seconds to tie the game at 9-9. Salles scored twice and Moojen scored once more. Regulation ended at 9-9, sending the Tropics to their first overtime game in team history. Syracuse entered its third overtime game of the season.
"We were playing well but weren't capitalizing on chances," said Coach Hall. "We just needed to keep playing the way we were. However, we couldn't keep leaving points on the board, especially against a high power team like Florida."
A devastating counterattack from the Silver Knights ended the match before 90 seconds elapsed in the overtime frame. Kenardo Forbes found himself free in the offensive third of the turf and slotted a shot past Sliwa to give Syracuse the 10-9 win.
Syracuse moves to 5-4 on the season. The Silver Knights also move to 2-1 in overtime games. Syracuse won the first match of the season with a 7-6 overtime victory over Turlock. The second Silver Knights overtime game ended in a 7-6 defeat to Ontario.
Forbes lead all Syracuse scores with three goals. This marks the third straight match that a Silver Knight has recorded a hat trick. Tavernese and Bourdeau had two goals each. Tavernese increased his team lead in goals to 13 on the season. Silver Knights goalkeeper Andrew Coughlin also made 11 saves on the night. That breaks a streak of two straight games without double-digit saves for Coughlin.
Both Salles and Moojen finished with a hat trick. Coutinho scored twice as the only other multi-goal scorer for the Tropics. New Tropic player Ricardinho Cavalcante recorded two assists in his debut with the club.
With the victory, Syracuse moves into a tie for second place with Florida in the MASL Eastern Division in terms of games behind. Both teams now sit three games behind division leaders Baltimore.
"Anytime you can win in this division it's a major accomplishment," said Coach Hall. "All the teams in the East are extremely good and on any given night any team can win."
The next match for Syracuse is against the Baltimore Blast at the Oncenter War Memorial Arena on Friday, January 12th. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. For tickets and more information, call 315-303-7261 or log on to syracusesilverknights.com
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from January 9, 2018
- SOCKERS TAKE THE EXPRESS TO A 9-0 RECORD WITH 10-1 VICTORY - San Diego Sockers
- San Diego - Sockers Take the Express to 9-0 - San Diego Sockers
- Second half surge not enough for Barracudas - Brownsville Barracudas
- San Diego Sockers 2 Match: Ontario Beats San Diego 7-5 - San Diego Sockers
- Ambush Blow Six Goal Lead in Loss to Comets - St. Louis Ambush
- Ambush Blow Six Goal Lead in Loss to Comets - St. Louis Ambush
- Syracuse Wins Overtime Match at Florida - Syracuse Silver Knights
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