February 4, 2023

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Rochester Lancers overcame deficits three times to register a 7-6 overtime win over the Iowa Raptors as they remained unbeaten this Major Arena Soccer League 2 season, at Mercy Health Arena on Saturday night.

Matt D'Amico chipped goalkeeper Jesus Ortiz to score the game-winning goal at 5:15 of overtime as the Lancers improved to 3-0. The Raptors fell to 4-2-1.

Taner Bay, who tallied two equalizing goals in the fourth quarter, and Vadim Cojocov each finished with a brace for Rochester. Konrad Zydowicz and August Finn also found the net for Rochester in what was a classic see-saw battle.

Goalkeeper Daniel Maddock had another superb game in the net, including denying Raptors leading scorer Jonah Dancer on a shootout attempt at 5:47 of the fourth period.

The game was defined by both teams being unable to hold two-goal leads.

The Raptors wasted little time taking the lead, striking twice within a 26-second span only 87 seconds after the opening kickoff.

Angelo Oquendo tallied the first of his two goals, an unassisted score, 61 seconds into the match before Ronaldo Rojas, off a Patrick Kelly feed, doubled the margin at 1:27.

For the remaining first quarter and much of the second period, the Lancers could not find the net as Ortiz made several big saves or his defense blocked shots.

Finally, Zydowicz broke the ice for the visitors, scoring off header from close range at 11:45. Cojocov equalized at the buzzer with a shootout tally, sending both teams into the locker room at halftime even at two goals apiece.

The Lancers continued their dominance into the second half as Finn lifted them into a 3-2 edge when he shot bounced off the leg and then between the legs of Ortiz at 4:41 of the third period. Cojocov, who was set up by player-head coach Jake Schindler, made it 4-2 at 6:34 when he powered a shot from the left side into the lower right corner.

Then it was Iowa's turn to overcome a two-goal deficit.

The Raptors then scored twice under two minutes. Jesus Ramos put home a Ricardo Orozco pass from off the right wall at 7:57 before Patrick Kelly equalized off a neat half-volley from the top left of the circle during a power play at 9:53.

Rojas recorded his brace at 10:46 as he drilled home a Dancer back-heel past for a 5-4 Raptors advantage.

Bay started his late heroics by connecting off an Alex Harling assist to knot things up at 5-5 at 3:36 of the fourth quarter.

The Raptors, however, took the lead again at 6-5 on Oquendo's second goal at 11:21.

With time winding down, Bay scored yet another equalizer, a power-play goal with 2:15 remaining in the period for a 6-6 deadlock and force overtime.

Rochester won't have much time to rest as they take on the Iowa Demon Hawks at the same venue at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To stream the game, visit www.m2soccer.com.

The Lancers will host the Demon Hawks in their season opener at the Total Sports Experience in East Rochester, N.Y. on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Those two teams will battle on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

 

For more information about the team, visitwww.RochesterLancers.com.