March 22, 2024

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Lancers' breakout star Ali Alomari needs eight goals to tie and nine this weekend to surpass Kansas Bandits' Angel Lopez for the Major Arena Soccer League 2 goal-scoring title.

Alomari is third in the league with 26 tallies, as the Amarillo Bombers' Rene Loya is second with 29 before the East Division champion Lancers (10-0) host United Elite United Elite Krajisnik FC (3-7) in the team's final two matches this season. The games will be played at TST Experience in East Rochester, N.Y. on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. Both contests will kick off at 7:45 p.m.

"The first time I saw him, I knew he was going to be a good player," assistant coach Joey Tavernese said, adding that assistant coach Rey Martinez had seen the Yemenese international play. "Obviously, he was obviously going to help us. He's just a dynamic player. Jake [Schindler, head coach] and I joke about how he does so many things that we could never do in our own game. He's got that dynamic, that 1 v 1 speed. He's got the skill to beat people. He's been a focal point for us."

As well as the rookie forward has performed, Tavernese has been impressed with other parts of Alomari's game.

"He's done little things that that have impressed me more, little nuances of the indoor game that I've asked him to implement into his game that many people may not see if they don't really understand the game," he said. "He's done some things for me that I've seen. I've been very impressed with seeing that. Those are things that are a little bit more important to me. Everyone else is seeing the points and the stats and the goals and the assists, whatever else. That doesn't always do it for me.

"That doesn't always show me that they're as good of a player as people think. ... He's obviously someone that I'll be mentioning to some teams around the league after the season that he definitely deserves at least a look if he's interested in going that route."

Tavernese was referring to the league known as M1 or the Major Arena Soccer League.

Alomari, who has recorded 37 points, has been a part of 28.4 percent of the team's 130 goals as he has set up teammates en route to 11 assists.

"As much as we like to credit people with stats and whatnot. I like to think of it as a double-edged sword," Tavernese said. "He's been fantastic for us individually, but he's also helped us as a team and the team has also helped him to be successful. That's where we have a good culture. ... Credit to Ali for grasping the concepts faster than most and having an exceptional season. The team benefiting him, and he is benefiting the team."

There is little doubt the Lancers' depth has played a major role in the team's success this season.

Nineteen players have found the net.

Taner Bay is second with 17 goals, followed by Matt D'Amico (13) and Ryan Curtis (11).

Player-head coach Jake Schindler leads everyone with 14 assists. Captain and defender Alex Harling has contributed 11 assists.

The Lancers have qualified for the M2 playoffs that will be played on the first weekend of April.