April 4, 2024
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Lancers recently completed their first unbeaten regular season in the team's history.
They finished atop the East Division of Major Arena Soccer League 2 with a 12-0-0 record as the team prepares to compete in the playoffs in Wichita, Kansas this weekend. The second-seeded Lancers will face the Iowa Raptors in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. ET on Friday, April 5 with the semifinals on Saturday, April 6 and the championship game on Sunday, April 7 at 5 p.m.
Regardless of how they fare in Wichita, the Lancers already have made Rochester sports history as the first team to finish a regular season unbeaten.
So, how does the Lancers' regular season stack up with the rest of Rochester pro sports teams over the years?
Let's scratch the Rochester Red Wings (baseball), Rochester Americans (hockey) and Rochester Royals and (basketball) off the list because given the length of their respective seasons, it is next to impossible to go through an entire campaign undefeated and untied.
In case you were wondering, the Red Wings have won 20 International League titles, the Amerks secured 20 Calder Cup championships in the American Hockey League, and the Royals captured the 1951 National Basketball Association crown.
However, the Rochester RazorSharks came very, very close during the 2013-14 Premier Basketball League campaign en route to the league title. They finished the regular season at 17-1, before besting the Indianapolis Diesels, 2-1, in the championship series.
Two versions of the Rochester Knighthawks never ran through a lacrosse season unbeaten.
When the Rochester Rhinos captured the 2015 United Soccer League crown with an excellent 17-1-10 regular season mark, even they suffered one loss and played to 10 draws. The Rhinos won four league titles.
Flower City Union secured the 2023 National Independent Soccer Association championship. The team finished the regular season at 8-13-3 and in sixth place before embarking on its Cinderella playoff run.
When the Western New York Flash captured the 2016 National Women's Soccer League title, the team finished at 9–6–5 during the regular season.
As for the Lancers themselves, including the 21st century editions, they have enjoyed several memorable seasons, but they never came close to going undefeated, indoor or outdoor.
When the original Lancers captured their first and only North American Soccer League championship in 1970, they finished the regular season atop the Northern Division with a 9-9-6 record, rebounding after a slow start to the season. Those Lancers enjoyed their best outdoor season in 1971, finishing at 13-5-6, winning the Northern Division crown.
The 2024 version of the Lancers will try to continue their unbeaten run at the M2 playoffs. If Rochester wins against the Iowa Raptors on Friday at 2 p.m., it will face the winner of the Wichita Wings-Atletico Orlando encounter at a time to be determined on Saturday. The Lancers defeated Orlando in all four regular-season meetings.
There also will be consolation games on Saturday. The championship match is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.