ERIE, Pa. — The Rochester Lancers’ path to the National Premier Soccer League playoffs hit a road bump Sunday night as the team dropped a 2-1 decision to the Erie Commodores at Gannon University Field.
The loss left the Lancers (5-3-2, 17) tied with the Commodores (5-1-2, 17) for second place in the Midwest Conference East Division. Erie, however, has two games in hand. The Dayton Dynamo (5-3-3, 18) leads the division.
The top two teams in the East will qualify for the postseason, which kick off with the Midwest quarterfinals July 22. They will be followed by the regional semifinals July 28 and the final June 29 at the top remaining seed.
The Lancers grabbed a 13th-minute advantage on Antonio Manfut’s goal.
The visitors, however, could not hold the lead in the second half as Erie struck twice within a 20-minute span.
First, Malcolm Shaw equalized in the 68th minute before Ashley Phillips put home the game-winner in the 88th minute.
Rochester has two regular season games remaining. The team visits AFC Cleveland Friday at 7:30 p.m. and hosts Erie at Charlie Schiano Field at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y. at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 15.
