HENRIETTA, N.Y. — The Rochester Lancers clinched a spot in the Major Arena Soccer League 2 playoffs with a game to spare.
Riding hat-tricks by Gary Boughton and Jeremy Ortiz, and a big second-quarter, the Lancers recorded a 10-5 victory over the Detroit Waza Flo before a capacity crowd at the Dome Arena Friday night.
Rochester, which will meet the Eastern Division champion Chicago Mustangs (10-1) later this month, improved to 8-4, while Detroit fell to 7-6.
Boughton’s first goal lifted the Lancers into a 1-0 lead 2:30 into the match before the Waza Flo rebounded with scores by Ahmed Zaky and Rodrigo Siqueria gave the visitors a 2-1 edge.
Lancers head coach Doug Miller, however, tallied his second goal of the season and first at home in a rare appearance to knot things up at 2-2 with 5:27 remaining in the opening quarter.
Boomer Steigleman put the hosts into the with 63 seconds left in the period, but Siqueira equalized with his second goal with only seven seconds remaining.
Rochester turned the game on its head in the second quarter, outscoring Detroit, 4-1 as Jeremy Ortiz tallied twice (with 8:41 and 3:34 left), Boughton (1:42) and Michael Cunningham (:09).
Jake Schindler added a goal in the fourth quarter and Boughton put in a sixth-attacker goal.
The Lancers will close out the regular season, hosting the Muskegon Risers at the Dome Arena Saturday at 7 p.m.
