ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Lancers embark on a three-game road trip this weekend that will take them to Baltimore, Utica, N.Y. and Lakeland, Fla. for Major Arena Soccer League action.
The trip kicks off on Saturday when the Lancers visit the Baltimore Blast at SECU Arena with a 7:05 p.m. game time.
The young Rochester squad (0-13) is coming off its most productive match of its season in a 16-8 home loss to the St. Louis Ambush on Saturday night. Jeremy Ortiz, who was named as a substitute on the MASL team of the week, recorded the Lancers’ first hat-trick of the season as Michael Cunningham added two goals. Frankie Ciliberto also scored twice, including a spectacular bicycle kick.
Ortiz leads the Lancers with seven goals, while Anthony Rozzano paces the team with 11 points on the strength of six goals and five assists. Rookie midfielder Matt D’Amico is the assist leader with six while Michael Cunningham has contributed five goals.
The Lancers have lost both their encounters with the Blast, dropping an 11-0 home decision on Dec. 28 and a 9-1 defeat this past Friday.
The Blast (8-6), which is in fifth place in the Eastern Division, is coming off that win in Rochester last Friday as it has allowed only one goal in its past two games. In that match, Juan Pereira scored four goals and Tony Donatelli added three.
Baltimore is paced by Vinny Dantas (21 goals, 9 assists), Donatelli (13 goals, 12 assists), Pereira (11 goals, 9 assists) and Jonatas Melo (8 goals, 11 assists). Former Lancer and Rhino Andrew Hoxie has five goals and three assists in 10 matches.
The Lancers’ trip continues on Sunday when they visit Utica City FC at the Adirondack Bank Center at 2 p.m. and then on Feb. 15 at 5:05 p.m., when the club plays the first-place Florida Tropics at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Fla.
All games can be seen on MASL.TV.
The Lancers return to the Dome Arena in Henrietta, N.Y. to meet Utica City FC on Friday, Feb. 21 and the Blast on Saturday, Feb. 22. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
