January 17, 2020
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (January 15, 2020) -- For the sixth time in nine games and for the final time this Major Arena Soccer League season, the Rochester Lancers will tussle with the Harrisburg Heat.
Rochester (0-8) is vying first win of the season as it visits Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, Pa. on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.
The Heat (5-3) has won all five meetings between the clubs, the last being a 7-3 victory at the Dome Arena on Jan. 4. Fans can watch the game at www.RLancers.com or MASL.TV.
Although they are winless, the young Lancers, who are made up of rookies and a handful of veteran players, have made great strides since the beginning of the season.
"The guys are starting to connect the dots as far as when it comes to being tuned in at the right times of the game," said veteran midfielder Jeremy Ortiz, who added his teammates have made improvements on line shifts, "making sure they understand the changes. understanding to be on the field at the right times, where to slow down the ball, when to hold the ball, when to attack, when to change."
"Basically, they're just starting to understand the little nuances of the game and the little details," he continued. "It's going little by little. It's not going to happen obviously overnight. Once that starts to click more, I think we're going to see a more consistent Lancers side competing with the big teams."
The Lancers are led by defender Anthony Rozzano (three goals, four assists) forward Michael Cunningham (three goals and two assists) and Ortiz (three goals, one assist). Gary Boughton, Peter DiLorenzo and Cunningham scored in the most recent game between the teams.
Harrisburg, which hosts the Sonora Soles on Saturday night, are paced by midfielder Dom Francis (15 goals), who has tallied 11 times against Rochester, Daniel Villela (five goals, seven assists), J.J. Gibson (three goals, nine assists) and Dylan Hundelt (seven goals, two assists). Hundelt had a hat-trick in the Jan. 4 encounter.
After Sunday's game, the Lancers continue on the road as they visit the Milwaukee Wave on Saturday, Jan. 25 and then the Kansas City Comets on Sunday, Jan. 26.
They return home to the Dome Arena for a very special weekend. The Lancers will induct the inaugural class of their indoor Wall of Fame prior to their game against the Baltimore Blast at the Dome Arena in Henrietta, N.Y. on Friday, Jan. 31. They host the St. Louis Ambush the next night on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Both contests kick off at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available for both games and can be purchased at www.RLancers.com or at the Dome Arena box office on game day.