July 9, 2021
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Lancers' Last Kick Tour is set for this weekend as their outdoor teams compete in their final games ever.
The Lady Lancers take on FC Buffalo in a United Women's Soccer game at Robert Rich Stadium in Buffalo, N.Y. on Saturday at 4 p.m. Rochester (0-9-0, 0 points) dropped a 2-1 decision in their season opener against first-place Buffalo (6-2-1, 19) on May 16.
The Lancers will play two away matches within 24 hours. On Saturday at 7 p.m., they visit FC Buffalo for a National Premier Soccer League encounter at All High Stadium in Buffalo, N.Y. On Sunday at 5 p.m., they travel to Founders Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. to face the Pittsburgh Hotspurs.
The Lancers (2-5-1, 7) were eliminated from playoff contention in the Rust Belt Conference, but head coach Doug Miller still has another goal in mind - a third-place finish with a pair of wins.
"We played really well Monday against Syracuse," Lancers head coach Doug Miller said about the 2-0 win, calling it "probably the best game we played all season."
"For this week and it's the same type of mentality. You’re playing for pride we're playing for third place and just to finish stronger than we started."
The Lancers will try to avenge a pair of home losses to their road foes. They fell to Buffalo (2-4-2, 8), 3-2, on May 23, and lost to Pittsburgh (7-2-0, 21), 3-2, on June 13.
That Syracuse win gave the team a boost.
"In previous games, we were playing a different system," Miller said. "Against Syracuse we went back to playing a 4-5-1. We had some young guys play the best games of their season so far, which helps. We kept a clean sheet because we weren't numbers down. We had four guys in the back, always, which makes it more challenging to score."
Austin Gerber came off the bench in the 62nd minute to score twice in the 71st and 75th minutes. Monroe Community College standout Jordan Sullivan, who entered the game seven minutes later, set up both goals.
"He's our super sub," Miller said. "He's just got a lot of pace and we got behind their backs. He scored a very good goal and a second goal."
The Lancers’ goals on the Last Kick Tour is to finish in a flourish with some wins and points.