March 15, 2024
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Not only have the Rochester Lancers already have clinched a spot in the Major Arena Soccer League 2 playoffs and won the East Division crown.
Yet, the undefeated team still has plenty to play for in its final three games.
The Lancers want to finish the M2 regular season with an unblemished record and are striving to secure the top seed in the M2 playoffs, which will be held the first week in April in Wichita.
Entering this weekend's action, Rochester (9-0-0, 27 points) has a goal differential of plus 79, trailing only the Iowa Demon Hawks (11-0-0, 33), who have a plus 86.
So, the Lancers' charge is to remain undefeated and outscore the Demon Hawks by seven or more goals. Iowa, which has captured the North Division title, has one game remaining in the regular season, as it hosts the Iowa Raptors on Friday, March 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Securing the top seed in the playoffs will mean the Lancers will stay away from the elite M2 sides in the quarterfinals. That includes the host Wichita Wings (10-0-1, 31), who have secured the Midwest Division title.
The Lancers can take another step forward this weekend, when they visit Baltimore Arsenal in their final away match of the year at Towson Arena in Towson, Md. on Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m.
The team kicked off the season with an impressive 14-6 win at Baltimore on Jan. 13.
Baltimore (2-5, 6), which has five games remaining in the regular season, is still eligible for the postseason.
It should be noted that the Lancers won a division title in the first time of their indoor history. The original incarnation of the team captured the North Division crowns in the outdoor North American Soccer League in 1970 and 1971.
Rochester has put together an imposing attack as the squad has reached double figures in each of its nine games.
Rookie and Yemen international Ali Alomari is third in the league with a team-best 26 goals. He trails only Kansas Bandits' Rene Loya (34), who has completed the regular season, and Amarillo Bombers’ Rene Loya (29), who has two matches left.
Alomari, who also has accrued 11 assists and a league-leading four game-winning goals, has accumulated 37 points, trailing leader Lopez (39). However, Alomari is far from a one-man show.
Taner Bay has connected for 15 goals and six assists, Matt D'Amico 13 goals and five assists, and Ryan Curtis 11 goals and five assists.
A pair of defenders also contributed with head coach Jake Schindler registering 12 assists to go along with a goal, and captain Alex Harling netting six goals to go along with his 10 assists.
The Lancers also boast the best defense in the league, conceding only 37 goals for a 4.11 goals-against average. The Demon Hawks are the closest to the leads, having allowed 50 scores in 11 contests. Rochester goalkeeper Jakeb Mitchell leads M2 with a 3.77 GAA. He is also third in save percentage (70.4) and fourth in wins (six). Alastair Farmer, who has earned three victories, has a 4.27 GAA in a reserve role.
After this weekend, the Lancers will return home to host United Elite Krajisnik FC for a pair of weekend matches, on Friday, March 22 and on Saturday, March 23. Both games kick off at 7:45 p.m.