March 6, 2024
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Without even playing a game last week, the Rochester Lancers clinched a Major Arena Soccer League 2 playoff spot.
United Elite Krajisnik FC helped out, defeating Baltimore Arsenal, 7-3, on Sunday.
That is one of the rewards when you are the runaway division leader while winning all of your seven games in a 12-game regular season.
The Lancers (7-0-0, 21 points) cannot finish below second place in the East Division, as they enjoy sizable leads over second-place United Elite (3-5-0, 9) and third-place Baltimore (2-5-0, 6).
But they aspire to accomplish more than reach the postseason. They want to win it all.
The Lancers are poised to take the next step by clinching the division title, which they can achieve if they defeat Atletico Orlando in a pair of home matches this weekend at Total Sports Experience in East Rochester, N.Y. The teams will tussle on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9. Both games kick off at 7:45 p.m. ET.
"A goal we had at the beginning of the year was to play every game like it's our last," assistant coach Marc Mandell said. "So, every game is a playoff for us. If we don't make the playoffs, then we failed in our goal. After last year put a bad taste in our mouth. We all have a goal and kind of like a score to settle. We're ready."
Even though Rochester tied the Iowa Raptors FC for the North Division last season lead with 23 points apiece and had more wins (eight to seven) and a better goal differential (plus eight to minus seven), the team missed out on the postseason via on a technicality in league regulations.
Beyond finishing atop the East and going undefeated in regular season play, there also is another goal to play for - the top overall seed in the playoffs. The Iowa Demon Hawks (10-0-0, 30) have a plus 77 goals differential. Rochester is next at plus 53, and the Wichita Wings third at plus 49. If any of those teams are tied in regular season points, goal differential is the tie-breaker.
The Lancers defeated Atletico Orlando twice last month at home, 12-4, 10-4. Orlando (1-3-0, 3), which still can qualify for the playoffs, hasn't played since then.
Orlando could bring in some players with Major Arena Soccer League experience.
Regardless of the roster, Mandell said the Lancers will be ready.
"We're preparing the same as we always do," he told Soccer is a Kick in the Grass radio show on Monday night. "The beauty of it is that a lot of guys have high soccer IQs. So, we're able to adapt in the game if need be. In our last games against Baltimore, it was one of the first times we've really seen someone try to use a zone on us. We're used to man-to-man, but we were able to talk it over on the sidelines and guys it's adapted. We've been working on that in practice all week.
"The guys were prepared for anything. We know that Orlando is going to be a physical team again, with a lot of guys with talent and technical ability. They did pick up a couple of new players, one of them being Raphael Tobias, another guy who played M1. They added three or four guys who played at M1 with the [Florida] Tropics or other teams in the area. They want to win, too. They're still in a position where they can make second place and still get into playoffs."
As a member of the Central Florida Crusaders last season, Tobias was named the MVP of the National Indoor Soccer League. Tobias scored 29 goals and assisted on 24 others in 12 games.
Lancers head coach-defender Jake Schindler did not play in the second game against Baltimore two weeks ago due to a groin injury. It was the first time in his two years as coach that Schindler did not compete.
"I have a good feeling that Jake's going to play," Mandell said. "Jake wants to play as much as he can. You never know. It could be towards the end of Jake's career also, where he might just be looking to coach more and not necessarily play. ... He didn't want to rush it and didn't push it. We have other guys that can step up and fill the void."
Rookie midfielder-defender Ali Alomari, who is fourth in the league with 19 goals, paces the Lancers in that department. He also leads M2 with three winning goals and has set up eight tallies.
Midfielder Ryan Curtis (five assists) and forward Taner Bay four assists) are next with 11 goals apiece. Midfielder Matt D'Amico (five assists) and defender Davinson Diaz (three assists) have contributed eight goals each.
The Lancers also boast the best defense in M2, having conceded a league-low 32 goals in seven contests, and that has been reflected in the individual statistics.
Goalkeeper Jakeb Mitchell is No. 1 with a 4.16 goals-against average, while he is third in save percentage (67.8) and in wins (five).
Rochester visits Baltimore Arsenal for its final road contest on Saturday, March 16. The Lancers return home to close out the regular season against United Elite on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23.
The playoffs are scheduled for the first weekend in April in Wichita, Kansas