Fury Flexes Muscles in Crucial 12-4 Home Win Over Coyotes

DeAbreu and Quiroz shine as Ontario climbs back into MASL playoff picture

Ontario, Calif. – The Ontario Fury bagged a hugely important 12-4 home win over the El Paso Coyotes on Sunday evening, powered by standout attacking performances from Maicon DeAbreu und Mexican veteran Victor Quiroz. While DeAbreu had two goals and two assists in the contest, Quiroz bagged a goal and three assists for a total of eleven points in just five appearances since joining the club in mid-January. Crucially, the victory over the Coyotes sees Head Coach Jimmy Nordberg’s men reconquer second place in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Pacific Division and thus climbing back into a playoff spot.

The Fury made it 1-0 in the opening quarter, Juan Carlos Gonzalez sending home an assist by Evan McNeley, followed by a DeBray Hollimon blast on a ball from DeAbreu to double his side’s lead. However, the visitors got within one before the end of the period, Alexis Mendoza finishing off the setup play by Hugo Puentes.

Undeterred by the setback, Ontario scored the next pair of tallies after the short break. First captain Izzy Sesay touched home a pass by Anibal Echeverria. Then Even McNeley fired home an unassisted rocket to make it 4-1. After Hector Estupinan pulled one back for El Paso, the Fury scored twice in a row yet again. McNeley rifled another shot into the net on a ball from Victor Quiroz, who subsequently took matters into his own hands for a 6-2 Ontario advantage.

The next couple of strikes went to the visitors from Texas, Frank Briones setting up Luis Palacios and Eric Hernandez heading home an earlier header off the boards by Estupinan. The Fury would close out the eight-goal period with its seventh of the contest, as a beautiful pass by Quiroz released DeAbreu on the right, the Brazilian smashing the ball across the frame and into the upper ninety for a 7-2 halftime lead.

Following intermission, the game’s frantic pace slowed down somewhat, with the home side finding the net two more times. Echeverria finished from Hollimon and Quiroz bagged another outstanding assist, as he found himself on the far left side of the attacking end and sent the ball traveling along the boards and all the way to the center of the box, where it was blasted into the upper ninety by Jeff Hughes.

Entering the closing period up 9-4, the hosts left no doubt about their determination to take the win, tallying three more times before the game’s conclusion for a total of six unanswered goals. First Juan Carlos Gonzalez scored his second of the day on DeAbreu’s second setup play. Then Gonzalez collected his second assist, as his ball in from the right saw a wide open DeAbreu tap home on a power play to finalize his own brace. The day’s final strike came off the foot of Sesay, who streaked into the area and converted on an excellent opening pass from Thiago Goncalves to make it 12-4.

With the victory and Tacoma dropping consecutive games to the San Diego Sockers, Ontario climbs back above the playoff line in the MASL Pacific Division and will look to defend second place when it hits the road for a four game road swing. After taking on the Rio Grande Valley Barracudas, Monterrey Flash, Sockers and Tacoma Stars, the Fury returns home for another crucial clash with the El Paso Coyotes on Sunday, March 24. Tickets to all home games at Citizens Business Bank Arena may be purchased by by visiting www.ontariofury.com or by calling 909-457-0252.