Mustangs flex muscles against Rampage

Chicago tops 1st-place Cedar Rapids for 3rd time

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (Jan. 6, 2017) — Chicago overcame a 3-0 hole to top first-place Cedar Rapids for the third time this season.

Midfielder Miguel Vaca recorded a hat trick, to double his goal output this season, and defender Luis "Peewee" Ortega scored twice to break a 5-all tie for a 7-5 win at the U.S. Cellular Center.

The teams were knotted at 4 entering the fourth quarter. Vaca gave the Mustangs their first lead of the game with a goal with 13 minutes, 22 seconds left. Following forward Hewerton Moriera's miss wide left on a penalty shoutout, the Rampage tied the game on midfielder Angl Curiel's second goal of the game on the power play.

Peewee answered from the right wing for the winning goal with 7:52 remaining. Vaca fed him for a tap in for his second goal, to put the game away on a 2-v-1 with keeper Brett Petricek.  

Cedar Rapids (8-3) took a 3-0 lead into the second frame on a pair of goals from forward Tony Walls and one from Curiel. Walls scored from both wings, for his sixth and seventh goal this year. Curiel scored on a power play.

In the second quarter, the Mustangs (6-3) responded with a couple of deep shots pull with one goal. With 7:41 remaining in the quarter, Vaca finished off a rebound after the ball caromed off the back wall on Peewee's set piece. A minute and a half later, defender Ephraim Beard collected the ball of his chest and finished a volley from the third line for his third goal of the season.

Forward Taylor Bond added a goal in the win for his team-leading 17th goal this season. The Mustangs now own a 6-0 career record against Cedar Rapids.

Photo Credit: LjW Photography