UTICA DROPS GRUDGE MATCH TO BLAST IN SHOOTOUT

Utica, NY – Utica City battled back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game late in the fourth quarter before being defeated 5-4 in a shootout Sunday afternoon at the Adirondack Bank Center. Freddy Moojen scored two goals for Utica, while Lucio Gonzaga and Nate Bourdeau also chipped in goals. Andrew Coughlin made six saves on 10 shots.

Gonzaga gave City a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game when his shot deflected off of a Baltimore defender and in. Jonatas Melo tied the game at one off of a restart with 22 seconds to play in the opening quarter.

Moojen put Utica back on top three minutes into the second quarter, capitalizing on a Baltimore turnover and blasting a shot over the keeper. Sylla Salifou responded at the 6:10 mark of the second quarter to pull Baltimore even at two.

Adriano Dos Santos gave Baltimore their first lead of the game two and a half minutes into the third quarter. Jereme Raley doubled Baltimore’s lead at the 8:33 mark of the third. 

Bourdeau caught Blast keeper out of his net and deposited a loose ball to bring City back within one with 6:23 to go in regulation. With the sixth attacker on, Moojen tied the game at four after a spectacular run from Darren Toby with 2:33 to go in regulation. Neither team could pull ahead in the final two minutes and the game would head to overtime.

Despite chances on both ends, no one scored and the game would go to a shootout.

Juan Pereira and Bo Jelovac traded goals in the first three rounds of the shootout. Pereira scored on his second attempt in the sudden death shootout round to give Baltimore the win. 

Utica City hits the road for their final regular season game against the Orlando SeaWolves on April 12. Kickoff at Silver Spurs Arena is at 7:35 p.m. The game can be viewed on MASL.tv. Utica City will face-off agaisnt the Blast in a home and home playoff series. Tickets for Game 2 at the Adirondack Bank Center are available now at www.empirestatetix.com. 

Scoring Summary