WAVE DEFEAT UTICA IN HARD FOUGHT GAME FRIDAY NIGHT AT PANTHER ARENA

In front of one of the largest crowds of the season, the Milwaukee Wave secured the season series with a hard fought defensive victory over Utica City FC. 

Milwaukee would strike first as a restart from the side, was laid off by Max Ferdinand, to Marcio Leite who beat Utica’s keeper Andrew Coughlin for the 1-0 lead. 

The second tally for Milwaukee came in the reverse form, as Marcio Leite found Max Ferdinand near the top of the box, and it was Max’s header that beat Coughlin to double Milwaukee’s lead. 

The lone goal of the second half, came courtesy of Utica’s Rafa Godoi assisted by Geo Alves midway through the frame, cutting Milwaukee’s lead in half to 1. 

The third quarter saw Milwaukee take advantage of a defensive mishap by Utica’s Nelson Santana, who attempted to nod the ball back to his keeper, only to find the back of the net, giving Milwaukee the 3-1 lead. Max Ferdinand was credited with the goal, as he was the last player to touch the ball. 

Milwaukee would take a 4-1 advantage when Max Ferdinand, found a streaking Cesar Correa in the middle of the box, who slotted home the goal just minutes after the third. 

Ricardo Carvalho etched his name onto the scoresheet late in the third with a goal assisted by Marcio Leite, brining Milwaukee to a 5-1 advantage. 

Utica deployed goalkeeper Andrew Coughlin for much of the 4th quarter, resulting in added pressure in the Milwaukee defensive zone. Gordy Gurson would get the first of two back when Nelson Santana found Gurson down low to bring the score to 5-2.

With under 4 minutes left to play, Nelson Santana was sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a Milwaukee powerplay. Marcio Leite was able to finish the scoring for Milwaukee with a powerplay goal, against Utica’s sixth attacker, for the 6-2 advantage. 

Gurson would add one more late, assisted by Geo Alves. 

A 6-3 result for Milwaukee who are now even on points with Utica at 39. 

Assistant Coach Tenzin Rampa stated “You know a big three points, we knew going into this weekend, every game was like a playoff game, two teams, who may see each other, two teams pushing for that two or three spot, and we’re pushing to get that two spot, so we can get home field advantage in front of our fans for the second game, and you know it was a battle, we had a good start tonight, and we didn’t have one in Utica, we didn’t relinquish the lead, the adjustments we made at halftime, and the defending we had for the entire fourth quarter.” 

Max Ferdinand and Willie B were voted as co-players of the game with Max stating, “Obviously it’s a big win, we were three points behind them, they are a good team, but it was a whole team effort, a lot of guys went down, and the guys stepped up, so it’s a big win, and now we turn our focus to St Louis on Sunday.” 

Tickets are on sale now at MilwaukeeWave.com or at the Box Office one hour prior to game start.