UTICA CITY FC SCORES EIGHT UNANSWERED GOALS; ROUTS BALTIMORE IN 10-2 WIN
Utica, NY - After a loss to Monterrey last week, the Adirondack Bank Center welcomed a familiar foe of the Utica Comets–the Baltimore Blast. For the 5th time this season, the boys in blue faced off against Baltimore. The UCFC squad was seeking revenge after a 13-6 loss in Baltimore the last time around and Utica would come out on top with a commanding 10-2 victory over the Blast.
An early goal from Baltimore was the lone tally in a defensive-minded first quarter with Juan Pereira tallying the only notch on the scoreboard.
Utica City FC would respond in stunning fashion. The second quarter started in a flash for the home side, with Jayce Berger scoring two minutes and 20 seconds into the second quarter. A reckless tackle from Baltimore goalkeeper Zierhoffer resulted in a blue card. The ensuing penalty was converted by Gordy Gurson, grabbing the first lead of the game for Utica. Nilton De Andrade extended the lead to 3-1 right before the halftime break.
Just like the start of the second, Utica City came out of the blocks quickly again. De Andrade nabbed his second of the game on the counter attack, nutmegging the keeper. The pressure continued as Issack Somow slotted it home to make it 5-1. Geo Alves quickly made it 6-1, making it six straight goals for the home side. But it didn’t stop there. Logan Roberts tapped in from close range after a low cross from Steven Fernandez to make it seven. Then Alves made it 8-1 just 18 seconds later for his second goal of the afternoon.
The fourth started slow for the boys in blue. Both sides would hold the score at 9-1 until Baltimore pulled Zierhoffer, leaving the net empty for Emmanuel Belliard to tap home at the 10:49 mark of the fourth. Baltimore found a second through Moises Gonzalez just 30 seconds later, before Utica responded with a Berger goal from an Andrew Coughlin assist to push the score to 10-2 in favor of the home side. The score would hold until the final horn sounded, with UCFC winning by 8 over the Blast.
After a three-game home stretch, Utica City FC travels to Milwaukee to take on the Wave on Friday, March 8th. UCFC returns home on Sunday, March 17th with kickoff against the Harrisburg Heat at 3:05 pm EST–tickets for the matchup are available at ucfctickets.com.
Article written by Arnav Pokhrel.