UTICA CITY FC WASHED OUT BY WAVE, 5-3
Following a thrilling win at home, Utica City FC made the long trek to the The Badger State to Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Wave. They come home empty-handed, faltering late and falling 5-3.
UCFC bucked their trend of conceding early goals in a defensive-focused first quarter. Nilton de Andrade took a perfect first touch and finished a beautiful strike off his right foot to open the scoring for UCFC in the only goal of the quarter at 10:38.
Alex Bradley was the beneficiary of a fortunate bounce that happened to stunningly land directly in front of him, tying the game for Milwaukee at 1-1. Luan Oliveira was fed a pass that split the defense, leaving him alone in the slot for him to take the lead for the home team. Stefan Mijatovic leveled the game with a booming shot on the powerplay late in the second quarter to keep the game knotted at two goals apiece.
After a scrum in front of the net, Alex Bradley potted his second goal of the game to put Milwaukee out in front early in the third quarter at 2:19. Ronaldinho raced down the turf and took a shot that Joey Tavernese finished on the back post to tie the game at 3-3. The fourth quarter went the way of the Wave as Luan Oliveira unleashed a strike that found the top corner to give Wave a 4-3 lead and iced the game at 5-3 with an empty netter with 30 seconds to play.
Next Saturday, February 11th, Utica City FC returns home to take on the Harrisburg Heat. Tickets are still available at uticacityfc.com/tickets.