UTICA CAN'T OVERCOME EARLY DEFICIT IN LOSS TO SONORA

Hermosillo, Mexico – Utica City surrendered six goals in the opening quarter and couldn’t recover as they fell 13-5 to the Soles de Sonora Sunday night at the Centro de Usos Multiples. Alencar Ventura Junior and Moises Gonzalez scored twice, while James Togbah added a goal as well. Andrew Coughlin got the start in net, making three saves on nine shots before being replaced by Matt Perrella, who made nine saves on 15 shots.

Sonora struck first 11 seconds into the match off the foot of Daniel Lopez. Manuel Aragon doubled the lead for the Soles 1:36 later. Lopez made it 3-0 with 11:45 to go in the first after a turnover in the Utica zone. Togbah got Utica on the board with 3:25 to go in the quarter, taking a pass from Diego Zuñiga and ripping a shot past the keeper from the left side. Sonora struck back with two quick goals from Edson Sanchez and Alejandro Leyva to bring the score to 5-1. Lopez scored his third of the quarter with 10 seconds to go in the opening quarter to extend the lead to 6-1.

Ismael Rojo continued the scoring run 23 seconds into the second quarter. Gustavo Rosales pushed the lead to 8-1 on a fast break halfway through the quarter. Gonzalez ended the scoring run with a power play strike off a restart at the top of the arc. Lopez responded a minute and a half later.

Junior cut the deficit to six with 11:38 to go in the third, deflecting a shot from Gonzalez off a restart. Erick Flores responded 1:20 later to put Sonora back up by seven. Junior added his second of the night with a point-blank finish from inside the arc at the five-minute mark of the third quarter. Lopez struck back right away once again.

Flores earned his second of the night 6:27 into the fourth quarter. Gonzalez struck again on the power play with 2:32 to go in the fourth, taking a pass from Jelovac and blasting a shot past the keeper. Angel Rubalcava added two empty-net goals late to seal the win. 

Utica City returns to action Sunday, March 8 at home against the Kansas City Comets. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. Tickets are still available at the Box Office, over the phone by calling (315) 790-9070, or online at www.empirestatetix.com The game can be viewed on MASL.tv.

Scoring Summary

For the latest Utica City FC news visit www.uticacityfc.com or follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/uticacityfc), Twitter (@UticaCityFC), Instagram (@UticaCityFC), and the Utica City FC YouTube Channel.