UTICA CITY FALLS SHORT IN BALTIMORE

Towson, Md. – Utica City was unable to overcome an early 2-1 deficit as they fell 6-2 to the Baltimore Blast Sunday afternoon at SECU Arena. Lucio Gonzaga and Domenico Vitale scored for Utica. Andrew Coughlin made 13 saves in the loss.

Elton de Oliveira struck first for Baltimore three minutes into the game. Tony Donatelli doubled the lead at the 6:55 mark of the first quarter. Gonzaga cut the deficit to one with a long strike from the yellow line with 0.9 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. 

The two teams traded chances in the second quarter but Coughlin and Blast goalkeeper William Vanzela held strong to keep the score at 2-1 heading into the half.

 Jonatas Melo restored Baltimore’s two-goal lead with 10:32 to play in the third quarter. Vitale put Utica back within one a minute and a half later when his shot was deflected by a Baltimore defender.

Adriano Dos Santos made it 4-2 Baltimore 5:37 into the final quarter. Melo increased the lead to 5-2 two minutes later. Baltimore stifled Utica down the stretch and Tony Donatelli sealed the game with a shootout goal with 2:33 left in the fourth quarter. 

Utica City FC returns to action Sunday, March 10 when they host the Harrisburg Heat. Kickoff at the Adirondack Bank Center is at 2 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office at (315) 790-9070 or by visiting www.empirestatetix.com.

Scoring Summary