UTICA CITY OUTLASTS HARRISBURG IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE

Utica, N.Y. – It was a low-scoring defensive affair, but Utica City prevailed 4-3 over the Harrisburg Heat Sunday afternoon at the Adirondack Bank Center. Ricardo Diegues scored twice, while Jake Schindler and Onua Obasi chipped in with a goal apiece. Andrew Coughlin made four saves on six shots in the win.

Schindler put Utica up 1-0 with 4:18 to go in the first quarter, taking a pass from Bo Jelovac and poking a low shot past the keeper.

Dominic Francis tied the game at one with 11:48 to go in the second quarter after Harrisburg was awarded a shootout attempt. Diegues put Utica back on top at the 8:26 mark of the second quarter after some superior ball movement found him open at the top of the box.

Utica carried play in the third quarter, but it was Harrisburg who scored the lone goal of the quarter when Francis converted on a turnover in front of the Utica goal.

Obasi put Utica up 3-2 four minutes into the final quarter, beautifully crossing up his defender and putting a shot to the top corner. Diegues doubled the lead for Utica three and a half minutes later, picking off a loose ball, spinning and finishing with a left-footed shot to the top corner. Daniel Villela brought Harrisburg back within one with 5:30 to go in the fourth.

Utica City is back in action Saturday, December 14 on the road against the Baltimore Blast. Kickoff at SECU Arena is at 7:05 p.m. The game can be viewed on MASL.tv.

Scoring Summary

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