September 22, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Phoenix Rising FC News Release
MONTEREY BAY, California (Wednesday, September 21) – Phoenix Rising FC overcame three separate deficits enroute to a hard-earned 3-3 draw at Monterey Bay.
Rising was on the front foot early, earning a corner kick and a free kick from a dangerous area in the opening five minutes of the match, but Monterey broke through with a ball over the top in the ninth minute. Monterey’s Sam Gleadle caught up to the pass in-behind Rising’s back line and centered a pass for Christian Volesky, who avoided Phoenix goalkeeper Ben Lundt and passed the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Phoenix tied the match 1-1 in the fifth minute when Baboucarr Njie slipped past his defender on the end line and tried to pick up the ball on the other side. As Njie went around the defender, referee Malik Badawi judged that the defender committed a foul, awarding Rising its first penalty kick of the season. Aodhan Quinn stepped to the spot and sent Union goalkeeper Anthony Siaha the wrong direction as he deposited the ball in the center of the goal.
Monterey Bay fired right back, making it 2-1, in the 20th minute when James Murphy sent a ball out wide to Grant Robinson. Robinson took a touch and crossed up Lundt by hitting a sharp pass to the near post. The shot slipped under the goalkeeper’s left foot and rolled into the back of the net to re-establish the one-goal lead.
Rising benefitted from the referee’s whistle again in the 39th minute after Arturo Rodriguez drew a foul in the box. Quinn stepped to the spot again and fired a shot into the top left corner of the net to equalize.
But Monterey Bay took back the lead just before the end of the half thanks to Volesky again. Rising tried to clear a 44th-minute corner kick, but th ball popped out to the top of the box and Mobi Fehr struck a shot toward the target. The shot deflected off JJ Williams, but Ben Lundt made the quick reaction save. The rebound landed at Volesky’s foot, and he buried his chance to earn the brace.
Despite five first-half goals, the second half had decidedly less action. Greg Hurst pulled Rising level for the third time of the match in the 75th minute. After passing the ball up field to Rodriguez from midfield, the pair both ran down the right flank of the attacking zone. Rodriguez slid the ball off to Hurst about ten yards from the box, and hurst weaved through the defensive traffic before blasting a shot inside…