February 29, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – Empire Strykers News Release
Ontario, Calif. – Having put in their best defensive performance of the 2023-24 Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) campaign thus far, the Empire Strykers suffered a heartbreaking 3-4 defeat to the visiting Kansas City Comets on Wednesday evening. The game’s final minute and change featured a dramatic equalizer by the Strykers as well as the Comets’ winner moments later. While Empire’s Brian Orozco and Kansas City’s Nicolau Neto enjoyed standout shifts at ‘keeper, as they had done in the two sides’ February 10 meeting in Missouri, Orozco’s teammate Marco Fabián scored in his 14th straight MASL match.
The narrow loss sees Orozco, Fabián, and company fall to 3-13-1 (wins-losses-overtime/shootout losses) on the season.
The Strykers displayed impressive intensity in the opening quarter, giving their opposition little time or space to operate. After several promising attacks, Head Coach Paul Wright’s men were finally rewarded for their hard work when Fabian fired home an Alan Perez helper. Empire could have doubled its advantage in the second period, Howard Miller Jr. picking out Perez, who forced an outstanding kick-save from Neto.
Not long after the quality block, Strykers netminder Orozco provided evidence of his own abilities. A wide-open Ray Lee released a goal-bound rocket from close range that was denied in spectacular fashion by Orozco, who went airborne and tipped the ball over the bar. Kansas City was punished for the missed opportunity when Fabián found himself with space at the top of the area and unselfishly set up a well-positioned Miller Jr. on the right. Miller Jr.’s first-time finish inside the far post marked a meaningful moment for the 27-year-old, who was playing in his first game after a lengthy injury absence.
Seemingly unphased, the Comets cut their deficit to 1-2 when ‘keeper Neto played a clever long pass that skipped off the boards and found Zach Reget on the left, the in-form attacker firing inside the right post from a difficult angle. The hosts should have reestablished their previous cushion before the end of the opening half, Adam James opting not to go for goal from point-blank range and instead squaring to teammate Riley Urie. Apparently caught by surprise, Urie failed to make contact with the ball, and the chance evaporated.
Quenton Swift had another great look for Empire, but his powerful attempt from inside the area was stifled by Neto’s…