Marco Terminesi (30 points) missed the game with illness, and Kyt Selaidopoulos (19 points) turned his ankle the night before and did not suit up. The Wave (5-5) managed only three goals after scoring just three Saturday against the same Rockford team. The loss drops the Wave behind the Rampage into third place in the MISL.

Rockford also was shorthanded, missing standout goalkeeper Danny Waltman. Waltman injured his knee in the first half Saturday against Milwaukee, and though he finished the game he was unavailable Sunday.

The Rampage gave his backup, Ante Cop, a cushion by going on top early. Just six seconds after the opening whistle, Matt Stewart rushed into the box and one-timed a long ball off the boards past Marcel Feenstra.

Bato Radoncic added a 3-pointer six minutes later to give the visitors a five-point lead.

The Wave put together two goals just 28 seconds apart before the quarter ended. Brett Wiesner’s deft chip over a defender found Hewerton, who headed the ball past Cop for his first goal since returning to the team this year. Then Travis MacKenzie knocked home a rebound of Josh Rife’s shot.

Stewart made it 7-4 in the second period, then Kyle Lance pulled the Wave within one point midway through the third quarter.

Milwaukee failed to convert on at least five restarts from the top of the arc, and a handful more in the attacking zone. Without three of their normal restart crew – Troy Dusosky also missed the game with a hamstring injury – the Wave couldn’t muster any scores.

“The story of the game was restarts,” said Wave coach Keith Tozer. “We didn’t finish – not only on restarts, but in general. That’s frustrating not only for the players, but for the coaches, too.

“We had enough looks. We had opportunities in front, but didn’t put them on goal.”