01/16/2010 10:00 PM -
RAMPAGE CLAMP DOWN ON WAVE
Rockford defense holds Milwaukee scoreless in 2nd half for 10-7 victory
ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Rockford Rampage held the Milwaukee Wave scoreless in the second half and earned a 10-7 victory Saturday in Major Indoor Soccer League play at the MetroCentre.
Gary Brooks and Geison Moura each netted two goals as the Rampage erased a three-game losing streak to improve to 4-4. For the Wave, Ryan Mack scored two goals as Milwaukee fell to 5-4 on the season.
The two teams battle again at 2 p.m. Sunday at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Rockford leads the season series against Milwaukee, 2-0.
On Saturday, the Rampage struck first with Brooks' goal at the 6:51 mark of the first quarter. Eric Lukin assisted Brooks' tally from the right side, placing the ball to the far left side past Wave goalkeeper Nick Vorberg for the 2-0 lead. The Wave tied the score at 2-all with a Mack goal at the 10:51 mark as the ball rolled past Rampage goalkeeper Danny Waltman.
In the second quarter, Joe Hammes scored a goal 20 seconds in to put Milwaukee on top, 4-2. But Rockford responded with Moura's tally, assisted from Lukin, at the 2:08 mark to tie the score at 4-all.
The Wave gained some momentum heading into halftime when Mack netted his second goal, an unassisted three-pointer, with 4.5 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give Milwaukee a 7-4 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, the Rampage chipped away at Milwaukee's lead on a restart. Fred Degand netted the two-point goal with Matthew Stewart assisting at the 5:41 mark to cut it to a 7-6 Wave lead. Then at the 7:56 mark, Brooks tallied his second goal, rebounding Marco Sullo's initial shot and giving Rockford an 8-7 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Rampage capitalized on a power play opportunity when Moura notched his second goal at the 4:47 mark off of a Semir Mesanovic assist to extend Rockford's lead to 10-7.
The Wave's Hammes came on as the sixth attacker with 1:10 remaining, but Milwaukee could not put a shot on goal as the Rampage closed out the game for a much-needed victory.
Rockford Rampage 10, Milwaukee Wave 7
Milwaukee 2 5 0 0 - 7
Rockford 2 2 4 2 - 10
SCORING
First quarter
1. Rockford - Brooks (Lukin), 6:51; 2. Milwaukee - Mack (MacKenzie), 10:51.
Second quarter
3. Milwaukee - Hammes (unassisted), 0:20; 4. Rockford - Moura (Lukin), 2:08; 5. Milwaukee - Mack (unassisted), three-point goal, 14:56.
Third quarter
6. Rockford - Degand (Stewart), 5:41; 7. Rockford - Brooks (Sullo), 7:56.
Fourth quarter
7. Rockford - Moura (Mesanovic), power play goal, 4:47.
Saves: Danny Waltman (Rockford) 9 saves; Nick Vorberg (Milwaukee) 11 saves.
The Rockford Rampage and Milwaukee Wave are members of the Major Indoor Soccer League. For more information about the MISL, visit
www.MISL.net.
