The action was spectacular Sunday afternoon as your Raptors triumphed in a must-win game vs. the Des Moines Demon Hawks.
We've come to expect fireworks from this fierce rivalry, and as usual it came right down to the wire. The Demon Hawks opened up an early two goal lead, but your Raptors came roaring back with three unanswered to take a 3-2 lead early in the second quarter. The lead changed hands three more times before your Raptors were able to fend off a furious late-game flurry from the Hawks. Alan Losoya (#17) picked the best possible time to knock in his first goal of the season at 4:47 in the fourth quarter. Des Moines's Maycon Franca brought the game back within one with 2:14 left to play, but the Raptors' defense tightened up and hung on for the win.
Again as we've come to expect, your Raptors played balanced ball. Only one Raptors' goal was unassisted (a neat move by Angelo Oquendo late in the first quarter, tying the game for the first time). Oquendo knocked home another in the 4th quarter, tying the game again, off a nice pass from Jonah Dancer. He also assisted on Losoya's game winner, bringing his point total on the night to three.
Ayo Adebayo and Pat Kelly added a goal apiece, assisted both times by Jake Johnson. Kelly's goal came on the powerplay, where he's been deadly; he has been near the top of the league leaderboard all season. Kelly also fed Ricky Orozco with a beautiful pass for Orozco's goal early in the second quarter. New Raptors Jordan Webb and Sergei Wawrzniak combined on Webb's goal near the midpoint of the fourth quarter.
Defender Sergei Wawrzniak discusses his first action at the M2 level
Your Raptors will be back in action this upcoming Saturday, March 18, at 6:30 for another must-win tilt against the Rochester Lancers 2. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.
The full game action from Sunday's tilt can be viewed below, courtesy of our friends at MASL2.
Your Lady Raptors were also in action this weekend, falling to the IZT Aztecs of Wichita, Kansas, by a score of 5-2. "It's not the outcome we wanted, obviously," said head coach Curt Lewis, "but we played hard and learned a lot."
Their inaugural season hasn't gone as planned for the Lady Raptors, but we're a talented team with a lot of heart. Sunday's tilt was much closer than the score indicated. Madisyn Hunt was again outstanding for your Lady Raptors, bringing her team-leading goal total to five.
Your Lady Raptors are also back in action this weekend. The Lady Raptors play Friday night, March 17, again vs. the Aztecs, with kickoff at 7pm. On Sunday, the Lady Raptors square off against the Chicago Mustangs; kickoff is at 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased online or at the PowerHouse box office.