ROCHESTER FENDS OFF MERCY FOR 4-2 VICTORY
ROCHESTER » Sam Mickley and Natalie Rayce each scored twice, and the host Rochester Falcons defeated the Farming- ton Hills Mercy Marlins 4-2 Friday night.
“We’ve done a good job of being dangerous this season and scoring goals, so I’d like to see us keep the ball out of the back of our own net once in a while, but you can’t be upset after a four-goal game,” Falcons head coach Doug Steinard said.
Rayce got Rochester on the board early when she fired a long-range effort from 30 yards that found the top corner for an early 1-0 Falcons lead barely two and one half minutes into the game.
But the Marlins would fight back in what was a very even first half as the play went back and forth. Each team got a handful of good chances in the first half, and it was Mercy who would be the next team to convert when co-captain Lindsay Lukomski took advantage of a turnover by the Falcons. Lukomski got the ball, weaver her way through a couple of Falcon defenders, and tucked one in from close range to tie the game 1-1 with 26:24 still to play in the first half.
Mickley put Rochester back in front for
good, however, with 15:27 left in the first half when she got on the end of an Alaina Webb cross and one timed the ball in to make it 2-1 Falcons.
With both teams subbing freely in a non-league contest, it was Rochester who as better able to maintain their offensive rhythm in the second half. The Falcons started stringing together a few more passes and dominated the ball for much of the second half. After Mickley and Rayce each scored again to give Rochester a 4-1 lead, the game was pretty thoroughly out of reach for the Marlins.
“We try to play a little bit of soccer and try to knock it around. When you have possession, it helps create goal scoring opportunities,” Steinard said. “I’m just happy overall that we got everybody in tonight, and everybody played a lot of minutes.”
But Mercy would still play hard to the end as the Marlins continued to try different combinations of players. Eventually, the Marlins did pull one back on a goal
by freshman Audrey Guyot to make it 4-2.
“I think it was still a good effort. I think the girls were working hard. I think we started to lose a little bit of possession of the ball in the second half I think, but overall I think this was a good test for us,” Marlins head coach Tania Macioce said. “(We’ve been) trying to figure out what the right combinations will be too, with all of our players. So this was a good game to kind of see who can play where.”
With the win, Rochester improves to 4-0. The Falcons have a series of tough road games next week starting with another non-league contest against Utica Ford II on Monday then a league match against rival Stoney Creek on Thursday.
“I thought it was a great team performance. I’m very happy with it, and we’ll see what next week presents us,” Steinard said.
Mercy is now 1-1-1 overall. The Marlins have some off days coming before resuming Catholic League play next Thursday when they travel to Macomb Lutheran North.
“I was glad we could get another one under our belt. We’ve got some stuff to work on. But I’m pleased with the effort, and I think we’re ready to take on that next game on Thursday,” Macioce said.