Big second half leads to 6-2 Fury win
(ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA) - The Ontario Fury, Driven by Mark Christopher Auto Center, rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit Thursday night to defeat the Turlock Express 6-2 at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
The visitors opened a 2-0 lead late in the first quarter on a sliding tap-in goal by team captain Matt Germain and Martyn Arista (assisted by Germain). The Express defense held together from there, and got the benefit of several missed shots by the Fury in the first half, taking that 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
Ontario finally broke through early in the third quarter thanks to a hustle play by rookie Dallin Cutler. He stole the ball on the right wing and took the ball to the middle where he fired past goaltender Martin Sanchez to cut the score to 2-1. The Fury tied the game late in the quarter, as Tino Nunez rolled a quick pass to Juan Carlos Gonzalez running up the middle for a blast at close rain that sent the game into the fourth quarter tied at 2.
Ontario’s offense broke out in the fourth quarter. DeBray Holliman broke the tie with a blast from outside the yellow line into the upper right corner of the net, then the Fury doubled the lead on a goal from the penalty spot by Maicon de Abreu.
His goal came after Christian Leal received a blue card for pulling down a Fury player in the penalty box. Gonzalez scored his second of the game 36 seconds later on an assist from de Abreu.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the field, goaltender Chris Toth was keeping the Express out of the net, as he made 13 saves. He also closed out the scoring Thursday night, becoming the first Fury goaltender to score a goal, as he hurled the ball down field into Turlock’s net, which was vacated for an extra attacker.
The Fury travel south to take on the San Diego Sockers on Saturday in the second of six meetings between the Pacific Division Rivals. Watch all the action live on MASL.tv starting at 730pm.
The next home game is Sunday January 20th vs the Tacoma Stars at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Call 909-457-0252 for tickets or visit OntarioFury.com.