UTICA CITY FC FALLS FLAT IN FIRST LEG OF MEXICO ROAD TRIP TO SAVAGE, 14-4

To open the game, Gordy Gurson sent a no-look pass to a wide open Taylor Bond to notch the first tally for the visitors just four minutes in. A costly turnover let to an immediate counter-attack and goal from Hugo Puentes. Just 13 seconds later, Steven Fernandez settled into the back post and put UCFC back on top, 2-1. This would not faze the Savage as they rapidly responded with two goals of their own 50 seconds apart, first from Jorge Ríos on a sublime no-angle strike and next from Carlos Hernandez off of a booming shot from distance. Chihuahua ended the first quarter up by a goal, 3-2.

Utica City come back out in the second quarter firing on all cylinders, tying the game up at 3-3 on an exceptional display of passing and an easy finish from Nilton de Andrade. Once again, the Savage responded with two goals of their own to put themselves back on top. Both came from Enrique Cañez who ripped a bar-down strike at 7:52 to re-take the lead and potted another shortly after to head into the half up 5-3.

Just 47 seconds into the quarter, Gordy Gurson found himself alone in front, tipping a ball bar down to bring UCFC within one. It was all Savage after that as Roberto Escalante tallied a powerplay goal and Ríos scored his second to widen Chihuahua’s lead to 7-4. Ríos then netted a hat trick on a gorgeous strike to make it 8-4. 

The Savage continued their scoring ways in the fourth quarter as Ríos netted a staggering fourth goal on the evening. Enrique Cañez found himself alone to send the home team into double digits and Hugo Puentes was the recipient of a fortunate deflection to make it 11-4. Puentes would score an empty netter for his second of the game and Bryan Macias would tally another goal with Utica utilizing the sixth attacker to make it 13-4. With less than a minute to play, Brandon González widen the Savage’s lead to ten with another goal to make it nine consecutive for the home team. 

Utica City FC returns to home turf on March 12th against the Florida Tropics. Tickets are available at ucfctickets.com.