Revenge Crunch Bites February 25!
Loss to Grand Rapids
Last weekend was supposed to be the game where Cleveland takes control of the Eastern Division in MLIS. Unfortunately, it was the worst loss in Crunch history. Losing 11-5 to their Michigan foes, RCFC, was not what the club had hoped for, obviously. But Rapid City FC is quietly building a club that can challenge Cleveland.
The Crunch took a 2-1 advantage into the second quarter. The first quarter saw RCFC penalized twice with blue cards. But that might have been the idea: be aggressive from the first touches of the game. Cleveland grabbed a quick 1-0 lead from the first blue. But the second blue? RCFC somehow scored! That would be akin to a short-handed goal in hockey!
But Mikey Derezic helped the Crunch with both goals in the first, and his second was a nice goal sneaking in behind the RCFC defense.
Cvecko and Derezic put the Crunch ahead 2-1 at the end of the 1st. @MLISpro @MLISNews pic.twitter.com/kWxC2dlbZ9
— Cleveland Crunch (@clecrunch) February 19, 2023
2nd Quarter Blues
But the match was really lost in the first three minutes of the second quarter. The Crunch allowed Rapid City to notch two quick goals. After that, the onslaught began.
RCFC scored three in the quarter and blanked Cleveland to take a 5-2 lead into the break. And really with Cleveland only scoring one in the third, Rapid City cruised to their final victory with five unanswered goals in roughly fifteen minutes of play in the 2nd half.
Revenge is a dish best served……
Tonight, the Crunch and RCFC battle again at home. Cleveland still owns the season edge over City, 2-1, but if the Crunch lose by six goals or more, RCFC will grab the season series and the control over the Eastern Division.
Fans, get out to Soccer SportsPlex. The Crunch are 15-0 at home. So home cooking might just be what the club needs to put Rapid City in their soccer rearview mirror.
Hyped up!
The videos the club puts out with a camera on selected players is really fun and interesting to watch. Here, captain Dave Jordan is in the midst of full wall to wall scrimmages. Pretty fun to watch and listen!
Dave’s path to the Crunch took him from 3rd Team all state as a senior with the Mentor Cardinals to Lakeland Community College. His indoor career started with the Ohio Vortex of the PASL in 2010. He played for two seasons there. The next season he moved to the Cleveland Freeze. A short stint with the old AFC Cleveland (now Cleveland SC), brought him now with the Crunch.
MLIS Leaders
Here are your offensive leaders for MLIS. Notice who is having an amazing year? Cleveland’s Admir Suljevic! Way to go!
Other big games this weekend in MLIS
Cleveland/RCFC isn’t the only big weekend series. Springfield Demize and Houston Bolt battle for the Southern Division tonight. Springfield has the 2-1 advantage but their goal differential is 23-20. But both sides have to watch for the Wichita Selection who are tied in losses with both clubs.
Winner there takes control of the South.
Cleveland will be off until March 11th with a game in Cincinnati. But they end the regular season March 18th and 19th at home! A lot of soccer is still left to be played! Get at it, gentlemen!
Stay well, soccer on, and see you soon!
I personally like the idea of turning Burke Lakefront Airport into a soccer haven with apartments and the indoor/outdoor stadium. What do you all think?
Missed last week’s Crunch Bites? No worries. Here you go!
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