AMBUSH DEFEAT ORLANDO 8-7

Kissimmee, FL (January 24, 2020) – The St. Louis Ambush started off their two-game Florida road trip with a victory when they defeated the Orlando SeaWolves 8-7 Friday night at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. The win improved the Ambush to 6-6 on the season, while Orlando dropped to 1-9.

The first quarter produced two goals from each team. Mario Marcos started the scoring for the Ambush at 2:52. Rapha Tobias answered for the SeaWolves at 4:17. The Ambush regained the lead four minutes later on a goal by Duduca and Daniel Jackson finished the scoring for Orlando at 10:21.

The SeaWolves took the lead just over four minutes into the second quarter when Jeff Michaud was left wide open and fired a long rocket out of the reach of Ambush goalkeeper Jason Norsic. Lucas Almeida scored the equalizer for the Ambush when stationed himself near the near the goal post and was able to tap in a pass from Felipe at 8:19. Orlando took a 4-3 lead when Luiz Mota beat Norsic with a high shot at 12:34. The SeaWolves increased their advantage to two at 13:13 when a shot by Rodolfo Lopez rolled across the goal mouth toward Eduardo Cruz and Ambush defender Jonatan Santos, stationed in front of the goal, inadvertently tripped Norsic, giving Cruz an easy shot into the open net. The home team took a 5-3 lead into the halftime break.

The Ambush got off to a quick start in the second half when Axel Duarte placed a shot out of reach of Orlando goalkeeper Fernando Cortes at just under two minutes into the third quarter.  St. Louis knotted the score (5-5) when Duduca nailed his second of the contest at 5:03. Mota scored his second of the match just over two minutes later to give Orlando a 6-5 advantage and those numbers held through the end of the third frame.

The most notable change for the Ambush in the fourth quarter was that regular goalkeeper Paulo took over duties in goal at the start of the period. The Ambush tied the game 6-6 on Anthony Grant’s goal at 2:05. The Ambush took the lead for the first time since the first quarter when JT Thomas scored off a pass from Tony Walls at 4:29. Thomas did it again, this time when Cortes deflected a shot by Duduca and Thomas was able to tap in the loose ball to make the score 8-6 Ambush. Orlando wasn’t done yet as Michaud got his second of the night at 10:11 to make the score 8-7. In the last minute of the game, Odaine Sinclair earned a red card when he bulldozed  Paulo, giving the Ambush a power play for the remainder of the match. Neither team scored in the time remaining and the visiting Ambush came away with an 8-7 win.

Friday’s triumph continues a trend for the Ambush, who have won each of their six victories by a single goal.

The Ambush now head to Lakeland, Florida to battle the Florida Tropics tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. CST. Saturday’s duel and all Ambush games are available via webcast at masl.tv.