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HARRISBURG, Pa. – Talk about a comeback.
In the end, the St. Louis Ambush outlasted host Harrisburg Heat 5-4 in MASL action at Equine Arena at The Farm Show Complex.
Trailing 4-1 entering the final frame, the Ambush put on – well – an ambush with four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to help complete the dramatic comeback.
Robert Kristo cut the deficit down to 4-2 with a goal at the 8:26 mark, while Duduca Carvalho added a goal at 13:24 which trimmed it down to 4-3.
Carvalho added the game-tying tally just 17 seconds later off a pass from Julio Varela at 13:41, while Lucas Almeida netted the game-winner at 14:58 off a helper from Franck Tayou to give his side a late 5-4 advantage in the waning seconds.
Jeff Michaud scored the first Ambush goal in the first quarter to stake his team to a 1-0 advantage. Raphael Araujo and Michaud also had single assists in the game for St. Louis. Varela finished with two assists on the night.
The Harrisburg Heat put on a valiant effort against the Ambush, delivering a thrilling performance that showcased their offensive firepower and defensive resilience. Despite a tough 5-4 loss, the Heat demonstrated incredible energy and skill, particularly in the first half, where they dominated the scoreboard.
The Heat could not withstand the Ambush in the end.
Malcolm Harris got things rolling early in the first quarter with a game-tying goal, followed by standout contributions from Dominic Francis and Joey Tavernese, who helped the Heat secure a commanding 3-1 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw Bradley Kerstetter adding to the Heat’s momentum, giving Harrisburg a 4-1 edge heading into halftime. Hugo Silva, the Heat’s standout goalkeeper, played a critical role throughout the match, recording 18 saves and keeping the Ambush’s offense at bay for the majority of the game. His performance earned him the well-deserved second star of the match, highlighting his pivotal role in the Heat's defensive stand.
Although the Heat were unable to find the back of the net in the second half, they showed grit and determination as they battled to maintain their lead. Dominic Francis, who recorded a goal and an assist, was another key player for Harrisburg, earning the third star of the match for his contributions. The Ambush, however, staged a late-game surge, scoring four goals in the final quarter to narrowly edge out the Heat.
The Heat will look to avenge this narrow loss when they face the Ambush again on Feb. 1 in St. Louis.
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the National Soccer Network regarding club/youth soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with ties to a particular state or states, contact Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 32-year veteran of the Michigan and national media circles and recently joined the staff full time at PMG in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/NSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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