UCFC BATTLES TO END IN A 6-4 WIN VS. BLAST

Towson, MD - Utica City FC traveled to Baltimore for a big Eastern Conference meeting with the Blast. UCFC jumped out to a 2-1 lead early, and sealed a 6-4 win with an outstanding defensive effort in the closing minutes. They return home Sunday at 3pm for another key conference matchup with Harrisburg.

Just two minutes in, Nilton De Andrade got the scoring started. UCFC peppered the Baltimore cage with shots, and De Andrade got the first one through. Just two minutes later, Baltimore’s Juan Pereira knocked one past Andrew Coughlin to tie the game. Issak Somow would answer for Utica City with a bullet shot off a feed from Bo Jelovac. UCFC led 2-1.Stefan Mijatovic followed up with a goal from the top of the box that gave Utica City a two goal lead.

Taylor Bond would score the only goal of the 2^nd quarter. He received a pass from De Andrade who was darting down the right wing. It was a one touch Bond and UCFC carried a 4-1 lead into halftime.

Baltimore got the first tally of the 2^nd half. With 6:47 left, Pereira found the ball at midfield line, sprinted to the top of the box and beat Coughlin to his right. Utica City answered when Coughlin rolled a pass the length of the field to Gordy Gurson. Gurson fought through a defender to score and make it 5-2. That would be the score entering the 4^th.

With 9:40 to go, Tony Donatelli set up at the top of box and rifled it into the cage to cut the lead to two. Just over a minute later, the lead was reduced to one. Patrick Thompson got his first of the night for Baltimore, and everything got a bit more tense.

Coughlin made a few big saves in the final five minutes. Taylor Bond found the back of the net while Baltimore had a 6^th attacker out, and UCFC sealed the 6-4 win.

UCFC returns home tomorrow at 3pm against the Harrisburg Heat. Tickets are still available at ucfctickets.com