Information: WAVE SPLIT GAMES OUT WEST;  MILWAUKEE LOSE AT EMPIRE

ONTARIO, CA – The 7-Time Champion Milwaukee Wave break up a again to again weekend, dropping to the Empire Strykers on Monday evening. 

The Milwaukee Wave’s mid February schedule has been difficult and their 4 recreation successful streak got here to an in depth on Monday on the again half of their again to again western street journey. 

The begin of the sport was comparatively gradual for the Wave, the Stryker’s energetic offense and some defensive errors led to the Empire Strykers claiming a lead via the primary two quarters. Lucas Ramalho and Mounir Alami every scored alongside Justin Stinson’s two objectives to place the Milwaukee Wave behind 0-4. Despite some harmful probabilities, the Milwaukee Wave wouldn’t rating within the first half. 

“The killer was the fact that we didn’t score,” Head Coach Marcio Leite mentioned. The goalless first half is totally uncharacteristic of the Milwaukee Wave, whose again to again street video games and journey took a bodily toll.

Despite being up in opposition to the wall, the Milwaukee Wave made severe headway within the third quarter. Rookie goalkeeper Gerardo “Jerry” Perez struck first gold for the Wave, scoring a aim within the first three minutes of the half. In a reversal of roles which you’ll be able to solely discover in indoor soccer, Mario Alvarez made a one-on-one save along with his ft to guard the Wave from returning to a 4 aim deficit. The vitality had shifted Milwaukee’s favor for a while. 

“They battled all the way through. They battled for every play, they battled for every ball,” Leite mentioned. Max Ludwig scored the following aim for the Wave with Alex Sanchez offering the help. Less than a minute after, Max Ferdinand re directed Andre Hayne’s shot into the highest nook and the Milwaukee Wave solely trailed 3-4. Before the quarter got here to an in depth the Strykers scored two extra objectives and a difficult fourth quarter lay forward. 

Jerry Perez proved once more in his skill to impression the Milwaukee Wave’s offense, scoring his second aim of the competitors within the fourth quarter. After Alan Perez scored for the Strykers, Sanchez responded with a fierce prime nook strike of his personal. The Strykers scored as soon as extra earlier than the Wave mounted what seemed to be a late comeback from behind 5-8.

Sanchez and Ferdinand linked once more, when Sanchez beat his defender to search out the highest nook of Stryker’s aim. With lower than three minutes left to play, Oscar Flores scored and the deficit was only one aim. The recreation would finish 7-8.

“We knew it was going to be hard,” Leite mentioned. Following the three level weekend, the Milwaukee Wave retain their spot on the prime of the desk. They have one other again to again weekend on the horizon the place they’ll meet the Baltimore Blast and the St. Louis Ambush. 

The Milwaukee Wave will face the Baltimore Blast at SECU Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, February 21 at 5pm CST. 

The Wave will return residence on Sunday, February 22 at 3:05pm CST the place they’ll meet the St. Louis Ambush at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee Wisconsin.