(Press Release)
The St. Louis Ambush returned home to the friendly confines of the Family Arena Sunday afternoon (December 29) and handed the first-place Syracuse Silver Knights (6-2) their second loss of the season. St. Louis pulled out a 14-12 overtime win before 6,209 screaming fans, improving their record to 3-5.
Syracuse defender Nate Bourdeau struck first, putting the Silver Knights on the board just 23 seconds into the first quarter. The rest of the period, however, would be all Ambush, with goals from Corey Adamson and Kyle Hopson and two from Matt Kimball to put St. Louis on top 8-2 at the end of the opening stanza.
The second quarter saw neither team score until the final minute, when Syracuse forward Machel Milwood found the back of the net at 14:59 to close the gap to 8-4.
The Silver Knights owned the third quarter, with goals from midfielder Kenardo Forbes, midfielder Antonio Manfut, and another from Millwood to take a 10-8 lead into the final quarter of regulation play.
Ambush midfielder Brian Groark struck first in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Forbes answered for the Silver Knights less than a minute later to put Syracuse back on top 12-10. It appeared the visitors were on their way to a victory with less than a minute remaining when Ambush midfielder Michael Roach tied things up at 14:16.
An intense overtime period saw possession go back and forth until Ambush forward Odaine Sinclair sent a pass to forward Corey Adamson, who was in perfect position to send the ball to the back of the net for the game winner.
Next up for the Ambush, presented by Simmons First National Bank, are back-to-back home games next weekend. On Friday, January 3, the Rochester Lancers pay their first and only visit to the Family Arena at 7:35 p.m. The next afternoon, Saturday, January 4, the Milwaukee Wave invade the Family Arena for a 1:35 p.m. matinee contest.
