Muskegon seeks to guarantee playoff spot; Wings close season with key western swing

TAMPA, Fla – The Muskegon Risers can earn a guaranteed spot in Major Arena Soccer League 2 post-season this weekend, but will have to beat the only undefeated team in the league to do so.

The Risers are 5-5 and will host the defending league champion Cleveland Crunch in a 7 p.m. start at Mercy Health Arena in Muskegon. Cleveland is 9-0, and has a goal differential of plus 49 on the season. Should the Risers pull off the upset, it would mean the two teams would meet in the first-round of the M2 playoffs at a date to be determined in Cleveland. 

Cleveland is 3-0 against the Risers this season, but Muskegon has put up a fight losing only 11-9 on Feb. 12 and 8-5 on January 7. The Crunch are led by Mike Derezic with 22 goals and six assists while Miguel Flores continues to shine for Muskegon with 21 goals and seven assists.

The Wichita Wings will be on the road for two games out west as they try to secure the top spot in the Midwest Division. The Wings will be one of two teams to actually close out their regular season with games at Ontario Saturday (4:45 PST)  https// youtu.be/R6b3tlscKac and San Diego on Sunday. Wichita is 7-3, a game ahead of the 5-2 Omaha Kings who remain idle until later in the month.

The Wings are led by Kevin Ten Eyck who has 13 goals and 13 assists. Mo Gueye with nine goals and four assists leads the Fury attack while Ismael Rojo also has nine goals and three assists to pace the Sockers attack. Kickoff in San Diego Sunday is 12:30 PST.

Two games in Chicago as the BC Swerve visit will round out the weekend slate. Game time Saturday is at 7 p.m. CST and Sunday’s kickoff will be at 3 p.m. CST. The two teams have split two prior meetings. Angel Rodriguez leads the Chicago offense with six goals and 10 assists.