Risers late rally short circuts BC Swerve in M2 season opner in Cincinnati

TAMPA, Fla. – The Muskegon Risers rallied from a four-goal deficit, and scored the final four goals of the game, iin opening the Major Arena Soccer League 2 season with a 9-7 win Saturday against the BC Swerve.

The Swerve raced to a 6-2 lead thanks in large part to the play of forward Andrej Novakovic who completed his first-half hat trick midway through the second quarter. But Muskegon put on a furious rally, scoring seven of the game’s final eight goals. 

Muskegon tied the game on back to back goals from Ryan Zietlow early in the fourth – his scores came just 27 seconds apart – and got the game winner off the foot of Aldony Mendez with just under seven minutes to go.

Zietlow also added an assist four a four-point night, while Mendez had two assists for a three-point game. Muskegon’s James Dutcher also had a goal and an assist. For the Cincinnati based Swerve, Kalu Abass had two goals and an assist. 

It was the first game of the 2021-22 M2 season, giving the Risers an early jump in the Great Lakes Division standings. Seven more M2 teams will make their debut next weekend. 

Next up for Muskegon is  a road trip on Saturday, Dec. 18 when they meet the Chicago Mustangs in their home opener. The BC Swerve will have plenty of time to regroup as they don’t hit the field again until an away game January 15 in Chicago.