Thursday, December 29, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk SharX took the first victory in franchise history as Gerson Dos Santos’ 3-point goal in the final minute gave his side an 18-16 victory against the Rochester Lancers on Thursday night at Scope Arena. Dos Santos finished the game with six points on two goals and an assist, while Matt Delicate had a four-point night with a goal and assist. Doug Miller led the Lancers with four goals on the night, while Andrew Hoxie had a seven-point night with two goals and three assists.
“I think to win our first game it was always going to be a game that we had to grind out,” said SharX head coach Jon Hall. “The boys didn’t quit or give up and we are happy to get our first win. I really want to thank our fans at Scope tonight. They got behind us and really pushed us on to win. It’s the reason we came through.”
Norfolk had led 15-10 early in the fourth quarter when Marcus Schmidt’s 3-pointer gave the SharX their biggest lead of the game 28 seconds into the period, but their hopes of an opening victory appeared to have been dashed as the Lancers scored three consecutive goals, including Hoxie’s redirection of Brayton Knapp’s shot with 3:59 to play, to take a 16-15 lead.
The SharX pressed for a winner, and picked up a free kick about 55 feet from goal with 32.9 seconds to play. Dos Santos rifled a low shot goalwards, and it deflected off a Lancers’ defender trying to clear and past stranded Rochester goalkeeper Pat Hannigan into the left corner of the net. Rochester almost tied the game in the closing seconds, but Jeremy Ortiz’s goal came just after the final buzzer, sending the SharX players and fans into celebration.
Neither side had held more than a three-point lead throughout the first three quarters, with the Lancers opening the scoring after 13 seconds when Miller struck low from the right side. Norfolk hit back with the first of four 3-pointers on the night, Delicate converting a turnover from just outside the arc, but Rochester regained the lead before the end of the first quarter when Hoxie’s flicked header looped into the net.
Miller again scored again early in the second quarter to give his side a 6-3 lead, and from there the two teams exchanged goals. Recent signing Shaka Bangura scored his first goal for the SharX to make it 6-5 at the halftime break before goals by Miller and Norfolk’s Yomby William kept it a one-point game.
Norfolk regained the lead as Matt Clare fired home the SharX’s second 3-pointer of the night to make it 10-8 midway through the third quarter, and while Miller added his fourth for the Lancers to tie the game up Norfolk restored its lead in the final minute of the third period as Dos Santos’ free kick from the top of the penalty area deflected in off the defensive wall.
That was followed by Schmidt’s goal to open the fourth quarter and a 15-10 lead, and the concluding drama that saw the SharX grab victory after a strong rally by the Lancers.
The SharX next travel to face the Syracuse Silver Knights on New Year’s Eve at the Oncenter at 1 p.m. They will then move on to face the Lancers on January 2 at Blue Cross Arena, also at 1 p.m., as they try to build on their first win in the MISL.
The SharX return to Scope Arena on Thursday, January 12 when they will host Eastern Division rival the Baltimore Blast at 7 p.m. For more information about the Norfolk SharX, Norfolk’s newest professional sports team, including sponsorships, tickets, internships or to volunteer, please call 757-419-3317 or visit www.norfolksharx.com.