Ups and Downs for PASL's Ohio Vortex

Jan. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- VORTEX FALL TO LIGHTNING AT MOCKINGBIRD

LOUISVILLE, KY – January 8, 2010 –Local product Michael Furlong and a young Ohio Vortex squad fell to the Louisville Lightning by an 18-4 margin.

The Vortex sent mostly developmental players on this road trip as it was only an exhibition match for Ohio.  It would count for Louisville, who improved to 5-2 on the year.


Richard Ott, Stefan Ostegren, Rob Young, and Georgi Petrov all scored goals for the Vortex, while keeper John Brubach was bombarded with 44 shots from the Louisville attack. Louisville’s Safet Kovacevic proved to be too much for the Vortex defense as he scored 5 goals and 2 assists.  


A full-strength Vortex squad will face the St. Louis Illusion, owned by former Canton Invader Jamie Swanner, on Saturday night at 7 pm. The match will be the first of three final home games at the Canton Civic Center.      

VORTEX GET FIRST WIN IN CANTON

CANTON, OH – January 3, 2010 - The Ohio Vortex were able to rebound from Saturday’s loss to defeat the Winnipeg Alliance 13-8.

Three goals from both Dado Grozdanic and Adis Kuduzovic helped pace the Vortex attack, while Nate Rausch’s 21 saves led the Ohio defense. The first half was quite competitive, but the home team was able to pull away from Winnipeg (0-2) in the third quarter.  

The Vortex (2-4) hope to continue their push up the table when they travel to Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, January 8th.  They will return to the Civic Center the following day to face the St. Louis Illusion, owned by former Canton Invader Jamie Swanner.  

VORTEX FALL TO LIGHTNING IN CANTON OPENER

CANTON, OH - January 2, 2010 - There's just something about going to a soccer game at the Civic Center. There was a real sense of nostalgia among the crowd and the players Saturday, but this didn't translate into a victory as the Ohio Vortex fell to the Louisville Lightning 11-9.

It was an entertaining match with many highs and lows and dozens of close calls from both squads. It all started with a rush of offense from the Ohio Vortex (1-4). Three Ohio goals came within the first twelve minutes before Safet Kovacevic put the Lightning (3-2) on the board before the end of the first quarter.

The 3-1 lead for the Vortex would quickly melt away in the second quarter. Louisville was able to produce four goals against just one from Ohio. This lone Vortex goal would come from midfielder Steve Gillespie, who finished the match with a team-leading two assists.

Unfortunately for the home team, momentum continued to fall in the Lightning's favor. Four more goals from Louisville made things difficult for the Vortex. A single goal from Ohio's Adam Campellone, his second of the night, was the only offense they could muster in the third quarter. The 9-5 lead for the Lightning proved to be quite the roadblock for the Vortex heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth was like a roller coaster with the Lightning adding another quick goal early in the quarter. Midfielder Allen Eller put the Vortex back in it at 10-6. David Horne, the Lightning's "Renaissance Man" would respond with a goal of his own moments later. Horne is not only a solid player, but also the club's general manager and an assistant coach. Consecutive goals from Ohio's formidable striker Dado Grozdanic cut into the Louisville lead. Fellow forward Adis Kuduzovic would score the final goal of the match to bring the Vortex just short of victory. Ohio's 11-9 defeat at the hands of Louisville was not what fans had hoped for, but the product on and off the field was impressive nonetheless.

Both clubs could find the positives on this occasion. Campellone, Eller, and Grozdanic each contributed two goals to the Vortex attack. Gillespie, who recently recovered from a case of turf toe, continued to impress and is developing into one of the league's young stars.

New signing John Michael Hayden, formerly of the MLS Houston Dynamo and USL Cleveland City Stars, would join three other Lightning players in scoring two goals. This was Hayden's first game in a Lightning uniform; he officially joined the club on New Year's Day. His signing represents the biggest event in the team's young history.

The small but vibrant crowd of 600 fans clearly enjoyed the game and will be looking for more as the Vortex play the Winnipeg Alliance in less than 24 hours. According to veteran defender Wes Sechrist, motivation won't be a factor against the visiting Canadian squad. "Losing is going to be the best motivation. That taste in your mouth is not good and I think everyone is going to come out with a little bit of extra effort."

Local product Michael Furlong agreed, "I wouldn't want to be Winnipeg coming in. I think our people will be hungry tomorrow."

Winnipeg will be the next opponent for the Vortex before they head to Louisville for a rematch against the Lightning on January 8th.

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