FC Buffalo felt the sting of controversy in last weekend’s 1-0 road loss to FC Sonic in Lehigh Valley, Penn.
They didn’t leave any room for a referee’s decision this time, earning a 2-0 win.
The Blitzers (2-1-2) handed the Sonic (4-0-1) their first loss of the season with book-end goals in the 16th and 80th minutes, but the real story was goalkeeper Dan Panaro, who made a remarkable 13 saves in a Northtowns Orthopedics’ Man of the Match performance.
Striking early with his second goal of the season was Akron’s own Andy Tiedt, who collected a Steve Procknal pass and slotted in neatly to give FC Buffalo a 1-0 lead that would last to the half thanks to timely net-minding by Panaro.
After Panaro again foiled the Sonic with a point-blank breakaway stop late in the second half, FCB midfielder Justin Roundy slipped a ball to Mike Unwin. The University at Buffalo forward dazzled the crowd with a couple dance steps and a 20-yard left-footed rip past Sonic keeper Sam Bishop, who spent three weeks with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union earlier this year.
The Blitzers can at least temporarily move into second place in the Northeast’s Keystone Conference by beating the Pocono Snow at 3 p.m. Sunday, another home contest at Robert E. Rich All-High Stadium. Free tickets are available by reserving donated slots from Mineo & Sapio, who is sponsoring a Father’s Day celebration. Click here to reserve. Goalkeeper Nick Fetterman will make his second start of the season in Sunday’s match.
Starters: Panaro, Westerholt, Johnson, Gradwell, Steinmetz, Wilson, Stevens, Grabowski, Tiedt, Procknal. Subs used: Zorn, Roundy, Unwin, Gaylord, Williams, Thoin. Unused: Fetterman.
