Runners score season high 14, fall just short in offensive shootout

The New Mexico Runners came up just four goals short of a victory in the second game of their home and home series with the Amarillo Bombers, falling 14-18 in an offensive showcase. Having played each other just 23 hours ago, both teams took to the field with anticipation of a fierce rematch. Sunday's gamescript could not have been more different that Saturday's contest as neither team led by more than three goals until midway through the fourth quarter. Amarillo broke net first but the Runners answered immediately as Jaxn Rodgers got a shot off with ample velocity to clear the keepers grasp. Rodgers, who saw action as a sixth attacker in both contests would go on to score two goals with the second off a hip shot from Sergio Fuentes late in the fourth. Among the double digit scorers was Midfielder Sergio Fuentes who scored a pair of goals midway through the second quarter including a shorthanded power play goal to even the score at six goals with 9:56 left in the half.

The second half saw the Runners climb within one score of the Bombers on four separate occasions. Half a minute into the second half Defender Skylor Rose picked up his first career goal making the score 7-8. Rose followed up his first career score with a second ten minutes later off a perfect ball from Forward/Midfielder Froilan Ramirez. Subsequently, Forward Miguel Garcia got New Mexico their ninth goal of the evening bringing the Runners as close to the lead as they had been since 3:46 in the first period. The Runners found themselves in a one goal deficit once more as Midfielder Melchor Quezada picked up his first career goal off a long distance shot that caught the lower left corner of the goal. When the clock hit zero, eight different Runners players had scored, combining for fourteen points, more than double their score against the Bombers less than a day ago.

The Runners will be back in action at the Rio Rancho Event Center on January 8 at 5:05 PM MST. Tickets are available at newmexicorunners.com or the ticket office at the Event Center. The game will also be live streamed on the New Mexico Runners official Facebook page.