Story by: Will Ogburn
ORLANDO - It was a beautiful night at the Seminole Soccer Complex as Orlando City hosted The Ocala Stampede. Though the venue was smaller than usual, it felt every bit as electric. The Iron Lion Firm was out in force, bellowing their chants and covering the pitch in smoke from their flares. It was a fitting start to a game that would bring some fireworks of its own.
The big story of the week is Orlando City’s new logo. While some have taken to the internet to express their dislike of the gold lion emblazoned on a purple crest, fans at the game told a different story. A fan named Chase said that he likes the European feel and the simplicity. Mimi, a graphic designer, says that she likes the sunrise as the mane is very symbolic but she would have kept some of the red color scheme. Local fan Brian also liked the symbolism, saying that the twenty one rays of sun for the twenty first MLS club was fitting. Like it or not, the new logo could be found on everything from beanies to footwear across the stadium.
Orlando started off strong as Aydin Quinn was narrowly denied with an attempt in the fifth minute of play. He would continue to play a big part of the Lions early charge, assisting on the first goal of the night scored by Corey Hertzog at 13’. With the score at one-nil, again Quinn saw his time to strike, but missed high shortly thereafter. Ocala got their first bit of luck with a penalty kick try at the 21’ mark, but Orlando keeper Wahsinsky stonewalled it with a beautiful save. The action picked back up in the twenty eighth minute when Dennis Chin banged another one home for the boys in purple. When Wahsinsky was needed, he answered the bell with a one-handed save at 37' to keep Ocala scoreless. To cap off the fast-paced half, Hertzog nailed another off the tip of his boot to give the Lions a three-nil lead at 44’ which they carried to the break.
During the second period, Orlando seemed content to slow the tempo and make Ocala press. Ocala responded by mounting a rousing offense that kept coming, eventually leading to Ben Knight scoring the Stampede's first goal at 61’. Both defenses seemed to tighten up in the latter half with several clutch saves by Orlando at 56’ and 78’, and Ocala at 69’. The only goal allowed this half by the Stampede came when Kevin Molino assisted Dennis Chin on his second goal of the night. This capped off all scoring at four-one in a game that Orlando took control of early and held fast late. This week, the Lions will travel to Arizona to face Arizona United FC before returning home on May 21st to take on the Charlotte Eagles at the WWS Complex.
The big story of the week is Orlando City’s new logo. While some have taken to the internet to express their dislike of the gold lion emblazoned on a purple crest, fans at the game told a different story. A fan named Chase said that he likes the European feel and the simplicity. Mimi, a graphic designer, says that she likes the sunrise as the mane is very symbolic but she would have kept some of the red color scheme. Local fan Brian also liked the symbolism, saying that the twenty one rays of sun for the twenty first MLS club was fitting. Like it or not, the new logo could be found on everything from beanies to footwear across the stadium.
Orlando started off strong as Aydin Quinn was narrowly denied with an attempt in the fifth minute of play. He would continue to play a big part of the Lions early charge, assisting on the first goal of the night scored by Corey Hertzog at 13’. With the score at one-nil, again Quinn saw his time to strike, but missed high shortly thereafter. Ocala got their first bit of luck with a penalty kick try at the 21’ mark, but Orlando keeper Wahsinsky stonewalled it with a beautiful save. The action picked back up in the twenty eighth minute when Dennis Chin banged another one home for the boys in purple. When Wahsinsky was needed, he answered the bell with a one-handed save at 37' to keep Ocala scoreless. To cap off the fast-paced half, Hertzog nailed another off the tip of his boot to give the Lions a three-nil lead at 44’ which they carried to the break.
During the second period, Orlando seemed content to slow the tempo and make Ocala press. Ocala responded by mounting a rousing offense that kept coming, eventually leading to Ben Knight scoring the Stampede's first goal at 61’. Both defenses seemed to tighten up in the latter half with several clutch saves by Orlando at 56’ and 78’, and Ocala at 69’. The only goal allowed this half by the Stampede came when Kevin Molino assisted Dennis Chin on his second goal of the night. This capped off all scoring at four-one in a game that Orlando took control of early and held fast late. This week, the Lions will travel to Arizona to face Arizona United FC before returning home on May 21st to take on the Charlotte Eagles at the WWS Complex.