Edgewater Castle FC Rallies to 3-2 Victory Over Rochester FC

CHICAGO — Edgewater Castle FC took down Rochester FC Saturday, June 6, in a 3-2 comeback victory. Midfielder Jack McFeely led the way with two goals while forward Hans Haenicke scored one.

It was all Rochester for roughly the first 40 minutes. RFC's Kei Kinoshita got the visitors on the board first, jumping on a poor pass and sailing the first goal of the game over ECFC's goalkeeper Felix Davies' head.

Rochester wasn't done, however. With all players packed in the box, defender Kazuki Okazaki stood alone on the west sideline and lofted the ball over everyone's heads, finding the forehead of Luiz Felipe Souza Anchieta for the game's second goal and giving the visiting team a 2-0 lead in the 36th minute.

It didn't take long for the Rooks to strike back. After chasing down a long ball and getting some space, McFeely was awarded a penalty kick after getting tripped up by a Rochester defender, and stepped up and converted for Edgewater's first goal just three minutes after Anchieta's header.

McFeely wasn't done. With the half nearly over, Rooks' defender David Schalich crossed the ball across the Rochester box as the ball bounced its way to McFeely, who took one dribble before curling it into the bottom left corner of the net for his second in just six minutes.

McFeely said stepping up from the spot with the Rooks down two wasn't a moment for hesitation.

"The vibes were pretty low after getting scored on twice,” McFeely said. “But I knew if we got that first goal, we were bouncing back for sure. I just picked a spot and put it there."

The second half was much tamer outside of a number of yellow cards handed out by the officials to both teams. A total of seven cards were handed out Saturday, with Rochester FC leaving the game with four, including two handed out to substitutes along the sideline.

After getting subbed just 14 minutes prior, Haenicke put Edgewater over the top. Streaking away from the Rochester defense, the Illinois native found the back of the net late in the 74th minute to put the Rooks up one.

The teams battled for the remaining 16 minutes of the game, before the Edgewater defense — which shut out Rochester for the final 54 minutes of play — cleared the ball away at the end of stoppage time to end the match with a 3-2 Rooks win.

Head coach Duygu Erdoğan said the result carries weight beyond the standings.

"This game is more than three points,” Erdoğan said. “We're on the way."

The Rooks head west for their next matchup with River Light FC Wednesday, June 10, at Spartan Athletic Park in Aurora, Ill., at 7 p.m. Streaming is available on SportsEngine Play.