Reading Rage News Release - www.bsarage.com

Sunday, July 27, 2008

READING, PA -- The Reading Rage ended a six-year playoff drought with their trip to the postseason this year. Sunday night, they doubled their franchise playoff win total with a 1-0 decision over the defending Eastern Conference champion Brooklyn Knights.

Tyrell Burgess, Adam Gazda, and Jimmy Taranto of the Rage form quite a triumverate for the Reading team, and with Tyrell Burgess having a multipoint weekend in the Eastern Conference Finals, it would be fair to say he formed the leading edge of the Rage’s Bermuda Triangle.

The Bermuda international deposited a 40th minute penalty kick game-winner, which vaulted the Rage into their first ever Eastern Conference Championship, and chance to compete in the PDL Semifinals against the Laredo Heat, Saturday August 2.

While the PDL Eastern All-Conference Team only had three total players from Brooklyn and Reading, both teams made the case that there likely should have been a few more. As they did all season, the Rage defense held solid and frustrated the Brooklyn attack, allowing mostly long range shots that were easily handled by Rage goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo, who helped the Rage post their eighth shutout of the 2008 campaign.

Brooklyn dominated the first 20 minutes of play, and showed their playoff experience in front of the 500-plus fans who braved the horrendous weather that plagued southeastern Pennsylvania earlier in the day. In the middle part of the first half, the Rage discovered their composure and started to build a multitude of attacks into the Brooklyn defensive third. Game MVP Tyrell Burgess used his lightening pace to stretch and frustrate the Brooklyn defense. However, several of Burgess’ crosses from the flank couldn’t find a Rage finisher at the end.

In the 40th minute Rage Fan Player of the Year Adam Gazda showed why he was an All-Conference selection as he used several tricky bits of footwork to force the Brooklyn defense into an obvious foul resulting in a deserved penalty kick for Reading. Burgess slotted the ensuing penalty kick which sent the hometown fans into a frenzy.

While the Rage fans became more vocal, frustrating the Brooklyn staff, the Brooklyn players also became more vocal, but not in a positive way. Brooklyn’s Jeff Matteo started the first of five Brooklyn cautions, in the 40th minute. The Rage fans did not let up, creating an electric atmosphere and truly giving the Rage the proverbial 12th man advantage.

Right at the halftime whistle, the clouds let loose, dumping a torrential rain that ironically lasted only for the 15 minute intermission. While the air cooled slightly due to the rain, there was no cooling the intensity on the pitch.

In the second half, both teams traded quality chances, with both keepers making great saves, the first by Brooklyn keeper Chris Antonino on a Tyrell Burgess breakaway, later with Rage keeper Jeremy Vuolo being forced into two magnificent point blank saves that kept the scoresheet clean.

With nearly 20 minutes remaining the Rage defense held and did not allow any further quality chances by the Brooklyn offense. As the final seconds ticked away, and the official whistle blew, it was pandemonium throughout the stadium as the Rage players and fans realized that they were the 2008 Eastern Conference Champions.

With the win, the Rage qualify for the PDL Semifinals, where the Rage will face defending PDL champions Laredo Heat on August 2.