The Lakers squared off against the Lions from Dallas College Mountain View and came away with a 2-1 victory in esports action on Monday night. The Lakers Ackema Royes continued his solid play for the Lakers to earn the victory.
Game 1
Lakeland selected Paris Saint-Germain while the Lions chose Bayern Munich. DC Mountain View received the opening kick. Both teams played a possession-based approach with neither team being able to break into the final third. Midway through the first half, the two teams scored a flurry of goals. Four goals were scored in 5 minutes and the teams were knotted at 2. In the final minutes of the half, both teams would score on their final possession, sending the game to halftime tied 3-3.
Lakeland would open the second half with a goal on their opening possession. The two teams would continue to have even possession as they competed to control the midfield. In the 75th minute, the Lakers would break down the defense to score a fifth goal. As the game entered the 90th minute, Lakeland would secure a crucial defensive takeaway leading to a fast break to score the final goal of the match. Lakeland won 6-3.
Game 2
Lakeland selected Paris Saint-Germain while the Lions chose Bayern Munich. Lakeland would open game two and controlled most possessions. The Lakers would go on to have three consecutive shots on goal, which DC Mountain View would block. The Lions would get their first possession in the 16th minute and capitalize with the opening goal of the game. Lakeland would tie the game on their next possession with great dribbling and passing by Messi to set up Neymar for the goal. Lakeland would finish the first half with 60% possession and a score of 1-1.
The Lakers opened the scoring in the second half by picking up a rebound from a blocked shot and tucking it away in the 60th minute to take a 2-1 lead. Both teams pressed in the 75th minute with DC Mountain View trying to equalize and Lakeland playing a low back line to cut passing lanes to prevent scoring opportunities. DC Mountain View would make substitutes in the 80th minute. This would prove crucial as the Lions would score the tying goal in the 90th minute to end the game in a draw.
Game 3
The team selection remain unchanged as Lakeland selected Paris Saint-Germain while the Lions chose Bayern Munich again. The Lions struck first on a breakaway attack. the Lakeland netminder came off the line and made the initials save, but Mountain View was able to gather the rebound and score for a 1-0 lead. Lakeland would tie it up in the 25th minute when the Lakers would find open space outside the box and score a goalazo on a beautiful shot! The back and forth continues with the Lions regaining the advantage after a counterattack down the left side led to a goal. DC Mountain View took a 2-1 lead into halftime.
The second half would be a defensive battle for control of the midfield. The Lions broke through in the 70th minute to extend their lead 3-1. Lakeland would get a goal back in the 85th minute and then make the final substitutions. Lakeland would get one more chance on goal, but the Lions keeper made the save as time expired. DC Mountain View wins game three, 3-2.
Game 4
Lakeland's Ackema Royes changes it up and selects Manchester United while the Lions stay with Bayern Munich. The Lakers started the game with a quick goal as they took a wide approach and crossed the ball in front of the net for the score. DC Mountain View responded with three quick goals to take a 3-1 lead. Lakeland would respond by scoring in the 30th minute before tying it up with a goal in the 40th minute. Both teams would go on to score an additional goal before the break sending the teams to halftime knotted at 4.
The Lakers would take control of the match early in the second half as they worked a give and go down the left side of the pitch that resulted in a goal and a 5-4 Laker lead. Lakeland would extend the lead with another goal in the 55th on a penalty kick. The Lakers final goal was scored when the Lions took a corner kick. On the play, the shot was saved and the Lakers executed a quick counter attack and scored to put the game away. Lakeland wins the game 7-5 and the series 2-1.
Next Up: The Lakers will square off against Union College next Monday (2/27) night at 8:00 pm. Watch the action at twitch.tv/Lakeland_esports