What does this fold mean for the Syracuse Silver Knights? What does this fold mean for the MASL? For the Knights, this hurts. The Lancers were the club's main rival. For the past few years, I personally think it was the biggest sports rivalry concerning the two cities. Now, Syracuse is left without a huge rival. Baltimore, in my opinion, is the next team in line when it comes to a main rival for the Knights. Though the Blast are a great organization that offer a great level of soccer competition, it won't have the same pageantry and competitiveness as the Knights/Lancers rivalry had. Come on, nothing beats a Syracuse/Rochester rivalry, at least in soccer. For the MASL, this is a damaging blow. The East Division is now left with four teams; Syracuse, Harrisburg, Detroit, and Baltimore. It lacks a fifth team to make a complete and optimal division. Not long ago, the MASL was celebrating expansion with the addition of a Cedar Rapids squad. Now, the league has to figure out how to deal with the loss of a top franchise. This could mean having to find a new city to host a team to division realignments. Hopefully, they will find something to make a strong mend to this bad situation.
I close this article by sending my apologies to the Lancers and the city of Rochester. You remain a great soccer city and had a great run with the Lancers. The best Silver Knights games always involved the Lancers, including this past season when the teams met in the playoffs. I will miss you as a rival to one of my favorite teams and I don't think I'm alone saying that. I do hold out some hope that someone will come in and somehow keep the Lancers from going under. But if that does not happen, then I say a sorrow goodbye.
Thanks/Credits:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/07/06/insurance-premiums-lead-rochester-lancers-fold/29793869/
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/soccer/2014/08/05/miller-takes-first-steps-save-lancers/13645135/
http://paslsoccer.com/