NEWS RELEASE
May 13, 2006

TWO SECOND HALF STRIKES EARN ROOKS DRAW WITH KNIGHTS
Rooks Tie Knights 2- 2 

After a lackluster first period, the Chico Rooks came out firing on all cylinders in the second half of their match up with the Sacramento Knights to salvage a 2 – 2 draw.  Defender Anthony Putrus buried the equalizer in the 87^th minute of play.

The Knights had the run of play through most of the first half mustering 9 shots on goal to 4 for Chico.  In the 16^th minute Matt Sammaca drove a corner kick into the box that Elliot Chambers head in just inside the far post to make it 1 – 0.  One minute before intermission Marco Ramirez collected an errant cross on the right side that the Rooks failed to clear slotted a soft shot that trickled over the goal line to make it 2 – 0.

A different team took the fielding the second half as the Rooks turned the tables on Sacramento.  Five minutes into the second period Calum Robertson halved the Knights lead as he soared to head in a corner kick by Donnie Ribaudo from 10 yards out to make it 2 – 1.

Throughout the remainder of the match the Rooks created numerous chances to equalize, out shooting the Knights 13 to 8.  The Knights keeper, Mark Torgson, made a nice save on a 1 on 1 attempt by Kieth Ratzburg.  Ratzburg, Nick Hooper Brett Williams all banged shots off the crossbar.  Nick Clark, the Rooks keeper, kept Sacramento off the scoreboard in the second half making an acrobatic save on the an Anthony Chimenti free kick.

In the 87^th minute of play Todd Simmons chipped a pass Putrus at the top of the box on the right side.  Putrus chest trapped the serve and volleyed a 16yardblast past Torgson to make it 2 – 2. 

In the National Premier Soccer Leagues Northern Conference of the Western Division, the Rooks currently stand at 3 – 1 – 3 (12 points) while the Knights are 5 – 1 – 2 (17 points).

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