Unflappable rookie Brett Petricek a shot stopper for red-hot Cedar Rapids Rampage

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Rampage forward-coach Hewerton Moreira still believes his goalkeeper is lying to him.

Through seven games, no Major Arena Soccer League stopper has secured more wins than Rampage rookie Brett Petricek (five).

While Moreira may jest about Petricek's alleged indoor soccer inexperience, there is no denying that the 25-year-old native of Woodridge, Ill., displays a calmness and comfort level much more indicative of a wily league veteran.

'It's a rapid game,” said Petricek, who will try to help Cedar Rapids win its fifth game in a row Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Kansas City Comets (3-2) at the U.S. Cellular Center. 'Quick-thinking, quick decision-making. Kind of funny bounces coming off the walls. It's fun to play and it's lots of action. … I'm more involved in the game, both with my feet and with my hands. I love the action. I love to influence the game a little bit more than I usually do.”

With a win Saturday, Cedar Rapids (5-2) can eclipse its win total from last year's 5-15 expansion season. All four wins during the current streak were in comeback fashion. In a league where momentum can quickly snowball into a flurry of goals, Petricek has deftly rebounded from early deficits and locked down the goal as teammates shifted the scoreboard.

'They've been a huge help, especially the experienced defenders,” Petricek said. 'Their patience and coolness and calmness on the ball really, really makes it a lot easier to know that I can trust them to play the proper pass if I lay it off to them. And them sacrificing their bodies. I can't even count how many blocks we've had as a team.”

Three weeks ago against Milwaukee, the Rampage trailed 4-2 until Petricek held the Wave scoreless over the final 29:47 of regulation plus five minutes of overtime in a 5-4 victory.

Eight days later, Petricek shut out the Wave in the second and third quarters as the Rampage responded to a 2-0 hole with six unanswered goals.

In the first of two East Coast road games last weekend, Petricek held Syracuse scoreless in the fourth quarter as Cedar Rapids rallied from a 5-4 deficit to win, 6-5. The next night at Harrisburg, the host Heat scored two early goals, then were unable to pierce Petricek for the final 41:43 of regulation plus 26 seconds of overtime as Cedar Rapids again rallied to win in overtime, 3-2.

'No matter how bad the goal was … he's always remained calm and he tries to give information in a positive way,” Moreira said. 'He doesn't just destroy a defender's confidence because he knows he will need him.”

After helping Niagara (N.Y.) University win its first conference title in 2012, Petricek returned to the Chicago area and bounced around a few outdoor leagues in addition to coaching youth goalkeepers. After repeated urging from Rampage forward and fellow Illinois native Gordy Gurson, Petricek attended a Rampage tryout and was able to quickly translate his skills to the indoor game.

'I love to play with my feet,” Petricek said. 'I like to think that I am pretty technical with my feet. That aspect hugely translates to the indoor game, considering that I touch the ball probably more than any other player on the field during the game. Being comfortable on the ball made the transition a lot easier for sure.”

In addition to a fifth-straight win, the club hopes Saturday's game provides some financial assistance to the families of the decimated Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense following the Nov. 28 airplane crash in Colombia that claimed the lives of 71 of 77 persons onboard.

Earlier this week, the Rampage announced that a portion of the proceeds from VIP tickets for Saturday's game will be donated to the families.

Moreira, assistant coach Chico Parisotto and defenders Pablo Da Silva and Jonatan Santos all hail from Brazil.

'It was their main role models,” Moreira said. 'They were a bunch of warriors, not only because they were a good soccer team, but they came from the fourth division. From 2009 to 2016, they went all the way from the fourth division to being in the final against an American club. It devastated the whole system there. … Anything that we can do to help, it's going to be very welcomed by the families. … We are genuinely trying to help out.”

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com