Cedar Rapids Rampage close out home soccer schedule Saturday against St. Louis Ambush

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Cedar Rapids Rampage close out the home portion of their debut schedule Saturday, anxious to continue the process of building a following in the city.

'The fans have been tremendous,” Rampage general manager and co-owner Chris Kokalis said. 'I think there's definitely a buzz about this team. I've never heard someone complain about their experience at the games. Everyone has a great time and it's a product that people become hooked on.”

Cedar Rapids ranks eighth out of 20 Major Arena Soccer League teams with an average attendance of 2,775 fans for its nine regular-season games and one preseason tilt. Baltimore, Sonora (Mexico) and St. Louis lead the league at over 5,000 fans per game, while Missouri and Milwaukee – each boasting decades-long histories in the sport – are the only other MASL franchises to break the 3,000-fan average.

'It's been good,” Kokalis said. 'Obviously, you always want to have larger crowds. … There are a lot of people who have not seen a game yet. We need to continue to build upon getting those people out. … Once people see the product and see the team play, I think they'll be hooked.”

The on-field product has significantly improved. The team took its share of lumps as it lost seven straight games to begin the season, but is 3-5 in the last eight games with just one loss by more than two scores. Cedar Rapids brings a 3-12 record into Saturday's Central Division game with the St. Louis Ambush (2-13), which begins at 7:05 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center. From there, the schedule closes with four road games.

'These last five games for me is going to tell a lot,” Kokalis said. 'We are looking to build a championship-style team here in Cedar Rapids. I think we've got a lot of talent in place. This is a good time to see where this team really is at.”

Saturday is the first game for Rampage forward Gordy Gurson (11 goals in four games) against St. Louis, which traded him to Cedar Rapids on Jan. 13.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com