Cedar Rapids Rampage anxious to capitalize on opening win

CEDAR RAPIDS - For the Cedar Rapids Rampage, there were probably better times for an off week.

The second-year Major Arena Soccer League team hasn't played a game since the Oct. 29 regular-season opener at Kansas City.

After that eye-opening 5-3 victory, the Rampage (1-0) will attempt to secure more momentum with back-to-back contests against the Chicago Mustangs, beginning Saturday in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

'Having one weekend off really made the guys anxious to play,” Cedar Rapids player/coach Hewerton Moreira said. 'But at the same time, it gave us time to prepare for Chicago.”

The club returns to the U.S. Cellular Center for an afternoon tilt with the Mustangs Sunday at 3:05 p.m.

With their home arena occupied for state volleyball, the Rampage players and coaches relocated to the Chicago area. Practice space was secured in Elgin, Ill., club sponsors assisted with meals and players with area families hosted the team.

'It was a good time for players and also it built team chemistry because we were together a lot this week,” Moreira said.

Rookie Brett Petricek is expected to start in goal for Cedar Rapids after an impressive debut in which the 6-foot-1, 175-pound native of Woodridge, Ill., garnered 13 saves in the victory at Kansas City.

'He has terrific feet,” Moreira said. 'He is very calm and he makes very, very few mistakes on his passing. … He was just sensational. … I felt that he wasn't even a rookie. I thought he was a veteran and he was lying to me.”

Moreira notched two goals in his debut as player/coach. With two games to play in a 24-hour period, there are no plans to limit playing time Saturday to conserve energy for Sunday. The objective is to win the first one, then evaluate.

'Back-to-back games are good,” Moreira said. 'Because if you get a good result, you have the momentum going into the next game. But also on the flip side, if you don't have a great result, you already have the next day to turn everything around.”

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com