Megson packs scoring punch for Rampage

CEDAR RAPIDS – Alex Megson has been on a scoring tear.

With six goals in his last three games, the Cedar Rapids Rampage midfielder has taken over the club lead with nine scores this season. But to hear him tell it, there's more to be had.

'I could have had 12,” Megson said. 'I'm playing better than the statistics are showing. I'm hitting the crossbar, hitting the post, hitting it a little bit over. … I feel like I've been really unlucky the last three or four games with that. So I think it's going to start going my way even more, pick it up a notch and start putting a hat trick in every game.”

Megson's third-quarter hat trick helped the Rampage rally from a 7-2 deficit for their first victory Dec. 19 against the St. Louis Ambush. The Tacoma, Wash., native will try to help Cedar Rapids (1-8) earn its second win in a Major Arena Soccer League Central Division game against the Missouri Comets (9-2) Thursday at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'They're one of the teams that if they're on and you're not, it will be a blowout,” Megson said. 'But if they're on and we're on at the same time, it's going to be a great game.”

The contest is the culmination of day-long New Year's Eve festivities hosted by the club. Beginning at 11 a.m., the arena will be open with activities for children and concession discounts. At halftime of the game, there will be a New Year's-style balloon drop.

Megson, 29, played for Missouri for parts of two seasons and helped the Comets claim a league championship two years ago. Missouri enters the game off an upset defeat at the hands of previously-winless St. Louis. The Comets won all 20 regular season games last season before falling in the MASL playoffs, and own two victories over Cedar Rapids this season.

'I'm really close to all those guys, especially the coaching staff over there,” Megson said.

Megson is the son of former professional soccer player and coach Neil Megson, a member of the 1988 United States Men's National Team. His grandfather Don Megson and uncle Gary Megson both played and managed in English leagues, including Gary Megson's managing stint in the renowned English Premier League.

Through all his travels, Megson appears to have found a home in Cedar Rapids. He was one of several Rampage players who conducted youth soccer camps at the arena for three days during the holiday break.

'That was a blast,” Megson said. 'The kids had a great time. … When the season's over, I am definitely planning on sticking around here and sticking my nose in some of the youth teams and leagues around here and see what I can do to help the community out and raise the level of talent.”

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com