Syracuse controls second half to defeat Tropics, 6-5

LAKELAND – Kenardo Forbes recorded a natural hat trick in the second half, leading the Syracuse Silver Knights to their second win of the season, 6-5 over the Florida Tropics Friday night.

Forbes tied the game at the 12:54 mark of the third, and then scored the game winner at the 3:33 mark of the final period, finishing his goal-scoring skein at 8:47 of the fourth.

Florida opened strong, with two goals from Victor Parreiras less than four minutes into the fourth quarter. Maycon Franca, Ricardo Diegues and Lucas Montelares also scored for Florida.

Joey Tavernese scored twice, his sixth and seventh of the season, and Darren Toby added the other Silver Knight's score.

Andrew Coughlin got the win in goal, facing 29 shots, while Miguel Gallardo, making his first-ever Major Arena Soccer League start, took the loss facing 25 shots.

The two teams will meet again Dec. 9 in Syracuse, part of a two-game road trip which has Florida in Baltimore Dec. 10 for a Sunday matinee. All Tropics games home and away are broadcast live at www.masl.tv. For more information, and for tickets to Florida's next home game Dec. 15 against Baltimore, go to www.fltropics.com.