Wisconsin Soccer Central

Three days after a shootout loss to the Missouri Comets that likely ended any hopes of winning the Major Arena Soccer League Central Division regular-season title, the Milwaukee Wave started their playoff push in fine fashion Saturday night.

Ian Bennett, Bato Radoncic and J.C. Banks (Milwaukee Riverside/UW-Green Bay) had two goals apiece as the Wave scored seven of the first eight goals in a 7-4 victory over the Rochester Lancers in front of 4,000 fans at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Milwaukee (6-5) remained a half-game behind the second-place Chicago Mustangs (6-4) in the Central standings – the top two teams in each of the league's four divisions earn playoff berths. Missouri improved to 11-0 on Saturday night and only faces two teams with winning records in its final nine matches.

Radoncic set up Bennett's opener with 5 seconds left in the first quarter, a power-play goal, then doubled the lead with his fifth goal of the season 7:09 into the second.

Mauricio Salles pulled one back for the Lancers (4-3), but goals by Banks and Pablo in a 29-second span late in the first half extended the Wave's lead. Radoncic added his second just 16 seconds after the break and Banks completed his brace – his fourth two-goal game of the season and second in a row – just 1:28 later.

Banks then picked up the assist on Bennett's second of the night and team-best 16th of the season early in the fourth as Milwaukee led 7-1. Jeff Richey recorded 19 saves in the win for the Wave, who play host to the Mustangs in a key match next Saturday at Panther Arena. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m.