LocalSportsJournal.com
The Muskegon Risers indoor soccer team’s quest in qualifying for the playoffs hit a bumpy road on Saturday night. 
The Risers took an unattractive, 16-4 loss to first-place Cleveland in front of another solid home crowd at Mercy Health Arena.
Muskegon fell behind quickly and never had a chance in the game.
TJ Ifaturoti scored Muskegon’s first two goals, but they were the Risers’ only two goals of the first-half.
Cleveland jumped ahead 4-0 before the Risers were able to get on the board.
Ifaturoti took the skunk out of the bag for the Risers when he chipped in a loose ball in front of the Crunch net with five minutes left in the first quarter.
The Crunch responded with two more goals in the quarter for a 6-1 lead, and then pushed it to 9-1 late into the second quarter.
Once again, Ifaturoti found the back of the net for the Risers. This time just before half, for a 9-2 deficit at the break.
The second half was more Cleveland, as the Crunch scored the opening two goals of the third quarter.
Jacob Potts gave Muskegon its third goal of the contest with two minutes left in the third and an 11-3 deficit.
The Risers’ struggle to manage the Cleveland attack, led to another Crunch goal with a minute left in the third.
Aldany Mendez gave Muskegon its final goal of the game at the start of the fourth quarter. Mendez eventually was handed a red card during a stint in the Risers’ penalty box and departed the field before he was able to shake hands with fans.
The Crunch responded to the Mendez tally with four-straight unanswered goals to close out the contest.
Muskegon is now 5-6 overall and will play next on the road at Cincinnati on March 12.
Check out photos from the action shot by Jason Goorman.
