The 2014–15 Ontario Fury season was the second season of the Ontario Fury professional indoor soccer club. The Fury, a Pacific Division team in the Major Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California.
The team was led by general manager and head coach Bernie Lilavois plus assistant coach Joe Pollard. The Ladies of Fury dance team was directed by Lynae de Leon. Ontario finished the 2014–15 season with a 13–7 record, second best in the Pacific Division, but lost their first-round playoff game to the Las Vegas Legends.
Season summary The Fury struggled early in the season, losing 3 of their first 4 games. A road win over the Rochester Lancers began a 5-game in streak stopped by an overtime loss to the Turlock Express. 2014 ended with a win over the Sacramento Surge and 2015 began with a loss to the Las Vegas Legends. A home win over the Harrisburg Heat was the first of 6 consecutive wins that followed. A pair of losses to the San Diego Sockers at home and on the road left Ontario with a 13–7 record and 2nd place in the Pacific Division. The Fury qualified for the post-season but fell 5–6 to Las Vegas in the Pacific Division Semi-Final.
History The Fury entered the 2013–14 season as an expansion team in the Professional Arena Soccer League. They got off to a promising start with home wins over the Dallas Sidekicks and Sacramento Surge, but dropped six straight matches then struggled to find their way. With their only road win coming at fellow expansion team Bay Area Rosal, the Fury finished the season with a 5–11 record and missed the playoffs.
Off-field moves The team established a non-profit organization named the Fury Foundation to promote healthy living to young people. Activities include school assemblies, soccer camps, and an educational program called "Health's A Kick".
In May 2014, the Professional Arena Soccer League added six teams from the failed third incarnation of the Major Indoor Soccer League and reorganized as the Major Arena Soccer League. With the league expansion and reorganization, the other Pacific teams for 2014–15 are California-based Sacramento Surge, San Diego Sockers, and Turlock Express plus the Las Vegas Legends and the expansion Seattle Impact. The Impact's assets were purchased mid-season and the team replaced on the schedule by the Tacoma Stars.
In September 2014, the Fury purchased the Tijuana-based Toros Mexico and designated the franchise as their official developmental team in the Premier Arena Soccer League. Former Toros Mexico owner Joe Pollard will serve as an assistant coach for the Fury as well as running the developmental team.
Schedule
Pre-season Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record 1 Friday October 12 7:05pm at Las Vegas Knights W 8–7 1–0 Orleans Arena 2,275 2 Friday October 19 7:05pm Mexican National Indoor Team L 8–14 1–1 Citizens Business Bank Arena 4,200
Regular season Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record 1 Friday November 7 7:05pm Monterrey Flash L 5–7 0–1 Citizens Business Bank Arena 2,219 2 Sunday November 9 3:05pm Sacramento Surge W 12–7 1–1 Citizens Business Bank Arena 1,738 3 Sunday November 16 5:05pm at San Diego Sockers L 2–7 1–2 Valley View Casino Center 2,913 4 Friday November 21 7:30pm at Syracuse Silver Knights♠ L 2–18 1–3 Oncenter War Memorial Arena 3,355 5 Saturday November 22 7:00pm at Rochester Lancers♠ W 15–13 (OT) 2–3 Blue Cross Arena 8,214 6 Tuesday December 2 7:00pm at Las Vegas Legends W 8–7 3–3 Orleans Arena 860 7 Sunday December 7 3:05pm Turlock Express W 9–6 4–3 Citizens Business Bank Arena 1,952 8 Sunday December 14 3:05pm Seattle Impact W 13–10 5–3 Citizens Business Bank Arena 1,572 9 Thursday December 18 7:30pm at Seattle Impact W 11–9 6–3 ShoWare Center 365 10 Saturday December 27 7:05pm at Turlock Express L 8–9 (OT) 6–4 Turlock Indoor Soccer 498 11 Sunday December 28 3:05pm at Sacramento Surge W 8–7 7–4 McClellan Park 415 12 Saturday January 3 7:05pm Las Vegas Legends L 8–11 7–5 Citizens Business Bank Arena 2,024 13 Friday January 9 7:05pm Harrisburg Heat W 10–9 8–5 Citizens Business Bank Arena 2,654 14 Saturday January 17 7:05pm Turlock Express W 10–6 9–5 Citizens Business Bank Arena 1,911 15 Sunday January 18 3:05pm Las Vegas Legends W 6–5 10–5 Citizens Business Bank Arena 2,038 16 Friday January 30 7:35pm at Turlock Express W 8–5 11–5 Turlock Indoor Soccer 509 17 Saturday January 31 7:05pm at Sacramento Surge W 11–10 12–5 McClellan Park 395 18 Saturday February 7 7:05pm Sacramento Surge W 26–3 13–5 Citizens Business Bank Arena 4,672 19 Thursday February 12 7:05pm San Diego Sockers L 5–9 13–6 Citizens Business Bank Arena 4,253 20 Saturday February 21 7:05pm at San Diego Sockers L 1–3 13–7 Valley View Casino Center 4,094 ♠ Game played with multi-point scoring (most goals worth 2 points and select goals worth 3 points). Originally scheduled for February 15; rescheduled to avoid an arena conflict.
Post-season Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record Division Semi-Final Sunday March 1 3:05pm Las Vegas Legends L 5–6 0–1 Citizens Business Bank Arena 4,072
Awards and honors During the last regular season game, the Fury honored Tiguinho (#10) as the team's Offensive Player of the Year, Jose Rodriguez (#6) as Defensive Player of the Year, and Joey Pacheco (#3) as Iron Man of the Year.
Ontario midfielder Tiguinho Dias was selected for the 2014-15 MASL All-League Second Team. Ontario goalkeeper Alexis Apodaca earned honorable mention for the league's all-rookie team for 2014-15.
On March 13, the MASL announced the finalists for its major year-end awards. These nominees included Ontario general manager/coach Bernie Lilavois for Coach of the Year.
References
External links Ontario Fury official website Ontario Fury at The Press-Enterprise Ontario Fury at Fontana Herald News