Philadelphia, PA, December 20, 2007 - The defending MISL Champion Philadelphia KiXX won two games this past weekend to improve to 4-7. The KiXX won in New Jersey Friday, December 14, 10-8. Steve Wacker scored the game winning goal with 5:05 remaining after Philadelphia came back from being down 8-4 going into the fourth quarter. The team hosted the expansion Orlando Sharks on Saturday, December 15, winning by a score of 20-4. Sandre Naumoski tallied six points on two goals and two assists, while player/coach Don D'Ambra and John Barry Nusum contributed five points each. The club has two weeks off before a rematch in Orlando on New Years Eve. Game time is set for 7:35pm ET.
This Week's Itinerary:
Monday, December 17, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Tuesday, December 18, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Wednesday, December 19, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Thursday, December 20, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Friday, December 21, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Saturday, December 22, Off Day
Sunday, December 23, Off Day
*all times are Eastern and subject to change
University of Penn Health Systems Injury Report:
Player Injury Status
Dave Castellanos Ankle Out
KiXX vs. Orlando
2nd Meeting this Season
Philadelphia hosted the expansion Sharks in the two teams first game on Saturday, December 15. The KiXX won the game 20-4 and will travel to Orlando on New Years Eve. The expansion Sharks are still looking for their first win after losing 11 straight to start the season. The team is led by J.P. Rodrigues, who has scored nine goals for 20 points in 11 games. Rodrigues scored one of the Sharks two goals against Philly in the loss. Goalkeeper Paul Nagy has seen the majority of time in net with an 0-6 record and a 16.34 PAA. The team is coached by former MISL and MLS standout Jake Dancy.
Last Week's Outing(s):
KiXX 10, NJ 8 (12/14) - The KiXX defeated the expansion New Jersey Ironmen (5-3) at the Prudential Center, 10-8. The KiXX, who snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, were led by Temple University graduates Tony Donatelli, Steve Wacker, and Ryan Heins, who each scored goals. For Heins, his second quarter goal was the first of his professional indoor career. Wacker was credited with the game winner, his first goal of the season, putting the KiXX up 10-8 with 5:05 remaining. Donatelli began scoring when he capitalized on a Tony Meola miscue at 9:26 of the first quarter, putting the KiXX up 2-0. The goal, Donatelli's team-leading seventh of the season, was unassisted. With 15 seconds remaining in the quarter, Juninho Da Silva scored his second of the season for the Ironmen on a feed from Lazo Alvanja. Heins scored the first goal of his career unassisted at 1:53 of the second quarter. Heins was Philadelphia's first overall pick in the 2007 MISL Amateur Draft. Osni Neto tied the game again at four apiece with his first career indoor goal at 5:17 of the quarter for New Jersey. MISL assist leader and former KiXX standout Goran Vasic was credited with his 12th assist of the season. Daniel Antoniuk gave the Ironmen their first lead of the game on a pass from Matt Maher at 3:53 of the second half. The goal was Antoniuk's team-leading 13th of the season and Maher's first career point. Antoniuk, a former KiXX player, leads the MISL in goals. Maher, a native of Cape May Court House, was New Jersey's first overall selection in the 2007 MISL Amateur Draft. The Ironmen extended their lead to 8-4 when Lazo Alavanja beat KiXX keeper Peter Pappas for his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Mauricio Salles. KiXX captain Pat Morris scored his fifth of the season just over two minutes into the fourth quarter to pull Philadelphia to within two points. Team leader in assists Don D'Ambra was credited with the helper, his 10th. Just over a minute later, Sandre Naumoski's second goal of the season tied the game at 8-8 for the KiXX, an unassisted goal 3:27 into the fourth. Steve Wacker provided the game winner, putting the KiXX up 10-8 on his first goal of the season with 5:05 remaining. Keeper Peter Pappas was credited with the assist, his third.
KiXX 20, ORL 4 (12/15) - The KiXX defeated the Orlando Sharks (0-11) by a score of 20-4 Saturday, December 15 in front of 3,444 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. The win was second of the weekend for the KiXX, who look to get back on track after an 0-4 start. Sandre Naumoski scored two goals and recorded two assists for six points. Don D'Ambra and John Barry Nusum each recorded five points in the win. The KiXX have two weeks off before playing the Sharks again on New Years Eve in Orlando. After scoring the game-tying goal in New Jersey a night earlier, Naumoski scored the first two goals of the game to put Philadelphia up 4-0. Tony Donatelli was credited with the first assist, John Barry Nusum with the second, while the goals were just over two minutes apart. Player/coach Don D'Ambra scored the KiXX third goal to end the quarter 6-0. The goal was D'Ambra's third of the year, after scoring 32 for the club last season. Philadelphia kept the pressure on in the second quarter, with Aaron Susi, Tony Donatelli, and John Barry Nusum all recording tallies in the stanza. Donatelli's goal was his team-leading eighth of the season. With 1:37 remaining in the half, Sharks leading scorer J.P. Rodrigues put Orlando on the board with help from Micki Djerisilo. The score after the second quarter saw the KiXX up 12-2, the highest offensive output in one half this season for the club. The KiXX offensive explosion continued when Nusum and D'Ambra both scored their second goals of the night, putting Philadelphia up 16-2 after three periods. Djerisilo gave the Sharks their second goal of the night on a feed from Jorge Valle to bring the score to 16-4 at 7:33 of the fourth. The KiXX put the finishing touches on the team's fourth win with goals from Chris Williams and Drew Kopp to make the final 20-4. Williams goal was the first of his professional indoor career. Philadelphia outshot Orlando 19-17.
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