Harrisburg Heat Weekly
January 20, 2014 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
Harrisburg Heat News Release
HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 20, 2014 - By virtue of their 10-5 victory Saturday night over Cincinnati, the Harrisburg Heat find themselves back in the Professional Arena Soccer League playoff chase.
The home victory over the Saints before a season-high crowd of 2,209 at the Equine Arena moved the Heat's league record to 4-7, tying them with Cincinnati (4-7) for fourth place in the Eastern Division.
With East-leading Chicago expected to be named the host team for the Final Four - and, thus, receive an open- ing bye - three more teams from the East will join three from each of the Central and Pacific divisions to complete the tournament's 10-team bracket. The format leaves the Heat - with five games left in the regular season - battling the Saints, as well as Detroit (6-5) and Cleveland (9-4) for the last three East playoff berths behind 10-0 Chicago.
Three of the Heat's five remaining games will be against Chicago with two of those against the Mustangs coming Friday and Saturday at the Equine Arena. Both games, the Heat's final two home games, begin at 7:05 p.m.
The Heat put themselves back in the playoff picture with their 10-5 victory over the Saints, who could not find a way to stop David Schofield, Lester Felician and Tom Mellor, who combined for five goals and four assists. The Saints also could not find a way to beat goalkeeper Justin Johnson, who recorded 14 saves in his first start of the season in place of the hobbling Sam Bishop (left foot).
Bishop's status is not yet known for this weekend's games against Chicago.
After this weekend, the Heat will finish the regular season on the road with back-to-back games Feb. 8-9 at Illinois (1-11) and Chicago, and then Feb. 16 at Dallas (10-2).
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
The Heat will hold training sessions this week on Tuesday and Thursday. The Tuesday session will run from 9:30 -11:30 p.m. at Sports City Harrisburg. The Thursday session will run from 8-10 p.m. at the Equine Arena.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
Chris Hall, the recently signed forward from Lebanon Valley College, has scored a goal in each of his first three games with the Heat. ... Forward Tom Mellor continues to lead the Heat in scoring with 30 points on 14 goals and 16 assists. ... Forward Kenneth Fultz has needed only 32 shots to score his team-high 16 goals, while forward Lester Felician has scored on five of 10 shots with midfielder David Schofield nearly as efficient with seven goals on 15 shots.
FREE STUFF
The first 250 fans through the door on Friday will receive an ArcticBlu cooling towel.
JERSEY AUCTION
The Heat's second annual jersey auction will be held after Saturday's home finale against Chicago. Proceeds benefit the PinnacleHealth Children's Resource Center.
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