Playoff positions on the line

by WISL Press Release
November 2, 2000 - World Indoor Soccer League (WISL)

WISL Press Release

DALLAS, TX – Two more teams can qualify for the 2000 World Indoor Soccer League playoffs this weekend. The Arizona Thunder play host to the last place Sacramento Knights on Friday night. If the Thunder win they will clinch a playoff berth for the first time in franchise history. The win will also vault the Houston Hotshots into the playoffs for the first time. On the other hand, if the Knights hope to make any run at the playoffs they will need to win against Arizona on Friday and then win in Monterrey, against Monterrey La Raza. It won't be easy as the Knight's are winless on the road this year at, 0-9. With wins in both games, the Knights will still need help from other teams just to get into the playoffs.

The St. Louis Steamers will have three chances this weekend to make up ground on the Hotshots and the Thunder. Currently, the Steamers are only one game behind the two clubs. Friday night the Steamers play two! The Steamers and Utah Freezz will play a 10-minute overtime game, which is a continuation of the August 12 game. Following the overtime game the two teams will play again. After the double header, the Steamers will travel down to Dallas to take on the Sidekicks, where they have won once already this year. The Freezz will then travel to Houston to take on the Hotshots. Even though the Freezz and Sidekicks have already qualified for the playoffs these game are still important because both clubs are within striking distance of Monterrey

A preview of this weekend's WISL games:

Friday, November 3 – (7:05 p.m.) – Sacramento Knights (3-15) at Arizona Thunder (8-12)

Season Series: Arizona leads 2-0. All-time regular season series: Sacramento leads 5-3 (Sacramento holds a 25-20 edge in aggregate goals.)

Leading scorers: Sacramento: F Chris McDonald (16g, 11a, 27pts) 13th in the WISL; Arizona: F Rick Soderman (7g, 13a, 20pts).

Did you know? Sacramento and Arizona are two of the lowest scoring teams in the WISL. Sacramento is last with 70 goals scored and Arizona is fifth with 92 goals scored.

Key Players injured/out: Sacramento: Chris Alcala.

Notes: New player/coach Gary Young has a chance to lead his team into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with a win over the Sacramento Knights. The Thunder will also be trying to end a five game losing streak in the process. If the Knights lose they will virtually be eliminated from the playoffs pending the result of the Utah Freezz/St. Louis Steamers game. The lowest scoring team in the WISL, Sacramento will have to deal with the stingiest goalkeeper in the WISL, Arizona's Juan De La O. De La O is having a fantastic year leading the League with a 4.21 goals against average and goals allowed with 75. The Knights will try to counter with team leading scorer, Chris McDonald. The Knights will need a big game from McDonald if they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive.

KEY MATCHUP: Sacramento F Chris McDonald vs. Arizona GK Juan De La O

Friday, November 3 – (7:35 p.m.) Utah Freezz (13-6) at St. Louis Steamers (6-12)

Season Series: Utah leads 1-0. All-time regular season series: Utah leads 1-0 (Utah holds a 7-2 edge in aggregate goals).

Leading scorers: Utah: F Beau Brown (22g, 14a, 36pts) T-7th in the WISL; St. Louis: F Mark Moser (19g, 3a, 22pts) 19th in the WISL.

Did you know? Beau Brown has broken his own team record for most goals scored in a year with 22 originally the record was 21.

Key players injured/out: Utah Scott Jones. St. Louis Kevin Koetters and Daryl Doran.

Notes: The Utah Freezz can hope to gain some more ground on Monterrey La Raza by playing two games against the St. Louis Steamers. The first part will be a 10-minute overtime game, which is a continuation of the August 12 game. Following the overtime game the two teams will play the regular match. Freezz goalkeeper Nick Vorberg is having a remarkable year coming off a shutout against Monterrey. Vorgerg has a shutout streak of 84:04, which is second all-time in the WISL. Along with great goalkeeping the Steamers will have to control the Freezz's two top scorers in: Beau Brown (36pts) and Jeff Betts (30pts). The Steamers will counter with their new combination of Mark Moser (19 goals) and Joe Reiniger (13 points in eight games). This game has a lot of playoff implications so look for a close and physical game by both clubs.

KEY MATCHUP: Utah GK Nick Vorberg vs. St. Louis F Mark Moser

Saturday, November 4– (7:05 p.m.) – Utah Freezz (13-6) at Houston Hotshots (8-12)

Season Series: Utah leads 2-0. All-time regular season series: Utah leads 5-0 (Utah holds a 34-24 edge in aggregate goals).

Leading scorers: Utah: F Beau Brown (22g, 14a, 36pts) T-7th in the WISL; Houston: F Ato Leone (23g, 17a, 40pts) 5th in the WISL

Did you know? Houston rookie Clint Regier leads the League in goals with 26, the WISL All-Time goal scoring record is 29. The Hotshots have never beaten the Freezz in WISL play, 0-5.

Key Players injured/out: Utah: Scott Jones.

Notes: The Houston Hotshots are in search of their first playoff berth on Saturday. If the Sacramento Knights lose to the Arizona Thunder on Friday the Hotshots are in, if the Knights win the Hotshots will need to defeat the Freezz to qualify for the post season. Good news for the Hotshots is that the Freezz will be coming off two games from Friday night. So look for the young Hotshots to play with a lot of intensity as they try to go into the playoffs on an up note. The Hotshots will count on team leading scorer, Ato Leone (40pts) and rookie Clint Regier (36pts) to win their way into the playoffs. It won't be an easy task as the Freezz has one of the best offenses and defenses in the League. On defense, the Freezz are led by one of the best goalkeeper, Nick Vorberg who is third with a 4.31 goals against average and is tied for second in wins with 13. On offense, the Freezz will be counting on Beau Brown (36pts) and player/coach Jeff Betts (30pts) to sweep their three game road trip. The Freezz are 4-5 on the road this year, while the Hotshots are 6-3 at home.

KEY MATCHUP: Utah F Beau Brown vs. Houston F Ato Leone

Sunday, November 5 – (6:05 p.m.) – St. Louis Steamers (6-12) at Dallas Sidekicks (14-6)

Season Series: Dallas leads 2-1. All-time regular season series: Dallas leads 2-1 (Dallas holds a 17-11 edge in aggregate goals).

Leading scorers: St. Louis: F Mark Moser (19g, 3a, 22pts) 19th in the WISL. Dallas: David Doyle (24g, 18a, 42pts) 1st in the WISL.

Did you know? A Dallas Sidekicks player has led the League in scoring the past two years and this year they have two players in the top five in scoring.

Key Players injured: Dallas: Rusty Troy, Joel Brewer, and Mike Powers. St. Louis: Daryl Doran and Kevin Koetters.

Notes: The Dallas Sidekicks hope to gain more ground on first place Monterrey by defeating the St. Louis Steamers on Sunday. The Steamers have already beaten the Sidekicks once at Reunion Arena and will look to do it again as the try to qualify for the playoffs. The Sidekicks are led by player/coach Tatu who has 41 points on the year, however he's not even the team-leading scorer. David Doyle leads the Sidekicks with 43 points. The Sidekicks will rely on Tatu and Doyle to score if they hope to win. On defense, the Sidekicks are led by goalkeeper Sagu who is second in the WISL with a 4.30 goals against average. Helping out on defense are new acquisitions Eric Dade and Ted Eck, while Jose Alvarado has been a staple on the back line with 44 blocks, which is fifth in the League.

KEY MATCHUP: St. Louis F Mark Moser vs. Dallas GK Sagu

Sunday, November 5 – (6:05 p.m.) – Sacramento Knights (3-15) at Monterrey La Raza (15-4)

Season Series: Monterrey leads 2-0. All-time regular season series: Monterrey leads 3-2 (Sacramento holds a 29-27 edge in aggregate goals.)

Leading scorers: Sacramento: F Chris McDonald (16g, 11a, 27pts) 13th in the WISL; Monterrey: F Marco Lopez (17g, 27a, 44pts) 1st in the WISL.

Did you know?

Key Players injured/out: Sacramento: Chris Alcala. Monterrey: Martin Hernandez, Rolando Esquer, and David Pereyra.

Notes: If the Knights hope to make the playoffs this game is a must win. Problem is they play first place Monterrey, in Mexico. Monterrey is 11-0 at home this year and the Knights are 0-9 on the road this year. The lowest scoring team in the WISL, Sacramento (70 goals) is averaging 3.88 goals a game, while Monterrey is averaging 9.72 goals a game at home. If the Knights hope to win they will need big games from team leading scorer, Chris McDonald and goalkeeper Pat Harrington. Harrington will be asked to control Marco Lopez (44pts), Mariano Bollella (41pts), and Marco Coria (37pts) La Raza top three scorers. The three have combined to score 63 goals, while as team the Knights have scored 70 goals.

KEY MATCHUP: Sacramento F Chris McDonald vs. Monterrey F Marco Lopez

WORLD INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUE INJURY REPORT

The following is a brief team-by-team injury overview entering Week 14 of the 2000 season:

o-out, d-doubtful, p-probable, q-questionable

Arizona Thunder: none

Dallas Sidekicks: D Rusty Troy (o), D Joel Brewer (o), and D Mike Powers (o)

Houston Hotshots: none

Monterrey LaRaza: none

Sacramento Knights: F Chris Alcala (o)

St. Louis Steamers: F Kevin Koetters (o) and D Daryl Doran (o)

Utah Freezz: none

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