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MISL 2 Milwaukee Wave

Back-To-Back Weekend Has Big Implications For Wave

March 26, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Milwaukee Wave News Release


MILWAUKEE (March 26, 2008) -- Beginning Saturday, the Wave play four crucial games in eight days to close out the regular season. At stake are the regular season title and one of the two playoff byes. Every game means a lot to the team, but fans are certainly looking forward to Sunday's matchup between the Wave (17-9) and Detroit (17-9) at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

First up, however, are the Philadelphia KiXX, the defending champs. That game begins at 6:05 p.m. CST. Philadelphia (12-15) enters the weekend one game out of the final playoff spot. New Jersey (13-14) holds that place and hosts Monterrey on Saturday.

"This is an important weekend not just for us, but for all the teams that are trying to get into the playoffs," said Keith Tozer, head coach and vice president of soccer operations for the Wave. "It should make for an exciting weekend of MISL soccer."

The KiXX were the last team to beat the Wave, 12-8 back on Feb. 9 in Philadelphia. Milwaukee outshot the KiXX 33-18 in that game but Peter Pappas and Nick Hovaker combined for 19 saves. A sixth-attacker goal by Anthony Maher got the Wave within 10-8 late, but then Ptah Myers scored into the empty net to seal the KiXX's victory. The Wave had won the two games in Milwaukee, 14-8 and 12-10.

Detroit holds a 2-0 edge over the Wave this season, so the Wave need to sweep both games next week (a return engagement is set for 6:30 p.m. April 4 in Detroit) to have a chance at earning the tiebreaker with the Ignition.

Jamar Beasley (68 points) leads the league's most balanced attack, with five players scoring at least 50 points. Danny Waltman tops the league's keepers in save percentage (.749) and wins (15).

Milwaukee shows offensive balance in a different way. Though Greg Howes (107 points) appears on track for his fourth scoring title and Marcio Leite (69 points) is tied for sixth in the league, the Wave still have a league-best 10 players averaging at least 1 point per game. Veterans Marcelo Fontana (42 points) and Giuliano Oliviero (36 points) have been hot over the last two months and Warren Ukah (36 points) is a Rookie of the Year candidate.

Defensively, the Wave are No. 2 in the league by a hair, only 2 points worse than Baltimore. Both allow 9.2 points per game. Keepers Nick Vorberg (14-7, 9.27 PAA) and Marcel Feenstra (5-0, 6.65 PAA) have been a formidable pair.

Tickets still remain for Sunday's game with Detroit. Call the Wave at 414-224-9283 or purchase through Ticketmaster.

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