Battles for first place heat up

by WISL Press Release
Published on September 8, 2000 under World Indoor Soccer League (WISL)

WISL Press Release

DALLAS, TX (Thursday, September 7, 2000) - This weekend Dallas has two chances at grabbing first place. Problem is it won't come easy. Friday night the Sidekicks travel to St. Louis to take on the Steamers and then travel back to Dallas to take on the hot Utah Freezz on Saturday. If the Sidekicks hope to take first place they'll need wins in both games. The Sidekicks are going into St. Louis pretty hot, winners of five out of the last six games. One thing in the Sidekicks favor is that Steamers forward, Mark Moser will not play. Saturday night's game will also be a test, as the Freezz boasts one of the best defenses led by player/coach, Jeff Betts and goalkeeper Nick Vorberg. Sidekicks forwards, Tatu and David Doyle will need to continue their torrid scoring as both have combined for 14 goals and 8 assists in the last three games (combining for three hat tricks).

In other WISL action: Friday night the Sacramento Knights will hope to break out of a season long six-game losing streak that has kept them winless since an opening day win over the Utah Freezz. Ironically, the Knights will face that same Freezz team in Utah Friday night. It doesn't get any easier for the Knights, after Friday nights game with Utah, they then travel to Houston to take on the Hotshots on Saturday.

Another team with back-to-back games is the St. Louis Steamers. Friday night the Steamers take on the Dallas Sidekicks. The Steamers are in need of a win, unfortunately they will be without the services of star forward, Mark Moser. Then, Saturday night the Steamers travel to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Thunder, who's had the Steamers number this year. The Thunder has won both games including last weeks 6-0 win in St. Louis. The shutout marked the first one in WISL history. The Steamers will have Moser for Saturdays contest.

The Houston Hotshots start their back-to-back games on Saturday facing the defending champion Sacramento Knights. The Hotshots will need scoring from their one-two punch of Ato Leone and Matthew Stewart to send the Knights back to Sacramento with another loss. Sunday gets a bit harder for the Hotshots, as they take on first place Monterrey in Monterrey. The Hotshots will be facing the best offense in the WISL. Monterrey has scored 55 goals in just six games. Monterrey has the top three scorers in the League, Marco Lopez (19pts), Marco Coria (18pts), and Mariano Bollella (17 pts).

A preview of this weekend's WISL games:

Friday, September 8 - (7:35 p.m.) - Dallas Sidekicks (5-2) at St. Louis Steamers (1-3)
Season Series: First meeting. All-time regular season series: First meeting.
Leading scorers: Dallas: F David Doyle (12g, 5a, 17 pts) T-3rd in the WISL; St. Louis: F Kevin Koetters (3g, 5a, 8pts).
Did you know? All five of Dallas' wins have come against Houston and Sacramento.
Key Players out: Dallas: D Rusty Troy and DEF Joel Brewer. St. Louis: Mark Moser
Notes: After a slow start it seems that Dallas forwards, David Doyle and Tatu have found their scoring touch again. The two have combined for 14 goals and 8 assists, including three hat tricks in the last three games. Dallas comes into this match, winners of five out of their last six games. St. Louis will be looking to rebound from its 6-0 loss at home to the Arizona Thunder. The Steamers have a lot of talented forwards like, Jeff Davis, Kevin Koetters and Jeff DeMaria who will need to attack the Dallas defense, which is missing Rusty Troy. With a win Dallas can tie Monterrey for first place, so Friday nights game should be very intense.
KEY MATCHUP: Dallas F David Doyle vs. St. Louis F Kevin Koetters

Friday, September 8 - (7:05 p.m.) Sacramento Knights (1-6) at Utah Freezz (4-3)
Season Series: First meeting. All-time regular season series: Sacramento leads 3-1 (Sacramento holds a 28-18 edge in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Sacramento: F Chris McDonald (12g, 5a, 17pts) T-3rd in the WISL; Utah: D Jeff Betts (8g, 7a, 15pts) 6th in the WISL.
Did you know? Sacramento forward, Chris McDonald is responsible for 41% of the Knights goals this year (12 of 29).
Key players out: Sacramento: D Paul Hansen
Notes: The Sacramento Knights hope to end their six game losing streak Friday night against a very hot Utah Freezz team. The Freezz come into this match winners of four out of their last five games. Earlier in the year the Knights easily defeated the Freezz 9-3, how things have changed in a month for both clubs. The Freezz have one of the best goalkeepers in the League, Nick Vorberg who has a 4.41 GAA second in the WISL. Along with great goalkeeping, the Freezz have a great defense, Rob Baarts is 4th in the WISL in blocks with 17 and player/coach Jeff Betts is 6th in scoring with 15 points. If the Knights hope to get their first road win of the season they will need big games from goalkeeper, Pat Harrington and forward, Chris McDonald. McDonald comes into this match riding a nine game goal-scoring streak dating back to last year.
KEY MATCHUP: Sacramento F Chris McDonald vs. Utah D Jeff Betts

Saturday, September 9 - (7:05 p.m.) - Utah Freezz (4-3) at Dallas Sidekicks (5-2)
Season Series: First meeting. All-time regular season series: Dallas leads 2-1 (Dallas holds a 19-12 edge in aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: Dallas: F David Doyle (12g, 5a, 17 pts) T-3rd in the WISL; Utah: D Jeff Betts (8g, 7a, 15pts) 6th in the WISL.
Did you know? Both teams have lost a combined five games- three of the losses have come against Monterrey.
Key Players out: Dallas: D Rusty Troy and DEF Joel Brewer.
Notes: This match faces off two of the hottest teams in the WISL. Dallas brings the second best offense into the game. The Sidekicks as a team have scored 50 goals with four players in the top 10 in scoring, while Utah has only one player in the top 10. The defense on both sides of the ball is excellent with Dallas goalkeeper, Edilson Xavier leading the way with a 4.81 GAA. Utah also has a strong defense led by their goalkeeper, Nick Vorberg who is second in the League with a 4.41 GAA. This match up should be a low scoring game, with both teams coming into this game playing road games the night before. Whichever team can rebound the quickest might have the advantage.
KEY MATCHUP: Dallas GK Edilson Xavier vs. Utah GK Nick Vorberg

Saturday, September 9 - (7:05 p.m.) - Sacramento Knights (1-6) at Houston Hotshots (2-3)
Season Series: First meeting. All-time regular season series: Sacramento leads 2-1 (11-11 in aggregate goals.)
Leading scorers: Sacramento: F Chris McDonald (12g, 5a, 17pts) T-3rd in the WISL. Houston: F Ato Leone (6g, 3a, 9pts), T-11th in the WISL.
Did you know? Sacramento player/coach, Iain Fraser is second in the League in blocks with 21.
Key Players out: none
Notes: If Sacramento hopes to win they will need someone other than Chris McDonald to score some goals. Houston has a very balanced attack with four players scoring a least three goals. With this being the Knights second road game in as many days fatigue might set in. The Hotshots will try to wear out the Knights with their up tempo style of play. Look for Hotshots, Ato Leone and Matthew Stewart to keep the pressure on the road weary Knights. This game should be low scoring with Sacramento averaging four goals a game and Houston averaging 4.6 goals a game.
KEY MATCHUP: Sacramento F Chris McDonald vs. Houston F Ato Leone

Saturday, September 9 - (6:05 p.m.) - St. Louis Steamers (1-3) at Arizona Thunder (4-4)
Season Series: Arizona leads 2-0. All-time regular season series: Arizona leads 2-0 (14-5 in aggregate goals.)
Leading scorers: St. Louis: F Kevin Koetters (3g, 5a, 8pts). Arizona: F Sasha Hunter (7g, 2a, 9pts) T-11th in the WISL.
Did you know? Last week Thunder goalkeeper, Juan De La O recorded the first shutout in WISL history with a 6-0 win over St. Louis.
Key Players out: Arizona: M Don Gaillard
Notes: After last week's shutout, the Steamers are looking for revenge. Steamers forward, Mark Moser will be back in the line up after missing last week's game. The Steamers come in after playing the night before so fatigue could be a factor late in the game. Arizona should be well rested and ready to go Saturday night. With the shutout De La O lowered his GAA to a League leading 4.03. If the Steamers hope to come out with a win they will need scoring from their big three: Mark Moser, Jeff Davis, and Kevin Koetters.
KEY MATCHUP: St. Louis F Mark Moser vs. Arizona GK Juan De La O

Sunday, September 10 - (6:05 p.m.) - Houston Hotshots (2-3) at Monterrey La Ra Za (5-1)
Season Series: First meeting. All-time regular season series: Monterrey leads 4-0 (31-14 in aggregate goals.)
Leading scorers: Houston: F Ato Leone (6g, 3a, 9pts), T-11th in the WISL. Monterrey: F Marco Lopez (5g, 14a, 19pts) 1st in the WISL.
Did you know? Monterrey is the only team in the WISL yet to play back-to-back games.
Key Players out: none
Notes: First place Monterrey looks to make it six in a row at home this Sunday when they play host to the Houston Hotshots. La Ra Za is averaging 10 goals a game at home. If the Hotshots hope to win for the first time in Monterrey they will need to hold La Ra Za's, "three amigos"-Marco Lopez, Marco Coria, and Mariano Bollella in check. The "three amigos" are currently the WISL's top three scorers. The Hotshots will be coming off a game from the night before, so will they have enough strength to keep pace with the run and gun style of La Ra Za?
KEY MATCHUP: Houston F Ato Leone vs. Monterrey F Marco Lopez

WORLD INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUE INJURY REPORT

The following is a brief team-by-team injury overview entering Week 6 of the 2000 season:

Arizona Thunder: MID Donny Galliard
Dallas Sidekicks: D Rusty Troy and DEF Joel Brewer
Houston Hotshots: F Shannon McPartland
Monterrey LaRaza: none
Sacramento Knights: none
St. Louis Steamers: none
Utah Freezz: none

World Indoor Soccer League Stories from September 8, 2000

• Battles for first place heat up - OSC Original by WISL Press Release

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