Blast Clinch Playoff Berth

March 17, 2003 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release

With a 16-11 victory in Kansas City on Saturday night, the Baltimore Blast clinched the third and final playoff spot in the MISL's Eastern Conference, locking out the Harrisburg Heat. The Blast will face the Cleveland Force, currently in second place with an 18-16 record, in the first round of the 2003 MISL Playoffs. The winner of that first-round series will advance to face the first-place Philadelphia KiXX (23-11) in the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday, April 3, in Philadelphia. The Force faces a magic number of one to lock up second place in the East.

The Kansas City Comets went 0-2 over the weekend, falling to Dallas and Baltimore at home, but still managed to tie up the #2 seed in the Western Conference, thanks to San Diego's 15-13 loss to Harrisburg on Saturday night. The Comets will host the Sockers in the first round of the playoffs, with the winner of that one-game series visiting the first-place Milwaukee Wave (27-7) for the Conference championship on Sunday, April 6 at the Bradley Center.

This past weekend's action was highlighted by a pair of momentous individual milestones, and a memorable defensive struggle that could serve as a playoff preview. Baltimore Blast defender Sean Bowers recorded the 800th point of his MISL career on Saturday night, becoming the 19th player in League history to reach the plateau. And Dallas Sidekicks forward David Doyle notched a 3pg and an assist against Kansas City on Friday, making him the 10th player in the history of indoor soccer to record 1,000 combined goals and assists. Milwaukee forward Michael King was the ninth to hit that milestone earlier this season.

Cleveland logged a 4-2 win over Baltimore on Sunday in a match which not only served to preview the first-round playoff matchup between the two teams, but will also go down in the MISL's history books. The six total points scored in the game ties the League record for fewest points in an outing, set twice previously: on February 23, 1989 (Hershey Impact 5, Dayton Dynamo 1), and December 27, 1992 (Chicago Power 4, Buffalo Blizzard 2).

Heading into the final week of the regular season, only two games remain for each of the MISL's eight clubs. Second and third place in the East will be decided this weekend, as Baltimore and Cleveland both play a pair of road games. The MISL's 2002-03 regular season will end with the final whistle at Reunion Arena following Sunday's Baltimore at Dallas outing, which will also be the final contest of Tatu's remarkable indoor career.

THIS WEEK'S MISL SCHEDULE:

Friday, March 21 Kansas City at Milwaukee 7:05 p.m. CT
Baltimore at San Diego 7:05 p.m. PT
Saturday, March 22 Milwaukee at Philadelphia 7:05 p.m. ET
Cleveland at Harrisburg 7:35 p.m. ET
San Diego at Dallas 7:05 p.m. CT
Sunday, March 23 Cleveland at Philadelphia 1:05 p.m. ET
Kansas City at Harrisburg 6:05 p.m. ET
Baltimore at Dallas 6:05 p.m. CT

HOWES AND LARKIN NAB WEEKLY AWARDS: Offensive: Milwaukee Wave forward Greg Howes has been named the MISL Offensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending March 16. Howes recorded three 2pgs and two assists for eight points in two games over the weekend.

Howes, runner-up in the 2000-01 Rookie of the Year voting, scored five points (two 2pgs, assist) in Milwaukee's 12-4 win over the Dallas Sidekicks on Saturday at the Bradley Center. The native of Tacoma, WA, then tallied three points (2pg, assist) as the Wave fell 12-10 to the Philadelphia KiXX on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Howes is now tied with teammate Joe Reiniger for third in the MISL with 98 points on the season. He is second in the League with 39 total goals, third with 35 2pgs, and leads the circuit with seven game-winning goals. Howes has now won weekly honors three times this season.

Defensive: Cleveland Force goalkeeper Jim Larkin has been named the MISL Defensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending March 16. For the week, Larkin went 2-0 and saved 34 of the 39 shots he faced, allowing only 12 points.

Larkin turned away 16 of 20 shots in Cleveland's 14-10 over the Philadelphia KiXX on Friday at The Convo. The 27-year-old then stopped 18 of 19 shots as the Force downed the Baltimore Blast 4-2 on Sunday in a game that tied the MISL record for fewest combined points in a contest.

For the season, Larkin is now 18-15 with an 11.54 points against average. He is tied for second in the League in wins and is fourth with a .739 save percentage, and leads the MISL in both minutes played (1,903) and saves (496). This marks the third time that Larkin has earned weekly honors this season.

MISL GAME RECAPS (March 10 – March 16, 2003)

Games of 03/14/2003
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
CLEVELAND 14 6-4-2-2 6,966 23 2 1-1 Larkin (16-20)
Philadelphia 10 5-4-3-0 31 0 0-0 Pappas (9-16)

Lee Edgerton's 2pg at 3:24 of the third broke a 10-10 tie and sent the Force to a 14-10 over Philadelphia on Friday at The Convo. The goal was Edgerton's second of the contest; Giuliano Oliviero also scored twice for Cleveland. Gary DePalma finished with five points (3pg, 2pg) for the KiXX. Jim Larkin turned away 16 of 20 shots in goal.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
Dallas 9 2-2-5-0 5,081 27 13 0-3 Sagu (20-24)
KANSAS CITY 8 2-4-0-2 37 11 1-3 Ceccarelli (12-16)

Dallas goalkeeper Sagu saved 20 of 24 shots and David Doyle scored four points as the Sidekicks downed the Comets at Kemper Arena. Brad Flanagan put Dallas up 9-6 with a 2pg at 12:25 of the third; the goal served as the game-winner. Nino DaSilva brought Kansas City within two with a 2pg at 11:07 of the fourth, but the Comets would not score again. Doyle became one of 10 players in indoor soccer history to record 1,000 combined goals and assists.

Games of 03/15/2003
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
MILWAUKEE 12 4-2-4-2 8,036 26 4 2-2 Nogueira (7-9)
Dallas 4 0-2-0-2 15 4 1-2 Sagu (15-21)

The Wave held the Sidekicks to one goal through the first three quarters of play and limited the Sidekicks to only 15 shots on goal in a 12-4 win at the Bradley Center on Saturday afternoon. Greg Howes scored five points (two 2pgs, assist) for Milwaukee. Sagu took the loss in goal despite saving 15 of 21 shots. Tatu assisted on both Dallas goals.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
Baltimore 16 4-0-4-8 6,342 30 10 0-0 Hileman (17-22)
KANSAS CITY 11 4-0-3-4 33 9 0-2 Quinn (11-18)

Denison Cabral recorded his second hat trick of the season, finishing with four goals and eight points as the Blast dropped the Comets on Saturday night at Kemper Arena. Cabral's 2pg at 5:45 of the fourth served as the game-winner. Tarik Walker notched six points (two 2pgs, two assists) for the Blast. Nate Houser bagged a pair of 2pgs for the Comets. Scott Hileman registered eight of his 17 saves in the fourth quarter. Sean Bowers recorded the 800th point of his career. The win allowed Baltimore to clinch the third and final playoff spot in the League's Eastern Conference.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
Harrisburg 15 5-6-4-0 4,017 24 2 2-3 Damico (16-22)
SAN DIEGO 13 5-2-2-4 37 6 0-1 Vorberg (7-14)

Harrisburg built a 15-9 lead through three quarters and held on for the victory despite a pair of fourth-quarter goals by the Sockers. The Heat's Ato Leone scored three goals and six points to lead all scorers, and David Bascome added a 3pg and a 2pg for five points. Chris Damico saved 16 of 22 shots for the win. Carlos Farias and Matt Stewart scored three points apiece for San Diego, and Nick Vorberg saved seven shots in the loss. Despite the win, the Heat was eliminated from the playoffs.

Games of 03/16/2003
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
Philadelphia 10 0-3-5-2 10,501 21 11 0-1 Pappas (25-29)
MILWAUKEE 8 0-0-4-4 47 12 1-2 Green (12-16)

Don D'Ambra's 2pg with 51 seconds left in regulation gave the KiXX a 10-8 win over the Wave on Sunday afternoon at the Bradley Center. Milwaukee had tied the contest at 8-8 with a pair of fourth-quarter deuces before D'Ambra's decisive score. D'Ambra finished with five points (3pg, 2pg) to lead all scorers, and KiXX defender Pat Morris recorded an assist and blocked seven shots. Peter Pappas saved 25 of 29 shots in goal for the win. The loss was only Milwaukee's third at home this season.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
CLEVELAND 4 0-0-0-2 6,856 40 2 1-1 Larkin (18-19)
Baltimore 2 0-0-4-0 33 2 1-1 Phillips (18-20)

The Force prevailed in a defensive duel at The Convo on Sunday afternoon. Jim Larkin saved 18 of 19 shots, holding the Blast scoreless for the first 54 minutes of the game. Danny Kelly broke up the shutout bid with a 2pg at 9:22 of the fourth. Neither team scored until the third quarter, when Justin Evans (8:21) and Giuliano Oliviero (12:49) found the net for Cleveland. Brett Phillips took the loss despite saving 18 of 20 shots in net. The six combined points in the contest ties the League record, set twice previously.

TEAM CAPSULES (March 10 – March 16, 2003)

BALTIMORE BLAST (16-18)

The Blast went 1-1 last week, clinching a playoff berth with a 16-11 win in Kansas City on Saturday, and falling 4-2 in Cleveland on Sunday. Denison Cabral recorded his second hat trick of the season on Saturday, finishing with four goals and eight points including the game-winner, and now ranks 15th in the League with 66 points this season. Sean Bowers became the 19th player in League history to score 800 points against the Comets; Bowers ranks third in the MISL with 77 blocks. Goalkeeper Scott Hileman ranks third in the League with a 10.40 points against average and is fifth in the League with a .734 save percentage. The team's 4-2 loss against the Force on Sunday tied the record for the lowest-scoring game in League history, a mark set twice previously. Baltimore will play the Force in the first round of the playoffs; the game could still take place in either Baltimore or Cleveland, though the Force faces a magic number of one to clinch second place in the East. The Blast must win its final two games and the Force must lose its remaining two games if Baltimore is to host a first-round playoff game.

For The Record: Home: 11-7 Road: 5-11 vs. Eastern Conference: 9-9 vs. Western Conference: 7-9

Up Next: Friday 3/21 at San Diego; Sunday 3/23 at Dallas

CLEVELAND FORCE (18-16)

Cleveland extended its winning streak to three games with a pair of home wins last week, defeating Philadelphia 14-10 on Friday night and downing Baltimore 4-2 on Sunday. Giuliano Oliviero scored three goals and six points over the weekend to lead the team; Oliviero is now 10th in the MISL with 77 points on the season, and ranks fifth in total goals with 30. Jim Larkin earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after going 2-0 and stopping 34 of 39 shots faced; he turned away 18 of 19 shots against the Blast on Sunday in a game that tied the League mark for fewest points scored in a game. Larkin is tied for second in the MISL with 18 wins, ranks fourth with a .734 save percentage, and leads the League in both minutes (1,903) and saves (496). Chris Stathopoulos ranks 12th in the League with 70 points. Legendary playmaker Zoran Karic returned to action with three assists in two games over the weekend; Karic has assisted on 657 goals in his MISL career, the second-most in League history. Cleveland faces a magic number of one to lock up second place in the Eastern Conference and host a first-round playoff game.

For The Record: Home: 13-5 Road: 5-11 vs. Eastern Conference: 8-8 vs. Western Conference: 10-8

Up Next: Saturday 3/22 at Harrisburg; Sunday 3/23 at Philadelphia

DALLAS SIDEKICKS (8-26)

The Sidekicks went 1-1 last week, recording only their third road win of the season 9-8 in Kansas City on Friday and losing 12-4 in Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon. David Doyle scored six points in the two games, and against the Comets became the 10th player in indoor soccer history to record 1,000 combined goals and assists. Doyle leads the team and ranks eighth in the League with 82 points this season. Goalkeeper Sagu saved 35 of 45 shots in the two weekend games, and is third in the MISL with 1,653 minutes played and third with 362 saves. Player/coach Tatu is 17th in the League with 63 points and is tied for third with 29 assists. The Sidekicks, eliminated from playoff contention, will wrap up their season with home games against San Diego this Saturday and Baltimore this Sunday. Tatu, who has announced his plans to retire following this season, will play his final game on Sunday; the Brazilian legend is currently second in indoor soccer history in both goals (854) and assists (728).

For The Record: Home: 5-11 Road: 3-15 vs. Eastern Conference: 5-12 vs. Western Conference: 3-14

Up Next: Saturday 3/22 vs. San Diego; Sunday 3/23 vs. Baltimore

HARRISBURG HEAT (13-21)

The Heat won its only game of the week, 15-13 in San Diego on Saturday night, but was eliminated from playoff contention because of Baltimore's win in Kansas City. Ato Leone scored three goals and six points against the Sockers, giving him 78 points (ninth in the League) on the season. Leone is tied for third in the League with 29 assists. David Bascome tallied five points (3pg, 2pg) versus San Diego, and continues to lead the team and the Eastern Conference in scoring with 85 points (seventh in the MISL). Bascome leads the circuit with 14 power play goals, is third with 38 total goals, and ranks second with 36 2pgs. Genoni Martinez remains the highest-scoring defender in the League with 75 points (11th overall), and leads the MISL with 81 blocks. The Heat will complete its 2002-03 season with two home games this weekend, against Cleveland on Saturday and Kansas City on Sunday. Harrisburg will miss the playoffs for the second straight year after making the postseason in its first eight seasons, and nine of its first 10.

For The Record: Home: 8-8 Road: 5-13 vs. Eastern Conference: 5-12 vs. Western Conference: 8-9

Up Next: Saturday 3/22 vs. Cleveland; Sunday 3/23 vs. Kansas City

KANSAS CITY COMETS (17-17)

The Comets dropped two home games over the weekend, losing 9-8 to Dallas on Friday and 16-11 against Baltimore on Saturday to fall to 7-11 at Kemper Arena in 2002-03. Despite the losses, Kansas City wrapped up second place in the Western Conference thanks to San Diego's loss on Saturday. The Comets will host the San Diego Sockers in a first-round playoff game on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:05 p.m. Central. Nate Houser (three 2pgs) and Alex Zotinca (3pg, 2pg, assist) scored six points to lead the team during the week. Forwad Dino Delevski has all but wrapped up the '02-03 scoring title, leading the League with 140 points on the season. He also paces the League with 50 total goals and 42 2pgs, ranks second with 32 assists, and is tied for second with eight 3pgs. Nino DaSilva is fifth in the League with 90 points and ranks fourth with 31 2pgs. Nick Corneli and Nate Houser are tied for 13th in the MISL with 69 points. Defender Jeff Davis is fourth with 67 blocks. Goalkeeper Paolo Ceccarelli is fourth in the MISL with 17 wins, second with 490 saves, and second with a .753 save percentage. The Comets will complete their regular season with road games in Milwaukee this Friday and Harrisburg this Sunday.

For The Record: Home: 7-11 Road: 10-6 vs. Eastern Conference: 10-6 vs. Western Conference: 7-11

Up Next: Friday 3/21 at Milwaukee; Sunday 3/23 at Harrisburg

MILWAUKEE WAVE (27-7)

The Wave went 1-1 over the weekend, defeating Dallas 12-4 on Saturday and losing 10-8 to Philadelphia on Sunday. The loss against the KiXX was only the Wave's third home defeat of the season. Greg Howes was named Offensive Player of the Week for his eight-point weekend (three 2pgs, two assists). Howes is tied with teammate Joe Reiniger for third in the League with 98 points. Howes is second overall with 39 total goals, is third with 35 2pgs, and leads the MISL with seven game-winning goals. Reiniger is tied for second with eight 3pgs. Victor Nogueira, who saved seven of nine shots faced against the Sidekicks, leads the League with a 7.68 points against average, 24 wins, and a .768 save percentage. Midfielder Todd Dusosky is sixth in the League with 88 points, and leads the League with 42 assists. The Wave will conclude its regular season this weekend with a home game against Kansas City on Friday, and a contest in Philadelphia on Saturday. Milwaukee will host either the Comets or San Diego in the Western Conference Championship Game on Sunday, April 6, at 1:05 p.m. Central.

For The Record: Home: 14-3 Road: 13-4 vs. Eastern Conference: 13-4 vs. Western Conference: 14-3

Up Next: Friday 3/21 vs. Kansas City; Saturday 3/22 at Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA KIXX (23-11)

The KiXX fell 14-10 in Cleveland on Friday night, then used a late goal from player/coach Don D'Ambra to defeat the Milwaukee Wave 10-8 at the Bradley Center on Sunday. D'Ambra finished the weekend with two 2pgs and a 3pg for seven points in two games, and is now 19th in the League with 61 points on the season. Leading scorer Joel Shanker, still out with an ankle injury, is 16th in the League with 64 points. Defender Pat Morris blocked seven shots against the Wave, and now ranks fifth in the League with 59 blocks. Goalkeeper Peter Pappas ranks second in the League with a 9.86 points against average, is tied for second with 18 wins, and is fourth in the MISL with 1,643 minutes played and 332 saves. The KiXX will wrap up their regular season with home games this Saturday against Milwaukee and Sunday against Cleveland. Philadelphia will host either Baltimore or Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Championship Game on Thursday, April 3, at the First Union Spectrum (7:05 p.m. kickoff).

For The Record: Home: 15-1 Road: 8-10 vs. Eastern Conference: 12-5 vs. Western Conference: 11-6

Up Next: Saturday 3/22 vs. Milwaukee; Sunday 3/23 vs. Cleveland

SAN DIEGO SOCKERS (14-20)

San Diego lost its only game of the week, 15-13 to Harrisburg at home on Saturday. With the loss, the Sockers were locked into third place in the Western Conference, and will travel to Kansas City for their first-round playoff game on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:05 p.m. Central Time. Carlos "Chile" Farias is second in the League with 110 points on the season, 30 behind Kansas City's Dino Delevski. Farias is fourth in the MISL with 37 total goals and 27 assists, and leads the circuit with nine 3pgs. Defender Gaston Pernia is second in the League with 78 blocks. Goalkeeper Nick Vorberg is fourth in the MISL with a 10.58 points against average. The Sockers will finish their regular season with a home game against Baltimore this Friday and a contest in Dallas on Saturday.

For The Record: Home: 9-8 Road: 5-12 vs. Eastern Conference: 4-13 vs. Western Conference: 10-7

Up Next: Friday 3/21 vs. Baltimore; Saturday 3/22 at Dallas

LEAGUE NOTES:

- The Kansas City Comets will host the San Diego Sockers on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:05 p.m. Central Time in a first-round playoff game at Kemper Arena. The winner will face the Milwaukee Wave on Sunday, April 6, in the Western Conference Championship Game at the Bradley Center (1:05 p.m. Central kickoff).

- The Philadelphia KiXX will host either Baltimore or Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Championship Game on Thursday, April 3, at the First Union Spectrum. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. Eastern.

- The date and location of the first-round game in the Eastern Conference, which will feature Baltimore and Cleveland, is to be determined. The Force faces a magic number of one to clinch the #2 seed in the Conference and host the contest.

- With a goal and an assist against Kansas City on Friday, Dallas Sidekicks forward David Doyle became the 10th player in the history of indoor soccer to record 1,000 combined goals and assists for his career.

- Baltimore Blast defender Sean Bowers became the 19th player in League history to score 800 career points against the Comets on Saturday.

- Dallas Sidekicks legend Tatu, who has announced his plans to retire following this season, will play his final game on Sunday at Reunion Arena; the Brazilian forward is currently second in indoor soccer history in both goals (854) and assists (728).

- MISL teams drew a total of 47,799 fans to seven games over the weekend for an average of 6,828 per game. For the season, MISL clubs are averaging 5,321 fans per contest.

QUOTE CORNER:

"That is playoff mentality. After this game, we made it. Definitely there is relief."

- Baltimore Blast forward Denison Cabral, after his team clinched a playoff berth with a 16-11 win in Kansas City on Saturday

"I don't think we played poorly, I think [Dallas goalkeeper] Sagu was unbelievable in goal. We had some good opportunities, and he just came up huge. He was awesome today."

- Kansas City Comets coach Zoran Savic, after his team's 9-8 loss to the Dallas Sidekicks on Friday (More)

HEADING INTO FINAL WEEKEND, DELEVSKI LOOKS JUST FINE...

With just two games remaining in the regular season, Kansas City's Dino Delevski appears to have locked up his second straight 2002-03 SPALDING Scoring Champion Award. The 26-year-old striker enters the week with 140 points, 30 ahead of his closest challenger, San Diego's Carlos "Chile" Farias. Delevski and Farias remain the only players in the League to crack the century mark this season, but Milwaukee's high-scoring pair of Greg Howes and Joe Reiniger, both with 98 points, are likely to join them this weekend. Kansas City's Nino DaSilva (90 points) and Milwaukee's Todd Dusosky (88) have outside shots at reaching the 100-point plateau.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 17, 2003

• Heat Weekly - Harrisburg Heat
• Blast Clinch Playoff Berth - MISL 2

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