Blast trades for goalkeeper
Published on October 5, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Baltimore â Baltimore Blast General Manager Kevin Healey announced today that the team has acquired goalkeeper Sagu from the Cleveland Force in exchange for forward Chris Handsor and the rights to Dante Washington. The Force acquired Sagu last week in the Dallas Sidekicks dispersal draft.
"We are very pleased to be able to add Sagu to our roster," Healey said. "He is an experienced goalkeeper with outstanding ability. To obtain a quality player you must give up a quality player. The Blast organization thanks Chris Handsor for everything he did for our franchise, on and off the field. He is a quality individual and we wish him the best of luck."
Sagu, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, spent six seasons with the Sidekicks, the last two of which were in the MISL. In two MISL seasons, he allowed an average of 4.70 goals per game and compiled a 21-31 record. The 5-11, 175-pound keeper missed the 2004 postseason and played in just 24 regular season games last year due to a groin injury. He was named to the 2004 All Star Game but could not play due to the injury. Throughout his six-year indoor career, Sagu has a .779 career save percentage is 6-2 in the postseason, giving up 26 goals for a save percentage of .776. Sagu, 31, was named WISL Goalkeeper of the Year and First-Team All-WISL in 2000 and 2001. He is expected to join the Blast tomorrow. This trade is contingent on both Sagu and Handsor passing physicals.
Handsor, an eight-year veteran on the MISL/NPSL, spent just one year in Baltimore, recording 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points en route to the 2004 MISL Championship. He spent the previous two seasons with the Philadelphia KiXX and was the MVP of the 2002 Championship series. The 6-1, 190-pound forward began his indoor career with the Cleveland Crunch in 1995-96, played briefly with the KiXX during the 1996-97 season and played in Toronto, Edmonton, Kansas City and Buffalo before returning to Philadelphia. In addition to winning the MISL Championship with the Blast last season, he also won with the KiXX in 2002 and with Cleveland in 1996.
The Blast will play its first game of the 2004-05 season on Saturday, October 9 in San Diego before playing at 1st Mariner Arena on October 16 against the Sockers. The Blast's home opener will feature a 2004 MISL Championship celebration complete with a banner-raising and ring-presentation ceremony.
Blast season tickets and mini-plans are on sale now by calling the Blast office at 410-73-BLAST. Single-game tickets cost $20 and $17 and are available at the 1st Mariner Arena Box Office and by calling TicketMaster at 410-547-SEAT or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information on all Blast tickets, call the Blast office at 410-73-BLAST.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from October 5, 2004
- Season is just three days away - Baltimore Blast
- Blast trades for goalkeeper - Baltimore Blast
- Force acquires two forwards in trade - Cleveland Force
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