Bowers Gets Blast on Track

Published on November 18, 2002 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release

Sean Bowers enjoyed an historic night at the 1st Mariner Arena on Friday, November 15, while leading the Baltimore Blast to a 16-14 win over the Milwaukee Wave. Bowers recorded four points and six blocks while registering his first win as Baltimore's player/coach. The victory snapped the Blast's six-game losing streak and marked an end to the club's four-game home skid on a night in which Bowers etched his name into the Major Indoor Soccer League record book. The five-time All-League selection became the first player in League history to record at least 700 career points and 700 career blocks. Bowers also set-up Blast forward Giuliano Celenza for the game-winning goal with 4:53 gone in the fourth quarter to give Baltimore its first win against an Eastern Conference opponent this season.

The victory moved Baltimore to 3-7 on the season and kept the club four and one-half games behind first- place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings. The Kixx (8-3) claimed its sixth home win of the campaign with a 13-11 victory over Cleveland at the First Union Spectrum on November 16. Don D'Ambra and Kevin Sloan each registered four points in the win, moving Philadelphia two and one-half games ahead of the Force. The loss dropped Cleveland (4-4) into a second-place tie with idle Harrisburg (4-4).

In the Western Conference, Milwaukee salvaged a .500 week by rebounding from the setback in Baltimore to record a 20-8 victory over second-place San Diego. The Wave (8-2) snapped a two-game losing streak with the win over the Sockers (5-5) and moved three games ahead of San Diego in the Western Conference standings. Milwaukee also sustained a three and one-half game lead on Kansas City (4-5) and a six-game cushion on Dallas (2-8). Both the Comets and Sidekicks were idle last week.

FARIAS CONTINUES TO PACE SPALDING SCORING RACE...

San Diego forward Carlos Farias posted six points in the Sockers' 20-8 loss at Milwaukee on November 16 to hold an eight-point lead over the Wave's Joe Reiniger in the Spalding Scoring Race. Reiniger posted six points in two outings last week with four points in Milwaukee's 16-14 loss at Baltimore on November 15 and two points in the Wave's 12-point victory over San Diego.

Both Farias and Reiniger have played 10 games on the season with Farias posting 42 points on the campaign and Reiniger recording 34 points. Kansas City's Dino Delevski has recorded 33 points in eight games and currently ranks third in the scoring race.

HOWES AND BOWERS EARN WEEKLY HONORS... Offensive: Milwaukee Wave forward Greg Howes has been named the MISL Offensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending November 17. Howes receives the award after recording a 3-point goal, a 2-point tally, two assists and seven points in two outings last week.

The Tacoma, WA native opened his week by registering a 3-point goal during Milwaukee's 16-14 loss at Baltimore on November 15. Howes then posted the game-winning 2-point tally and added two assists for four points in the Wave's 20-8 victory over San Diego on November 16.

The 2000-01 All-Rookie selection is ranked fourth in MISL scoring with 28 points. Howes is tied for fourth in total goals with 11 and tied for fifth in 2-point goals with nine. The 25-year-old forward is also tied for second in sixth-attacker goals with two and is tied for fifth in 3-pointers with two.

Others Receiving Consideration:

Cleveland forward Hector Marinaro posted three 2-point goals and six points in Cleveland's 13-11 loss at Philadelphia on November 16.

Milwaukee midfielder Johnny Torres notched a 3-point goal, a 2-point score and an assist for six points during the Wave's 20-8 victory over San Diego on November 16.

San Diego forward Carlos Farias posted a pair of 3-point goals and six points in the Sockers' loss at Milwaukee on November 16.

Defensive:

Baltimore blast defender Sean Bowers has been named the MISL Defensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending November 17. Bowers receives the award after blocking six shots in leading the Blast to a 16-14 victory over Milwaukee on November 15.

Bowers added a 2-point goal and two assists in the contest to help Baltimore snap a six-game losing streak. The second of Bowers' two assists was a dish to Giuliano Celenza for the game-winning 2-point goal at 4:53 of the fourth quarter.

Bowers' six blocks gave the 2001-02 MISL Defender of the Year 700 denials for his career and made him the first player in League history to record at least 700 career blocks and 700 career points.

The five-time All-League selection is currently tied for second in the MISL in blocks with 23 on the season.

Others Receiving Consideration: Milwaukee goalkeeper Victor Nogueira allowed just three goals in the Wave's 20-8 victory over San Diego on November 16.

Philadelphia goalkeeper Peter Pappas surrendered 11 points during the Kixx's 13-11 win over Cleveland on November 16.

THIS WEEK'S MISL SCHEDULE...

Wednesday, November 20 San Diego at Philadelphia 10:35 a.m. ET
Friday, November 22 Harrisburg at Cleveland 7:35 p.m. ET
Saturday, November 23 San Diego at Baltimore 7:35 p.m. ET
Sunday, November 24 Harrisburg at Dallas 6:05 p.m. CT MISL GAME RECAPS (November 11 – November 17, 2002)

GAMES OF 11/15/2002
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
BALTIMORE 16 4-2-4-6 3,370 21 2 1-1 Hileman (18-24)
Milwaukee 14 7-0-0-7 38 2 0-0 Green (7-15)

Sean Bowers posted four points and six blocks as the Baltimore Blast defeated the Milwaukee Wave, 16-14, at the 1st Mariner Arena on Friday, November 15. Tarik Walker opened the scoring and gave the home team an early lead with a 2-point goal at 6:43 of the first quarter. After Milwaukee responded with a 7-0 run off of 2-point goals from Matt Schmidt (7:05) and Todd Dusosky (10:52) and a 3-point goal from Joe Reiniger (11:13), Bowers ended the first quarter scoring with a deuce at 12:29. That goal sparked a 14-0 run for the home club as Danny Santoro notched the only goal of the second frame at 8:37 to bring the Blast within one at 7-6 before Jason Dieter (58 seconds) and P.J. Wakefield (5:57) pushed Baltimore in front with third-quarter 2-pointers. In the fourth, Walker (41 seconds), Denison Cabral (2:22) and Giuliano Celenza (4:53) each notched 2-point tallies to pace the Blast to a 16-7 lead. Milwaukee responded and made a game of it, closing within two points at 16-14. Greg Howes began the comeback with a 3-pointer at 5:39 before Troy Dusosky (11:46) and Marcelo Fontana (13:03) notched 2-point tallies; however, the Wave could not score the equalizer as Baltimore snapped a six-game losing streak with the victory. Walker led the Baltimore offense with a pair of 2-pointers and an assist for five points while Reiniger (3-point goal, assist) paced Milwaukee with four points. Scott Hileman (18 saves) earned the win in the Blast goal while Dan Green (seven stops) took the loss.

GAMES OF 11/16/2002
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
MILWAUKEE 20 12-2-6-0 6,078 30 9 0-1 Nogueira (8-11)
San Diego 8 0-3-0-5 16 12 1-2 Horvath (14-23)

Johnny Torres posted six points as the Milwaukee Wave rolled to a 20-8 victory over the San Diego Sockers in front of a crowd of 6,078 at the Bradley Center on Saturday, November 16. The Wave took control of the contest early, reeling-off 14 consecutive points to open the contest. Troy Dusosky opened the scoring with a 3-point goal just 48-seconds into the game and Joe Reiniger followed with a 2-point goal at 1:30 to give Milwaukee a 5-0 lead. Michael King (3:50) and Greg Howes (5:17) each added 2-point goals before Torres completed the first quarter scoring with a 3-pointer at 14:01. In the second, Leighton O'Brien (12:46) capped the Wave's early run with a deuce at 12:46 before Carlos Farias got San Diego on the board and ended the first half scoring with a 3-pointer at 14:51. Milwaukee responded by scoring the only three goals of the third quarter to go ahead, 20-3, as Sipho Sibiya (48 seconds), Pat White (8:42) and Torres (12:23) each found the back of the net to extend the Wave lead to 17 points. In the fourth, Shawn Beyer notched a 2-pointer at 3:13 and Farias scored his second 3-pointer of the game at 9:32 to produce the 20-8 final. Torres led the Milwaukee offense with a 3-point goal, a 2-point score and an assist for six points. Farias paced San Diego with a pair of 3-point goals for six points. Victor Nogueira (eight saves) earned the win in goal for Milwaukee while D.J. Horvath (14 stops) took the loss for San Diego.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
PHILADELPHIA 13 4-4-3-2 3,783 26 9 1-1 Pappas (9-14)
Cleveland 11 0-6-0-5 17 9 2-2 Larkin (10-16)

Don D'Ambra and Kevin Sloan each scored a pair of goals as the Philadelphia Kixx defeated the Cleveland Force, 13-11, at the First Union Spectrum on Saturday, November 16. Sloan opened the scoring with a 2-point goal at 1:23 of the first quarter and D'Ambra followed with a deuce at 12:13 to give the home team a 4-0 lead through 15 minutes of play. In the second, D'Ambra struck again at the 15-second mark before Hector Marinaro notched back-to-back 2-pointers at 1:07 and 8:24 to bring the Force within two at 6-4. Nevio Pizzolitto then tied the score at six with a 2-pointer at 9:57 before Pat Morris bagged a 2-point tally at 14:59 to hand the Kixx an 8-6 halftime lead. Les Lunsford then extended the Philadelphia advantage to 11-6 with the third quarter's only goal, a 3-pointer, at 13:27 of the frame. Eric Kvello brought Cleveland back within two at 11-9 with a trifecta of his own at 2:50 of the fourth before Marinaro registered his third 2-pointer of the game at 5:22 to tie the score at 11. Sloan and the Kixx would have the final say, though, as the veteran forward notched the game-winning 2-pointer at 11:39 to move Philadelphia to 8-3 on the season. D'Ambra and Sloan each finished with a pair of 2-point goals and four points to pace the Kixx offense while Marinaro led all scorers with three 2-pointers and six points. Peter Pappas (nine saves) earned the win in the Kixx goal while Jim Larkin (10 stops) took the loss for Cleveland.

TEAM CAPSULES (November 11 – November 17, 2002)

Baltimore Blast (3-7)
The Blast defeated Milwaukee, 16-14, on November 15 in the team's lone action of the week. Sean Bowers posted a goal, two assists and six blocks to lead Baltimore to the victory. Five of Bowers' six blocks came during fourth quarter play. Bowers is tied for second in the MISL in blocks with teammate Jason Dieter. Both players have 23 blocks on the season. Paul Wright leads the Blast and ranks eighth in MISL scoring with 24 points. Denison Cabral and P.J. Wakefield are tied for 15th in League scoring with 20 points. Cabral also ranks second in restart goals with three. Lee Tschantret is tied for third in the MISL in assists with nine. Scott Hileman picked up his third win of the season in the victory over the Wave. Hileman ranks second in the League in saves with 120 while ranking third in minutes played (541) and fourth in points against average at 10.53. Baltimore is tied for the MISL lead in restart goals with six. The Blast will host San Diego on November 23 before traveling to Harrisburg (November 30) and Philadelphia (December 7).
Leading Scorer: Wright (24 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Hileman (3-6; 10.53 paa; .732 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 11/23 vs. San Diego, Sat. 11/30 at Harrisburg, Sat. 12/7 at Philadelphia

Cleveland Force (4-4)
The Force dropped a 13-11 decision at Philadelphia on November 16. Hector Marinaro posted three goals and six points in the contest and now ranks sixth in MISL scoring with 26 points. Marinaro is also third in power play goals with three. He is also tied for third in game-winning goals with two and tied for fifth in 2-point goals with nine. John Ball is second on the Force in scoring with 12 points and is tied for second in the MISL in sixth attacker goals with two. Jim Larkin is tied for third in the League with four wins while ranking third in saves with 118 and fifth in save percentage at .747. Larkin also ranks fifth in minutes played with 474 and sixth in points against average at 10.63. Cleveland special teams are both ranked third in the MISL with the power play at 53.8% and a penalty kill at 58.3%. The Force's defense is also ranked third in the MISL, surrendering 10.5 points per game. Cleveland will host Harrisburg on November 22 before traveling to Kansas City on November 30 and San Diego on December 5.
Leading Scorer: Marinaro (26 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Larkin (4-4; 10.63 paa; .747 save percentage)
Up Next: Fri. 11/22 vs. Harrisburg, Sat. 11/30 at Kansas City, Thurs. 12/5 at San Diego

Dallas Sidekicks (2-8)
The Sidekicks were idle last week. Tatu and Patrick Shamu are tied for ninth in MISL scoring with 23 points while David Doyle is tied for 11th with 22 points. Antonio Sutton is tied for 15th in League scoring with 20 points. Tatu is tied for third in the MISL in assists with nine while Brad Flanagan ranks fifth in the League with 16 blocks. Sagu ranks fourth in the MISL in minutes played with 494 and eighth in points against average at 12.14. Dallas' average margin of defeat has been just 3.6 points per game. The Sidekicks are 2-3 vs. Eastern Conference opponents, but have yet to defeat a Western Conference foe in five tries. Dallas will open a three-game homestand by welcoming Harrisburg on November 24. The Sidekicks will then entertain Kansas City on November 29 and Milwaukee on November 30.
Leading Scorers: Shamu, Tatu (23 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Sagu (1-7, 12.14 paa, .693 save percentage)
Up Next: Sun. 11/24 vs. Harrisburg, Fri. 11/29 vs. Kansas City, Sat. 11/30 vs. Milwaukee

Harrisburg Heat (4-4)
The Heat was idle last week. Marco Coria is tied for 11th in MISL scoring with 22 points while David Bascome is 20th with 19 points. Bascome also ranks second in power play goals with five while Coria is tied for third in assists with nine. Goalkeeper Doug Petras leads the MISL in save percentage at .792 and is fourth in saves with 114. Petras also ranks fifth in points against average at 10.54. Harrisburg's penalty kill remains the best in the MISL at 87.5% while the team's power play ranks fourth at 44.4%. The Heat's offense and defense are both fourth in the MISL as Harrisburg is averaging 11 points per game while allowing 11.1 points per contest. The Heat will travel to Cleveland on November 22 and Dallas on November 24 before hosting Baltimore on November 30.
Leading Scorer: Coria (22 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Petras (3-2; 10.54 paa; .792 save percentage)
Up Next: Fri. 11/22 at Cleveland, Sun. 11/24 at Dallas, Sat. 11/30 vs. Baltimore Kansas City Comets (4-5)
The Comets joined Dallas and Harrisburg on the sidelines last week. Dino Delevski remains third in League scoring with 33 points whiled being tied for the League lead in 2-point goals with 10. Delevski is third in the MISL in total goals with 12 while being tied for fifth in 3-point goals with two. Delevski also is tied for third with two game-winning goals. Nino DaSilva ranks fifth in points with 27 and is tied for fifth in 2-point goals with nine. Nate Houser is seventh in League scoring with 25 points and is tied for the MISL lead in 2-point goals with 10 while being tied for fourth in total goals with 11. Houser is also tied for second in sixth attacker goals with two. Chad James remains one of just four MISL players to score a short-handed goal this season. Paolo Ceccarelli leads the MISL in saves with 127 while ranking third in save percentage at .789. In addition, Ceccarelli is tied for third in wins with four and ranks seventh in points against average at 12.12. Kansas City's power play is the League's best at 57.1% while the club's offense is ranked second at 13.4 points per game. The Comets sport a losing record at home (0-2) and a winning mark on the road (4-3). Kansas City concludes a seven-game road swing with a date at Dallas on November 29 before hosting Cleveland on November 30 and Philadelphia on December 14.
Leading Scorer: Delevski (33 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Ceccarelli (4-1; 12.12 paa; .789 save percentage)
Up Next: Fri. 11/29 at Dallas, Sat. 11/30 vs. Cleveland, Sat. 12/14 vs. Philadelphia

Milwaukee Wave (8-2)
The Wave went 1-1 last week with a 16-14 loss at Baltimore on November 15 and a 20-8 victory vs. San Diego on November 16. Joe Reiniger posted six points in the two outings and now ranks second in League scoring with 34 points. Reiniger also ranks second in total goals with 13 and is tied for the League lead in 2-point goals with 10. The forward leads the MISL in power play goals with six and restart goals with four. Greg Howes now ranks fourth in MISL scoring with 28 points. Howes is tied for fourth in total goals with 11 and fifth in 2-point goals with nine. Howes is also tied for fifth in 3-point goals with two. Todd Dusosky is tied for the MISL lead in assists with 10. Victor Nogueira earned the win vs. San Diego and leads the League in victories with eight. Nogueira is also the League leader in minutes played with 550 while ranking second in points against average at 7.63 and fourth in save percentage at .771. The Milwaukee offense and defense both continue to lead the MISL. The Wave is averaging 15 points per game while allowing 8.6 points per contest. The Milwaukee special teams are both ranked second in the MISL with the Wave power play clicking at 54.5% and the team's penalty kill boasting a 69.2% rate. Milwaukee will travel to Dallas on November 30 and San Diego on December 6 before hosting the Sidekicks on December 8.
Leading Scorer: Reiniger (34 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Nogueira (8-1; 7.63 paa; .771 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 11/30 at Dallas, Fri. 12/6 at San Diego, Sun. 12/8 vs. Dallas

Philadelphia Kixx (8-3)
The Kixx defeated Cleveland, 13-11, on November 16 in the club's only action of the week. Don D'Ambra posted four points in the contest and is tied for 11th in MISL scoring with 22 points. Joel Shanker is 14th in League scoring with 21 points and Gary DePalma is tied for 15th with 20 points. D'Ambra is ranked second in the MISL with three game-winning goals while Kevin Sloan is tied for third with two game-winners. DePalma is tied for second in 3-point goals with three while Glenn Carbonara is fourth in blocks with 19. Peter Pappas ranks second in the MISL in wins with seven and minutes played with 544 while ranking third in points against average at 9.25. The Kixx join Cleveland as the League's only two unbeaten home teams. Philadelphia is 6-0 at the First Union Spectrum on the season. Philadelphia will host San Diego for a "School Day Game" on November 20 before entertaining the Sockers on November 30 and Baltimore on December 7.
Leading Scorer: D'Ambra (22 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Pappas (7-2; 9.25 paa, .722 save percentage)
Up Next: Wed. 11/20 vs. San Diego, Sat. 11/30 vs. San Diego, Sat. 12/7 vs. Baltimore

San Diego (5-5)
The Sockers dropped a 20-8 decision in Milwaukee on November 16. Carlos Farias posted six points in the contest to hold an eight-point lead in the Spalding Scoring Race. Farias has posted 42 points on the campaign and leads the MISL in total goals with 14. Farias also leads the League in 3-point goals with four and is tied for the MISL lead in 2-point goals with 10 and assists with 10. In addition, Farias is just one of four players to record a short-handed goal thus far this season while also leading the League in sixth-attacker goals with three. Alejandro Cardenas is tied for 15th in League scoring with 20 points while Gaston Pernia leads the MISL in blocks with 30. Goalkeeper Nick Vorberg continues to pace the MISL in points against average at 7.10 while D.J. Horvath ranks ninth at 14.40. Vorberg ranks second in save percentage at .790. San Diego is tied with Milwaukee for the League lead in sixth-attacker goals with four while the club ranks third in 3-point goals scored with nine. The Sockers will play in a "School Day Game" at Philadelphia on November 20 before heading to Baltimore on November 23 and back to Philadelphia on November 30.
Leading Scorer: Farias (42 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Vorberg (3-2; 7.10 paa; .790 save percentage)
Up Next: Wed. 11/20 at Philadelphia, Sat. 11/23 at Baltimore, Sat. 11/30 at Philadelphia

SCHOOL DAY GAME RETURNS TO PHILADEPHIA...

The MISL "School Day Game" will return to Philadelphia on Wednesday, November 20, when the defending MISL Champion Kixx host the San Diego Sockers. Game time at the First Union Spectrum is 10:35 AM ET. MISL "School Day Games" combine the excitement of professional indoor soccer with various educational elements to present a memorable field trip for thousands of school-age children.

The Dallas Sidekicks hosted the first "School Day Game" of the 2002-03 season and welcomed a crowd of 11,078 to Reunion Arena on November 6.

LEAGUE NOTES...

- Cleveland forward Hector Marinaro extended his scoring streak to 50 games last week with six points vs. Philadelphia on November 16; Marinaro has posted at least one point in 82 of his last 83 games and 189 of his last 192 outings

- Joe Reiniger's 3-point goal at Baltimore on November 15 moved the Wave forward into fifth place on the League's all-time scoring list; Reiniger (1,309 career points) passed former Detroit star Dennis Brose (1,305 points)

- Milwaukee defender Lovelace Ackah has played in 115 consecutive games; the Wave team record for consecutive games played (regular season and playoffs) was set by Steve Morris at 161

- Cleveland forward Giuliano Oliviero posted his 200th career assist on November 16 vs. Philadelphia

- Baltimore forward Gino DiFlorio has amassed 495 career assists and needs just five more dishes to become the seventh player in indoor soccer history to collect 500 career assists

- For the latest news, notes, and information on the Major Indoor Soccer League, visit the official internet home of the MISL at www.MISL.net, or call toll-free 1-866-MISLNET

QUOTE CORNER...

"Having to play (Saturday) night and travel this morning, we were pretty much just running on adrenaline and energy...I think we surprised them a little coming out of the blocks as hard as we did."

- Milwaukee midfielder Johnny Torres following the Wave's 20-8 victory over San Diego on November 16

"We still haven't done anything yet...we're still 4-5 and under the radar...we're on our way, but we still have a ways to go."

- Kansas City midfielder Nate Houser on November 15, commenting on the Comets' three-game winning streak after opening the season at 1-5

"There's been an unbelievable change (with our new coach)...we're so much better...we're not where we want to be, but we've taken huge strides...this game can be taken as a positive...in the past, we wouldn't be in the game and we'd lose control."

- Cleveland forward Giuliano Oliviero following the Force's 13-11 loss at Philadelphia on November 16; Philadelphia rallied from an 11-6 third-quarter deficit to tie the game in the fourth before finally falling by two points

Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from November 18, 2002

• This Week for the Heat - Harrisburg Heat
• Bowers Gets Blast on Track - MISL 2
• MISL Transaction Report - MISL 2

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