California Cougars Weekly Report
November 7, 2007 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
California Cougars News Release
The Cougars (0-1) take on the expansion Monterrey La Raza (0-1) this Saturday (November 10th) at the Stockton Arena. The match marks the first ever meeting between the two teams. La Raza started their inaugural season with a 16 - 12 loss to the Chicago Storm. Defending MISL defender of the year Genoni Martinez scored a goal and assisted fellow La Raza teammate Armando Teran on a score in Monterrey's seasoning opening loss. California dropped its season opener against the Storm on October 27, 2007 in Chicago, 11-10. Enrique Tovar accounted for three of the five goals scored by California in the loss. La Raza plays the defending MISL Champion Philadelphia KiXX (0-2) on November 8, 2007 in Monterrey.
Upcoming game: 11/10 vs. Monterrey La Raza, 7:15PM 11/17 vs. Detroit Ignition, 7:15PM
Media: Internet Stream: www.californiacougars.net KTNC-TV42, Tape Delay to air 11/17 at 2:00PM (Spanish Broadcast)
Team Schedule: 11/7: 9:30AM - Practice at Stockton Arena, 1:00PM Weight Training 11/8: 9:30AM - Practice at Stockton Arena 11/9: 9:30AM - Practice at Stockton Arena 11/10: 9:30AM - Practice at Stockton Arena, 7:15PM vs. Monterrey 11/11: Day Off 11/12: 9:30AM - Practice in Manteca, 1:00PM Weights 11/13: 9:30AM - Practice in Manteca 11/14: 9:30AM - Practice in Manteca, 1:00PM Weights
Upcoming Milestones: Enrique Tovar: 95 career points through 11/7/07 Enrique Tovar: 41 career goals through 11/7/07 Ryan Hall: 94 blocks as a Cougar through 11/7/07 Ryan Hall: 104 career blocks through 11/7/07 Chris Handsor: 161 career assists through 11/7/07
Familiar Faces:
Most of the La Raza roster is comprised of new professionals to the indoor game. However, La Raza did leave some room for a few MISL veterans. Former Philadelphia Kixx defender, and 2006-07 MISL Defender of the Year Genoni Martinez signed with La Raza before the beginning of the current regular season. Martinez has a total of 17 points scored against California including five two-point goals and 7 assists. Two of his five goals counted during power play opportunities, one came off a restart. The 32 year-old, four time All-Star defender has played in five games against the Cougars in his nine year MISL/NPSL career. Forward Dino Deleviski enters his ninth season in the MISL/NPSL, and his first in Monterrey. The former Philadelphia Kixx forward has 13 points in his career against the Cougars, including 10 points last season. He found the back of the net three times and assisted a teammate on a score four times against California during the 2006-07 season. Former Cougar defender Neil Gilbert is also a member of the Monterrey squad this year. The 37 year-old Los Angeles native played in just seven games for the Cougars in the 2005-06 season, he finished with one goal and six blocks in three starts.
While they were away:
Rey Mysterio Jr. of World Wrestling Entertainment, and cousin to Cougar midfielder Eduardo Velez, put on a thrilling show for the Stockton Arena on Sunday, November 4, 2007. Velez sat ringside with his family during the event and watched as Mysterio defeated WWE superstars the "Great Kahli" and "Finlay" in a tag team bout. Mysterio teamed with fellow WWE superstar Bautista.
Velez visited with Mysterio before the event in the backstage area. He gave Mysterio a version of his own uniform and a customized Cougars jersey in honor of the wrestling superstar. The customized jersey read "Mysterio" on the back with the number "619" for Mysterio's finishing maneuver. Due to WWE promotional regulations, Mysterio was not able to wear the Cougars jersey during the match.
Mysterio did use the Cougar jersey to help gain the support of the local fans by wearing it before and after the event in autograph sessions. He wore his Velez jersey before the event and the customized Mysterio jersey in the post match autograph session.
Brazilian influence:
The Cougars have received clearance from US Soccer and the government of Brazil to allow MISL rookie forwards Naldo and Luis Pinto to play with the team against La Raza on November 10.
Ednaldo Mendesda da Conceicao, known as Naldo, formerly played for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer in 2005 and 2006. Naldo spent five years learning and playing in the Fluminense F.C. system in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Naldo has also played for America de Mexico and Galatasaray, St Gallen in Turkey. He has played professionally for 13 years.
Twenty-four year old Luis Pinto makes his MISL debut with the Cougars in 2007-08. Pinto was signed as a free agent by the Cougars during training camp. He most recently played for Tejusa Futbol Club in Indaiatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. He started his U16 soccer career with Guarany F.C. in Campinas, Sao Paulo at 12 years old. He attended college at Johnson County Community College from 2001 to 2004, where he earned an associates degree in liberal learning. Pinto was named to the All-Region team in both 2001 and 2003. He was named an All-American in 2002 for Johnson County. Pinto is a 2000 high school of Olathe North High School in Olathe, KS.
Pinto was a large part of the Cougars' offense during the preseason. He scored twice the Cougars' 31-0 defeat of the Stockton Pumas on October 7, 2007. He accounted for the 27th point and the 31st. Pinto scored once during the Cougars' 15-6 victory over the Turlock Express on October 13, 2007. He also scored once in the Cougars' preseason finale against the Estadio Azteca All Stars, the Cougars won that match 8-5.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from November 7, 2007
- California Cougars Weekly Report - California Cougars
- Detroit Ignition Weekly - Detroit Ignition
- Wave Weekly - Milwaukee Wave
- Chicago Storm Weekly - Chicago Storm
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