Chicago Riot Gears up for Friday's MISL Debut at Baltimore
November 18, 2010 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Chicago Riot News Release
CHICAGO (Nov. 18, 2010) -- The Chicago Riot, built from the ground up over a matter of weeks, will make its Major Indoor Soccer League debut when the team travels to Baltimore to take on the Blast at 6:35 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at 1st Mariner Arena.
The match, which is the season opener for both teams, includes a live webcast accessible through the MISL's web site, www.MISL.net. Spanish language web radio will be available at www.lamaquinadeportiva.com.
The short time frame to prepare for the season will be a challenge for Riot head coach Jeff Kraft and his players. But the organization has a cohesive group that has battled alongside one another and has played for Kraft during his four-year coaching tenure with the Rockford Rampage.
"We're being thrown into the lion's den," Kraft said. "For us, we're just getting that core group of guys on the same page. It's been tough, but these guys have stepped up to the plate. The guys know each other, and we know that every game is going to be a battle."
As the Riot settles in during its first season, the team will rely heavily on two players who have a combined 16 years of previous professional indoor experience between them -- assistant coach and midfielder Novica "Novi" Marojevic (entering his 10th season) and midfielder Semir Mesanovic (entering his eighth season).
Marojevic enters the season having played in 279 matches, contributing 159 goals, 130 assists and 414 points. His indoor career has spanned the Kansas City Attack, Chicago Storm, Detroit Ignition and the Rockford Rampage. Marojevic did not play during the 2009-2010 MISL season.
"Novi's looking good," Kraft said. "He's smart and he's creative, and that's why I brought him to the team. It's just a matter of getting the legs going."
Mesanovic has played in 146 games, tallying 73 goals, 48 assists and 175 points, with stops at the Milwaukee Wave, Chicago Storm, California Cougars, Rockford Rampage and Philadelphia KiXX.
This season's Riot captain will be midfielder Fred Degand, who tallied eight goals, five assists and 23 points in 19 matches for Rockford during the 2009-2010 MISL season.
"He's got the experience and he's a fierce competitor," Kraft said. "Everybody responds to him. Every year I like to pick a new captain, and this year I went with Fred."
Jeff Richey will man the goal during the Riot's debut. The former Storm and Rampage goalkeeper has logged a shade more than 3,200 minutes in six seasons while posting a 30-25 record, 697 saves and a 0.726 career save percentage.
Late Wednesday, the Riot announced that forward Alex Megson will accompany the Riot in Baltimore. Megson, the son of former Tacoma Stars All-Star Neil Megson, was acquired this offseason from the Milwaukee Wave in exchange for future considerations. Megson played in one match for the Wave during the 2009-2010 season.
The Blast added some significant talent this offseason, particularly former Philadelphia KiXX players Adauto Neto and Pat Morris. Morris is a two-time MISL Defender of the Year, and Neto led the league last season with 28 assists and 65 points, to go along with 18 goals. But Neto is out for several weeks because of knee surgery earlier this week.
Notes:
- Chicago indoor roots: Nine players on the Riot's first-year roster have ties to the Chicago Storm, which played in the MISL for four seasons (2004-05 to 2007-08) and the Xtreme Soccer League for one season (2008-09): defender Chris Brisson, midfielder Fred Degand, defender Will Kletzien, defender Vladimir Knezevic, defender Eric Lukin, midfielder Novica Marojevic, midfielder Semir Mesanovic, goalkeeper Jeff Richey and forward Zlatko Zebic.
- Familiar faces, local ties: Riot head coach Jeff Kraft is a Baltimore, Md., native. When the Rockford Rampage joined the National Indoor Soccer League for the 2008-2009 season, Kraft led Rockford to the title match against his hometown Baltimore Blast, only to fall short, 13-10. ... Baltimore midfielder Scott Buete formerly played for Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire in 2004 and 2005, tallying two assists during his rookie season in 2004.
- Milestone watch: Riot midfielder Semir Mesanovic is two assists away from 50 for his career and two goals away from 75. ... Riot goalkeeper Jeff Richey is three saves away from 700 for his career.
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About the Riot's opponent, the Baltimore Blast: The Baltimore Blast has established itself as a regular force in professional indoor soccer. In Baltimore's past eight seasons, the Blast has won five championships. Its most recent was the 2008-2009 National Indoor Soccer League Championship, a 13-10 victory over the Rockford Rampage.
Goalkeeper Sagu is starting his seventh straight season with the Blast. He was named to the 2009-2010 All-MISL Second Team, posting a 7-6 record and allowing 10.4 points per game.
A key 2010-2011 addition is the return to Baltimore of Brazilian forward Adauto Neto, who was named to the All-MISL First Team with the Philadelphia KiXX last season. He led the MISL last season with 28 assists and 65 points, while contributing 18 goals. Neto played for the Blast from 2005 to 2008.
Baltimore also added veteran defender Pat Morris, who is a two-time MISL Defender of the Year and is coming off a 20-goal, 47-point 2009-2010 season with Philadelphia.
Danny Kelly, a former Blast player, has coached the Baltimore squad since May of 2006. He was named Coach of the Year following the 2008-09 NISL season after leading the Blast to their most recent championship.
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2010-2011 Chicago Riot Schedule
DATE, TIME, OPPONENT
Friday, Nov. 19; 6:35 p.m.; at Baltimore Blast
Sunday, Dec. 5; 6:00 p.m.; Milwaukee Wave
Friday, Dec. 10; 7:05 p.m.; at Omaha Vipers
Saturday, Dec. 11; 6:00 p.m.; at Milwaukee Wave
Sunday, Dec. 12; 6:00 p.m.; Missouri Comets
Saturday, Dec. 19; 3:10 p.m.; at Missouri Comets
Friday, Jan. 7; 7:35 p.m.; at Missouri Comets
Sunday, Jan. 9; 7:00 p.m.; Omaha Vipers
Sunday, Jan. 16; 7:00 p.m.; Baltimore Blast
Saturday, Jan. 22; 6:00 p.m.; at Milwaukee Wave
Saturday, Jan. 29; 6:35 p.m.; at Baltimore Blast
Sunday, Jan. 30; 7:00 p.m.; Baltimore Blast
Sunday, Feb. 6; 7:00 p.m.; Missouri Comets
Friday, Feb. 11; 7:05 p.m.; at Omaha Vipers
Sunday, Feb. 13; 7:00 p.m.; Omaha Vipers
Saturday, Feb. 19; 6:00 p.m.; at Milwaukee Wave
Sunday, Feb. 20; 3:10 p.m.; at Missouri Comets
Sunday, Feb. 27; 7:00 p.m.; Baltimore Blast
Friday, March 4; 6:35 p.m.; at Baltimore Blast
Sunday, March 6; 3:10 p.m.; at Missouri Comets
all time listings Central
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from November 18, 2010
- Chicago Riot Gears up for Friday's MISL Debut at Baltimore - Chicago Riot
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