Chicago Riot Travels to Missouri, Faces Comets on Sunday
December 18, 2010 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Chicago Riot News Release
CHICAGO (Dec. 18, 2010) -- The Chicago Riot faces fellow 2010-2011 Major Indoor Soccer League newcomers, the Missouri Comets, at 3:10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo. The game includes a webcast accessible at MISL.net and Spanish-language online radio at LaMaquinaDeportiva.com.
The two teams originally were to play on Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, Ill. But with poor weather conditions preventing Missouri from traveling to Chicago from Baltimore, the team had to postpone the match that morning. The rescheduled match is set for 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, at the Odeum.
The Riot also announces the signing of midfielder Sandre "Sunny" Naumoski, who is joining Chicago for the trip to Missouri. Naumoski played for the Philadelphia KiXX during the 2009-2010 season, tallying 10 goals, nine assists and 29 points. Naumoski once played for the Chicago Storm during the 2004-2005 season, and he got his MISL start with the Kansas City Comets in 2003-2004.
This weekend's trip brings back some memories for Riot Head Coach Jeff Kraft, who started his indoor playing career with the Kansas City Comets during the 1986-1987 season.
"It was a neat experience," Kraft said. "I went out there and stayed with a booster club family, a family that was behind the team 100 percent. I lived with them, and they'll be at Sunday's game. Back in the 1980s, the MISL was it. There were no other leagues. The talent on the teams was fantastic."
Chicago (0-4) is coming off a 9-8 loss at the Milwaukee Wave last Saturday, and a 17-6 loss at the Omaha Vipers the day before. Last Sunday would have been the Riot's third game in three days.
"I think they were ready," Kraft said of the team's demeanor following last Saturday's match. "They were ready to battle. We were short by seconds in Milwaukee. They were ready, but who knows. Sometimes tired legs are the legs that can do the job."
The Riot has back-to-back matches on the docket against the Comets (1-4). After a two-and-a-half-week break, Chicago travels again to Missouri on Jan. 7.
Last Saturday, the Riot defense held the Wave to its second-lowest point total of the season, but a Jonathan Greenfield three-pointer proved to be the difference in the fourth quarter to lead Milwaukee. Riot goalkeeper Jeff Richey made 19 saves and rookie defender Eric Duda had a game-high four blocks. Chris Brisson had his most productive game of the season with a two-point goal and two assists. Alex Megson tallied his first MISL goal, recent signing Anthony Maher contributed a goal, and Bato Radonciccapped off Chicago's scoring with a late fourth-quarter goal.
Though Chicago came up short against the Wave, the Riot posted one of its better performances of the season, entering the fourth quarter tied at 6-6 and containing Milwaukee's offense throughout the game. However, the Riot has taken fewer shots than any MISL team this season and is still searching for a double-figure offensive output in a game.
"Our No. 1 priority is to play well defensively, but we have to score goals," Kraft said. "I think Anthony Maher is going to bring our goal percentage up. He's a great target guy and he can help Bato and help our midfield."
Also last Saturday, the Baltimore Blast edged Missouri, 12-10, at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore. The Comets had a 10-4 third-quarter lead, but the Blast posted a 9-0 run and surrendered only a late goal by Missouri's Tiguinho in the closing seconds.
Notes: - Scoring leaders: Riot rookie forward and Chicago native Edward Santelizleads Chicago with three goals and seven points, earning his first MISL assist against Milwaukee last Saturday. His standout effort of the season is a two-goal performance during a 10-6 loss to the Baltimore Blast on Nov. 19. Chris Brisson and Semir Mesanovic are tied for the Riot team lead with two assists apiece. ... The Comets are led by Leo Gibson's 15 points (four goals, four assists). Teammate Byron Alvarez leads the team with five goals and Geison Moura leads the team with five assists.
- Familiar faces, local ties: Riot head coach Jeff Kraft started his playing career with the Kansas City Comets in 1986-1987, debuting on May 3, 1986, against the Chicago Sting at the Rosemont Horizon (now Allstate Arena). ... Comets goalkeeper Danny Waltman started his pro indoor career with the Chicago Storm in 2004-2005 and played for two seasons before heading to the Detroit Ignition. Waltman returned to Illinois to man the net for the Rockford Rampage in 2009-2010, but he missed the latter half of the season with a knee injury. ... Comets forward Jamar Beasley has ties to the Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer) and Rockford Rampage, and fellow Missouri teammates Leo Gibson and Geison Moura previously played for Rockford. ... Missouri defender Brian Harris is a native of Edwards, Ill., located several miles west of Peoria.
- Gibson awarded: On Dec. 1, Comets forward Leo Gibson was named MISL Player of the Month for November. He recorded four goals, four assists and a league-leading 15 points in four games during the month. Gibson played for the Rockford Rampage and Philadelphia KiXX during the 2009-2010 MISL season.
- Milestone watch: Riot midfielder Semir Mesanovic is one goal away from 75 for his career. Anthony Maher is four points away from 250.
About the Riot's opponent, the Missouri Comets: In July of 2010, the Missouri Comets joined the Major Indoor Soccer League, bringing back the indoor game to the Greater Kansas City area. Former Kansas City Comets and Wichita Wings All-Star Kim Roentved is the Comets' head coach. The Copenhagen, Denmark, native joined the Comets in 1987 as a player and was part of the organization until it folded in the summer of 1991.
The Comets' first two signings were goalkeeper Danny Waltman and forward Worteh Sampson. Waltman, well known for his back-flips and energetic demeanor, previously played for the Detroit Ignition, Chicago Storm and Rockford Rampage. Waltman's standout campaign was in 2008-2009, when he led Detroit to the Xtreme Soccer League title and earned MVP honors.
The squad includes several former Rockford players from the 2009-2010 season, including forward Leo Gibson, midfielder Geison Moura and forward Jamar Beasley. Beasley started his indoor career with Kansas City during the 2003-2004 season. Before then, he had an outdoor career in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution and then scored a career-high four goals in 18 games for the Chicago Fire.
The Comets play their home games at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from December 18, 2010
- Chicago Riot Travels to Missouri, Faces Comets on Sunday - Chicago Riot
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