Comets Soar on the Road

Published on December 30, 2002 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release

Home may be where the heart is, but in the case of the Kansas City Comets, victories can be found on the road. Kansas City recorded consecutive road wins last week with a 13-6 triumph at San Diego on December 26 and a 17-6 win at Cleveland on December 28. The Comets, 7-8 overall on the season, are 7-3 on the road and 0-5 at home on the campaign.

Kansas City goalkeeper Paolo Ceccarelli was the difference maker for the Comets in both outings. Ceccarelli stopped 45 of 51 shots on the week while sporting a 6.00 points against average. The 33-year-old Ceccarelli stopped 27 of 30 shots in San Diego and followed with an 18-save effort in Cleveland two days later.

Nino DaSilva paced the Comets offense with five goals and 10 points on the week. DaSilva posted a pair of goals in the win over San Diego and then registered a hat-trick versus the Force. Dino Delevski added nine points in the two Kansas City wins.

The pair of victories moved Kansas City into second place in the Western Conference standings, four games behind first place Milwaukee (11-4). The Comets enjoy a two-game advantage on third-place San Diego (7-12) and a two and one-half game cushion on fourth-place Dallas (6-12).

The Sidekicks had their three-game winning streak snapped by way of a 10-8 loss at Harrisburg on December 28. Doug Petras stopped 14 shots while David Bascome posted a pair of goals. The Heat then ran its current winning streak to three games with an 11-2 victory over Baltimore on December 29. Petras was again solid in goal, stopping 10 of 11 shots faced, while Genoni Martinez notched a pair of 3-point goals and six points to pace the Harrisburg offense.

The Heat's recent winning streak has improved the club to 9-9 on the season and moved the team within one-half game of second-place Cleveland (8-7). The win over Baltimore also extended Harrisburg's lead over the fourth-place Blast (5-12) to three and one-half games.

After playing just seven games over the past two weeks, the MISL returns to action this week with all eight teams seeing action and eight games on the slate. The week begins on Tuesday, December 31, when Milwaukee hosts Dallas (1:05 p.m. CT) and Kansas City entertains Harrisburg (6:05 p.m. CT).

DASILVA AND CECCARELLI EARN WEEKLY HONORS... Offensive: Kansas City forward Nino DaSilva has been named the MISL Offensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending December 29. DaSilva receives the award after posting five 2-point goals in two outings last week.

DaSilva opened his week with a pair of 2-point goals in leading the Comets to a 13-6 victory at San Diego on December 26. The striker then notched a hat-trick, posting three 2-pointers, in pacing Kansas City to a 17-6 triumph at Cleveland on December 28.

The 23-year-old son of former indoor star Nilton DaSilva (Batata) ranks seventh in the MISL in scoring with 42 points. DaSilva is also tied for third in the League with 16 2-point goals.

The naming of DaSilva as the MISL Offensive Player of the Week marks the second time this season that he has won the award. DaSilva was previously cited during the seven-day period ending November 3.

Others Receiving Consideration:

Kansas City forward Dino Delevski recorded a 3-point goal, a 2-point tally, four assists and nine points in two Comets victories last week.

Harrisburg defender Genoni Martinez posted a pair of 3-point goals and an assist for seven points in helping the Heat to back-to-back home victories over Dallas and Baltimore.

Defensive:

Kansas City goalkeeper Paolo Ceccarelli has been named the MISL Defensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending December 29. Ceccarelli receives the award after going 2-0 on the week.

Ceccarelli stopped a total of 45 of 51 shots faced and registered a 6.00 points against average while posting two road wins last week. The former all-star stopped 27 of 30 shots faced in leading the Comets to a 13-6 win at San Diego on December 26 before turning away 18 of 21 shots faced in pacing Kansas City to a 17-6 victory at Cleveland on December 28.

Ceccarelli leads the MISL in save percentage at .781 and ranks third in saves with 218. The 33-year-old goalkeeper is tied for fourth in the League with seven wins and ranks sixth in points against average at 10.93.

The naming of Ceccarelli as the MISL Defensive Player of the Month marks the second time this season that he has won the award. He was previously honored for the seven-day period ending November 10.

Others Receiving Consideration: Harrisburg goalkeeper Doug Petras stopped 24 of 29 shots faced in leading the Heat to a pair of home victories last week.

Kansas City defender Jeff Davis registered seven blocks in two Comets victories last week.

THIS WEEK'S MISL SCHEDULE...

Tuesday, December 31 Dallas at Milwaukee 1:05 p.m. CT
Harrisburg at Kansas City 6:05 p.m. CT
Thursday, January 2 Milwaukee at San Diego 7:05 p.m. PT
Friday, January 3 Dallas at Cleveland 5:05 p.m. ET
Saturday, January 4 Dallas at Philadelphia 7:05 p.m. ET
Cleveland at Baltimore 7:35 p.m. ET
Kansas City at Harrisburg 7:35 p.m. ET
Sunday, January 5 Baltimore at Milwaukee 1:05 p.m. CT

MISL GAME RECAPS (December 23 – December 29, 2002)

GAMES OF 12/26/2002
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
Kansas City 13 2-4-2-5 2,970 26 12 1-1 Ceccarelli (27-30)
SAN DIEGO 6 0-0-2-4 39 12 0-1 Vorberg (16-20)

Paolo Ceccarelli made 27 saves as the Kansas City Comets downed the San Diego Sockers, 13-8, at the San Diego Sports Arena on Thursday, December 26. Nino DaSilva opened the scoring with a 2-point goal at 6:53 of the first quarter before Nick Corneli (11:46) and Dino Delevski (7:24) added 2-pointers in the second frame to push Kansas City to a 6-0 lead at the half. In the third, Wes Wade extended the Comets' lead to eight with a 2-pointer at 3:21 before Robbie Aristodemo notched a deuce for the Sockers at 14:35 to produce an 8-2 score through 45 minutes of play. Matthew Stewart (1:13) and Aaron Susi (11:42) scored consecutive 2-point goals for San Diego to close the score to 8-6, but DaSilva (14:10) notched a deuce and Delevski bagged a 3-pointer at 14:44 to claim the contest for Kansas City. Delevski paced the Comets with a 3-point goal, a 2-point score and two assists for seven points. Stewart, Susi and Aristodemo each recorded a 2-point goal to lead the Sockers. Ceccarelli earned the win in the Kansas City goal while Nick Vorberg (16 saves) took the loss for San Diego.

GAMES OF 12/28/2002
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
Kansas City 17 0-9-0-8 5,428 29 2 0-0 Ceccarelli (18-21)
CLEVELAND 6 2-4-0-0 32 0 1-1 Larkin (15-23)

Nino DaSilva registered a hat-trick as the Kansas City Comets defeated the Cleveland Force, 17-6, at the Convo on Saturday, December 28. Chris Stathopoulos scored the first quarter's only goal at 11:38 to give the home team an early 2-0 lead. Giuliano Oliviero then posted a deuce at 4:00 of the second frame to extend the Cleveland lead to 4-0. DaSilva struck at 5:52 and Nick Corneli recorded a 2-pointer at 6:27 to tie the score at four. Justin Evans (8:03) then notched a deuce for the Force before Bill Sedgewick (10:54) struck for a 3-pointer to produce a 7-6 Kansas City advantage. Nate Houser then posted a 2-point tally at 13:20 to give the Comets a 9-6 halftime lead. After a scoreless third quarter, Chad James opened the fourth with a 2-pointer at 1:20 that sparked an eight-point Kansas City fourth quarter and sealed the victory for the Comets. Alex Zotinca (2:58) and DaSilva (10:44, 14:29) completed the Comets run to produce the 17-6 final. DaSilva led the Kansas City offense with six points while Evans, Stathopoulos and Hector Marinaro each registered two points to lead Cleveland. Paolo Ceccarelli (18 saves) earned the win while Jim Larkin (15 stops) took the loss.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
HARRISBURG 10 2-0-8-0 3,774 34 2 2-6 Petras (14-18)
Dallas 8 4-0-2-2 25 37 0-1 Sagu (15-20)

David Bascome scored two goals as the Harrisburg Heat defeated the Dallas Sidekicks, 10-8, at the PA State Farm Show Arena on Saturday, December 28. David Doyle gave Dallas an early 2-0 lead with a 2-point goal at 5:57 of the first quarter before Bascome tied the score at two with a deuce at 13:24. Leo Pernia answered with a 2-pointer just 14 seconds later at 13:38 to give the Sidekicks a 4-2 lead after 15 minutes of play. After a scoreless second frame, Marco Lopez (1:54) and Brad Flanagan (3:51) exchanged 2-pointers before Bascome struck again at 4:00 to tie the score at six. Martin Hernandez posted a deuce at 8:56 and Ato Leone added a 2-pointer at 11:48 to push Harrisburg in front, 10-6, through three quarters of play. Antonio Sutton notched the fourth quarter's only goal at 11:19 to conclude the scoring and produce the 10-8 final. Bascome and Lopez paced the Heat with four points apiece while Sutton, Pernia, Doyle, and Flanagan each posted two points to pace Dallas. Doug Petras earned the win with 14 saves while Sagu (15 stops) took the loss for the Sidekicks.

GAMES OF 12/29/2002
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
HARRISBURG 11 0-6-0-5 3,533 20 2 1-3 Petras (10-11)
Baltimore 2 0-0-0-2 16 18 0-1 Phillips (8-11)

Doug Petras turned away 10 of 11 shots faced as the Harrisburg Heat registered an 11-2 victory over the Baltimore Blast at the PA state Farm Show Arena on Sunday, December 29. Following a scoreless first quarter, Genoni Martinez posted back-to-back 3-pointers at 3:29 and 14:12 of the second quarter to give Harrisburg a 6-0 halftime lead. The score stood at 6-0 in favor of the Heat until Giuliano Celenza bagged a 2-point goal at 1:16 of the fourth to move Baltimore within four points at 6-2. That would be as close as the Blast would get, however, as Horacio Robledo (9:23) notched a deuce and Kevin Burk (14:01) posted a 3-pointer vs. the sixth attacker to produce the 11-2 Harrisburg victory. Martinez paced all scorers with six points while Celenza led Baltimore with 2-points. Doug Petras got the win while Brett Phillips (eight saves) took the loss.

TEAM CAPSULES (December 23 – December 29, 2002)

Baltimore Blast (5-12)
The Blast fell, 11-2, in Harrisburg on December 29. Giuliano Celenza scored Baltimore's lone goal in the contest and now has 10 goals and 21 points on the season. Denison Cabral leads the Blast and ranks 13th in MISL scoring with 35 points. Cabral is also tied for third in the League with three restart goals. Defender Sean Bowers is second in the MISL in blocks with 40 while Jason Dieter is tied for fifth with 28. Goalkeeper Scott Hileman ranks seventh in the League with an 11.60 points against average. The Baltimore offense is averaging 10.1 points per game while the Blast defense is surrendering 12.6 points per contest. Baltimore's power play is four for 19 (21.1%) while the club's penalty kill is 13 for 27 (48.1 %). The Blast is 3-5 at home and 2-7 on the road while going 3-7 vs. Eastern Conference opponents and 2-5 vs. Western Conference foes. Baltimore will host Cleveland on January 4 before traveling to Milwaukee on January 5. The Blast will then entertain Dallas on January 10.
Leading Scorer: Cabral (35 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Hileman (3-8; 11.60 paa; .705 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 1/4 vs. Cleveland, Sun. 1/5 at Milwaukee, Fri. 1/10 vs. Dallas

Cleveland Force (8-7)
The Force was defeated, 17-6, by Kansas City on December 28. The loss marked Cleveland's first of the year at home. The Force is now 4-1 at the Convo and 4-6 on the road. Hector Marinaro posted two assists and two points in the game and is tied for 10th in MISL scoring with 37 points. Giuliano Oliviero ranks 16th in League scoring with 33 points while Chris Stathopoulos is fourth in the MISL with four power play goals. John Ball is tied for second in the League with three sixth attacker goals while D.J. Newsom is fourth in blocks with 32. Goalkeeper Jim Larkin leads the MISL with 236 saves while ranking third in both wins with eight and minutes played with 887. Larkin ranks fifth in save percentage at .735 and is eighth in points against average at 11.97. Cleveland boasts the League's second best power play at 52.6% while the club's penalty kill is ranked sixth at 54.2%. The Force offense is averaging 11.1 points per game while the club's defense is allowing 12 points per contest. Cleveland will host Dallas on January 3 before traveling to Baltimore on January 4. The Force will then host Harrisburg on January 10.
Leading Scorer: Marinaro (37 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Larkin (8-7; 11.97 paa; .735 save percentage)
Up Next: Fri. 1/3 vs. Dallas, Sat. 1/4 at Baltimore, Fri. 1/10 vs. Harrisburg

Dallas Sidekicks (6-12)
The Sidekicks dropped a 10-8 decision in Harrisburg on December 28. David Doyle posted two points in the contest and ranks fifth in MISL scoring with 47 points. Doyle is also fifth in the League with 18 total goals. Tatu ranks eighth in MISL scoring with 40 points and is tied for the League lead in assists with 16. Patrick Shamu and Nick Stavrou are tied for 14th in League scoring with 34 points. Goalkeeper Sagu leads the MISL in minutes played with 969 and ranks fourth in saves with 208. Sagu is fifth in points against average at 10.65. Dallas is averaging 10.2 points per game and surrendering 11.1 points per contest. The Sidekicks power play is the third best in the MISL at 46.2% while the club's penalty kill is ranked fourth at 57.1%. Dallas is 5-6 at Reunion Arena and 1-6 on the road while going 1-8 vs. in conference and 5-4 out of conference. The Sidekicks will continue their current seven-game road trip by traveling to Milwaukee on December 31, Cleveland on January 3 and Philadelphia on January 4.
Leading Scorer: Doyle (47 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Sagu (5-11, 10.65 paa, .720 save percentage)
Up Next: Tues. 12/31 at Milwaukee, Fri. 1/3 at Cleveland, Sat. 1/4 at Philadelphia

Harrisburg Heat (9-9)
The Heat topped Dallas, 10-8, on December 28 and then beat Baltimore, 11-2, on December 29 to reach .500 on the season. David Bascome recorded five points on the week and is third in MISL scoring with 53 points. Bascome leads the League with 24 2-point goals, 10 power play goals and 24 total goals. Bascome is tied for third with three restart goals. Genoni Martinez continues to pace MISL defenders and ranks sixth in League scoring overall with 44 points. Martinez is second in the MISL with four restart goals and ranks third in blocks with 38. Marco Lopez is tied for 10th in MISL scoring with 37 points while Ato Leone is knotted for fourth in assists with 14. Goalkeeper Doug Petras enjoyed a productive final Farm Show weekend. Petras, who is leaving indoor soccer after the Heat's December 31 game at Kansas City to pursue a career in law enforcement, posted two wins while recording a 5.00 points against average. Petras ranks second in the MISL in both minutes played (912) and saves (219) while ranking fourth in points against average (10.45) and save percentage (.742). The Heat penalty kill is ranked second in the MISL at 75% while the club's power play is fifth at 40%. Harrisburg is 7-4 at home and 2-5 on the road. The Heat will travel to Kansas City on December 31 before entertaining the Comets on January 4. The Heat will then visit Cleveland on January 10.
Leading Scorer: Bascome (53 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Petras (7-6; 10.45 paa; .742 save percentage)
Up Next: Tues. 12/31 at Kansas City, Sat. 1/4 vs. Kansas City, Fri. 1/10 at Cleveland

Kansas City Comets (7-8)
The Comets posted a 13-6 win at San Diego on December 26 and a 17-6 victory at Cleveland on December 28. Dino Delevski registered nine points and is second in MISL scoring with 60 points. Delevski ranks second in the League with 17 2-point goals and is tied for second with four 3-point tallies and 21 total goals. Delevski is tied for fourth in the MISL with 14 assists while Nino DaSilva is seventh in League scoring with 42 points. Goalkeeper Paolo Ceccarelli is the MISL save percentage leader at .781. Ceccarelli ranks third in saves with 218 and is tied for fourth in wins with seven. The Comets offense is the League's second best at 13.3 points per game while the club's defense allows 13.4 points per contest. Kansas City is 7-3 on the road, but 0-5 at home. The Comets are 4-5 vs. Western Conference opponents and 3-3 vs. Eastern Conference foes. Kansas City will host the Heat on December 31 before heading to Harrisburg on January 4. The Comets will then entertain Milwaukee on January 10.
Leading Scorer: Delevski (60 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Ceccarelli (7-3; 10.93 paa; .781 save percentage)
Up Next: Tues. 12/31 vs. Harrisburg, Sat. 1/4 at Harrisburg, Fri. 1/10 vs. Milwaukee

Milwaukee Wave (11-4)
The Wave was idle last week. Milwaukee's Joe Reiniger is fourth in MISL scoring with 49 points and ranks second in power play goals with seven. Reiniger is tied for second in the League with four 3-point goals and ranks fourth in total goals with 19. The Milwaukee striker leads the League with five restart goals. Greg Howes is tied for 10th in MISL scoring with 37 points while Todd Dusosky is tied for the League lead in assists with 16 and knotted for the top spot in game-winning goals with four. Goalkeeper Victor Nogueira leads the League in points against average at 7.94 and is tied for the MISL's top spot in wins with 11. Nogueira ranks third in save percentage at .751. Milwaukee is the League's best on the power play (60%) and penalty kill (77.3%) while owning the MISL's best offense (14.1 points per game) and defense (nine points per contest). The Wave is 5-2 at home and 6-2 on the road. Milwaukee will host Dallas on December 31 before heading to San Diego on January 2. The Wave will then welcome Baltimore on January 5.
Leading Scorer: Reiniger (49 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Nogueira (11-2; 7.94 paa; .751 save percentage)
Up Next: Tues. 12/31 vs. Dallas, Thurs. 1/2 at San Diego, Sun. 1/5 vs. Baltimore

Philadelphia Kixx (14-3)
The Kixx enjoyed an off-week during the holidays. Joel Shanker is ninth in MISL scoring with 39 points and is tied for second with three sixth attacker goals. Don D'Ambra is tied for the League lead in game-winning goals with four. Goalkeeper Peter Pappas is tied for the MISL lead in wins with 11 and ranks third in points against average at 9.04. Pappas ranks fourth in the League in minutes played with 842 and is fifth in saves with 166. Philadelphia owns the MISL's longest current winning streak at seven games and the League's best overall record at 14-3. The Kixx remain as the MISL's lone undefeated team at home with a 10-0 record at the First Union Spectrum. Philadelphia is 4-3 on the road. The Kixx own the League's third best offense at 11.8 points per game and the MISL's second best defense at 9.1 points per contest. Philadelphia will host Dallas on January 4 before heading to Baltimore on January 11. The Kixx will then entertain Harrisburg on January 19.
Leading Scorer: Shanker (39 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Pappas (10-2; 9.04 paa, .734 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 1/4 vs. Dallas, Sat. 1/11 at Baltimore, Sun. 1/19 vs. Harrisburg

San Diego (7-12)
The Sockers dropped a 13-6 decision to Kansas City on December 26. Carlos Farias notched an assist in the contest and continues to pace the MISL in scoring with 63 points. Farias also leads the League with five 3-point goals and is tied for the MISL's top spot with 16 assists. Farias is tied for second with 21 total goals and is tied for third with 16 2-point goals. Farias paces the League with four sixth attacker goals while Gaston Pernia leads the MISL with 43 blocks. Goalkeeper Nick Vorberg ranks second in the League with an 8.79 points against average and a .760 save percentage. San Diego is averaging 9.8 points per game and allowing 11.9 points per contest. The Sockers are ranked third on the penalty kill at 57.7% while the club's power play is seventh at 32.1%. The Sockers are 4-6 at home and 3-6 on the road while going 5-4 vs. Western Conference opponents and 2-8 vs. Eastern Conference foes. San Diego will host Milwaukee on January 2 and Dallas on January 12 before traveling to Kansas City on January 17.
Leading Scorer: Farias (63 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Vorberg (4-7; 8.79 paa; .760 save percentage)
Up Next: Thurs. 1/2 vs. Milwaukee, Sun. 1/12 vs. Dallas, Fri. 1/17 at Kansas City

LEAGUE NOTES...

- The MISL has moved the start time for the January 3 Dallas at Cleveland game to 5:05 p.m. ET; the move was made to accommodate Force fans who wish to watch the Ohio State University play the University of Miami for the collegiate football national championship

- Harrisburg's 11-2 victory over Baltimore on December 29 marked just the third time in Heat history that the club has held an opponent to two or fewer points; goalkeeper Doug Petras, who made 10 of 11 saves to earn the win vs. the Blast, has been involved in two of those contests

- Cleveland forward Hector Marinaro extended his scoring streak to 53 games with two assists during the Force's outing vs. Kansas City on December 28

- Todd and Troy Dusosky of the Milwaukee Wave have combined for 735 career points through play on December 29; the duo of Randy and Rudy Pikuzinski hold the all-time scoring record between brothers with 2,222 career points

- Blast forward Tarik Walker's assist vs. Harrisburg on December 29 marked the 461st point of his Baltimore career; that number moves Walker into second place on Baltimore's all-time scoring list

- Milwaukee defender Lovelace Ackah has played in 120 consecutive games; the Wave team record for consecutive games played (regular season and playoffs) was set by Steve Morris with 161

- Baltimore forward Gino DiFlorio has amassed 496 career assists and needs just four more dishes to become the seventh player in indoor soccer history to collect 500 career assists

QUOTE CORNER...

"Carlos is just one of those players who comes along on those rare occasions who is going to score goals with ease...but I do want more from him...I want him to be the best player he can be, being an all-around player...and he's already improved so much this year...you see him winning more of his tackles and working hard to get back and play defense."

- San Diego head coach Brian Quinn on Sockers forward and MISL leading scorer Carlos Farias

FARIAS HOLDS SPALDING SCORING LEAD...BUT DELEVKSI IS CLOSING

San Diego forward Carlos Farias continues to pace the Spalding Scoring race with 63 points on the campaign, but Kansas City forward Dino Delevski used a nine-point week to close to within three points of the top spot. Delevski currently ranks second in League scoring with 60 points while Harrisburg's David Bascome is third with 53 points. Milwaukee's Joe Reiniger is fourth with 49 points and Dallas' David Doyle is fifth with 47 points.

Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from December 30, 2002

• Comets Soar on the Road - MISL 2
• MISL Transaction Report - MISL 2
• Heat Weekly - Harrisburg Heat

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