Cougars' Antonio Sutton repeats as MISL defensive player of the week
Published on March 13, 2006 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
California Cougars News Release
GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
Brett Phillips, St. Louis Steamers Brett Phillips and the first-place St. Louis Steamers remain in first-place in the Major Indoor Soccer League Standings (17-5), they remain undefeated at St. Louis' Savvis Center, and with their 5-2 win over the Philadelphia KiXX on Saturday before 7,625 fans, their MISL All-Star goalkeeper moved into the top spot on the goals against average leader board, with a season average of 4.72. Phillips now owns a 15-4 individual record, giving him the League lead in individual goalkeeper victories and winning percentage in playing an MISL-high 1,183 minutes. The Tampa, Fla. native and his teammates continue to function as the MISL's top defense. The Steamers allow 4.7 goals per game (next best are Chicago and Milwaukee, both at 5.3). The same goes for shots allowed, Phillips and the Steamers allow 18.6, Chicago yields 21.0 for second place in that category. Phillips All-Star season has included a shutout in St. Louis' 4-0 win against the Chicago Storm (Feb.4), an MISL-leading five Goalkeeper of the Week awards (Mar. 13, Feb. 6, Dec. 27, Dec. 19, Nov. 28), and the MISL Goalkeeper of the Month award for February, when he went 4-0. The 37-year-old began his standout professional indoor career during the 1992-93 season with Harrisburg, and most recently won a championship with Baltimore in the 2004 MISL Championship Series.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Antonio Sutton, California Cougars
Antonio Sutton earned his second consecutive MISL Defensive Player of the Week honor, and second of the season, as the forward-turned-defender had three blocks and was instrumental on the Cougars both defensively and in transitioning California stops into offensive opportunities in the Cougars 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Storm before a frenzied crowd at Stockton Arena on Saturday. California has now won six of its last eight games as it continues its charge for the final MISL Championship Series bid. Sutton, a Fayetteville, N.C. native, was like fellow defenders Bill Sedgewick, Seyi Abolaji, and Ryan Hall, a key to allowing only 13 Chicago shots on goal to reach winning goalkeeper, and Lodi native, Dominik Jakubek, who turned away 10 of those attempts. The Cougars, who came-from-behind to win their third straight game against fourth-place Chicago and move into fifth-place in the standings, received a three-point night by John Ball, a fourth-quarter game-tying goal by Bernie Lilavois, and an overtime breakaway game-winner by Gary Brooks. The Cougars' clincher came 56 seconds into the extra period. Sutton, who was similarly recognized last week for when he led all MISL defenders with his four points in California's 9-7 win at Milwaukee, had been a highly-regarded forward in the MISL and the professional indoor game, who continues to make a similar impact in his transition to defender. He is second on the team in blocks to Sedgewick, with 20, and is playing for a team and a defense that have both been stellar over the past five weeks. The 32-year-old defender has four goals, six assists and 20 blocks in 22 appearances this season. Sutton began his League career with a brief stint with the Philadelphia KiXX in the 1998-99 season. His professional indoor career also includes a successful tenure with the Sacramento Knights (1998-2001) of the now-defunct WISL. In 126 regular season League games, Sutton has career totals of 61 goals, 23 assists, and 105 blocks. The Cougars next host the Baltimore Blast on Saturday at 7:30 (PST) at Stockton Arena.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Greg Howes, Milwaukee Wave
Greg Howes again showed himself to be one of the MISL's most dynamic talents scoring four goals and assisting on the game-winner in Milwaukee's crucial 6-5 overtime win over the Baltimore Blast, in which the Wave regained second-place in the MISL Standings, while also securing a 4-2 win in the season series with their rival. On what was billed as "Greg Howes Bobble Head Day" at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, the two-time defending MISL MVP and Spalding Scoring Champion turned in his second five-point game of the season, leading the Wave out of a recent slump with a MISL Championship Series berth securely in hand. Before a crowd in excess of 5,000, Howes scored three goals in the second and third quarters, and added a fourth early in the fourth quarter as Milwaukee recovered from an early 2-0 deficit to Baltimore. Howes punctuated his huge performance when he assisted Angel Rivillo for the game-winning goal in overtime as Milwaukee improved to 15-8, and 8-4 at U.S. Cellular Arena. The defending MISL Regular Season and MISL Championship Series title winners are again this season paced in scoring by Howes, who again leads the MISL, currently, with 57 points. He is now tied for the MISL lead in goals with 32, leads the MISL in shots with 128, and has more than twice as many restart goals as the closest competitor in that category with 11. Howes, who came to the Wave from Oregon State in time for the 2001-2002 season, was named the MISL Offensive Player of the Month in January. This is the All-Star forward's third MISL Player of the Week honor of 2005-06.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 13, 2006
- Cougars' Antonio Sutton repeats as MISL defensive player of the week - California Cougars
- Howes collects third offensive player of the week award - Milwaukee Wave
- MISL players of the week - MISL 2
- Brett Phillips gathers another player of the week - St. Louis Steamers
- St. Louis Steamers Weekly - St. Louis Steamers
- KiXX prepares for back-to-back weekend - Philadelphia KiXX
- KiXX Host Fourth Annual Sports Memorabilia Auction on March 18 - Philadelphia KiXX
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