Dallas Turns Back the Clock

Published on December 16, 2002 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release

The Dallas Sidekicks celebrated the club's proud past over the weekend and posted a pair of important Major Indoor Soccer League victories during the festivities. Dallas donned the organization's familiar green jerseys, worn by the team from 1984-1992, and then downed the Baltimore Blast, 17-10, on December 14 before defeating the Cleveland Force, 13-4, on December 15. David Doyle and Tatu each registered five points in the win over the Blast while Nick Stavrou notched three goals and seven points in the triumph over the Force. The pair of victories improved Dallas to 5-11 on the campaign and moved the Sidekicks to within one-half game of third-place San Diego in the Western Conference standings.

The Sockers (6-11) dropped a 14-12 (OT) decision in Harrisburg on December 14 in the club's only action of the week. David Bascome scored the game-winning goal for the Heat, who bounced back from a 12-10 overtime loss in Baltimore on December 13.

Baltimore's victory over Harrisburg marked Bobby McAvan's first win behind the Blast bench. Baltimore stands at 5-10 on the season after splitting its two games last week. The Blast remains one and one-half games behind third-place Harrisburg in the Eastern Conference Standings.

The Heat sits two games behind second-place Cleveland after the Force (8-6) defeated Milwaukee, 14-13, on December 14 before falling to Dallas on December 15. Kiley Couch, Chris Stathopoulos and Giuliano Oliviero paced the Cleveland offense in the win at Milwaukee with five points apiece while Jim Larkin made 21 saves in the Force goal.

Milwaukee fell to 11-3 with the loss to the Force, but still holds a five-game advantage in the Western Conference over second-place Kansas City (5-7). The Comets lost, 15-13, to Philadelphia on December 14. Joel Shanker connected on a game-winning sixth-attacker 3-point goal with 11 seconds remaining to claim the Kixx victory.

The win moved Philadelphia to 13-3 on the season and increased the club's lead in the Eastern Conference standings to four games over second-place Cleveland. The Kixx own a six-game cushion on Harrisburg and a seven and one-half game advantage on Baltimore.

LOPEZ AND SAGU EARN WEEKLY HONORS... Offensive: Harrisburg forward Marco Lopez has been named the MISL Offensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending December 15. Lopez receives the award after posting four 2-point goals and two assists for 10 points in two outings last week.

The Mexico City native notched a pair of assists in Harrisburg's 12-10 (OT) loss at Baltimore on December 13 before scoring four 2-point goals and registering eight points in the Heat's 14-12 (OT) victory vs. San Diego on December 14.

Lopez, 31, has now posted 11 goals, 10 assists and 32 points in 15 games played this season. He ranks third on the Heat roster in scoring and is tied for second in the MISL in first goals scored with three.

Others Receiving Consideration:

Dallas forward David Doyle recorded four 2-point goals, an assist and nine points in two Sidekicks' victories last week.

Cleveland forward Chris Stathopoulos posted three 2-pointers, two assists and eight points in two Force outings.

Milwaukee forward Joe Reiniger notched a 3-point goal, a 2-point score and two assists for seven points in the Wave's 14-13 loss to Cleveland on December 14.

Defensive:

Dallas goalkeeper Sagu has been named the MISL Defensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending December 15. Sagu receives the award after going 2-0 on the week while stopping 26 of 32 shots faced and posting a 7.00 points against average.

The native of Sao Paulo, Brazil opened the week by stopping 15 of 19 shots faced while leading Dallas to a 17-10 victory over Baltimore on December 14. He then denied 11 of 13 shots faced in pacing the Sidekicks to a 13-4 triumph over Cleveland on December 15. The 29-year-old goalkeeper posted an .813 save percentage for the week while lowering his points against average to 10.82 on the campaign.

Sagu currently leads the MISL in minutes played with 854 and ranks third in saves with 182.

Others Receiving Consideration: Baltimore goalkeeper Brett Phillips allowed just 10 points in 63:30 of action while leading the Blast to a 12-10 (OT) victory vs. Harrisburg on December 13.

Cleveland defender D.J. Newsom posted eight blocks in two outings last week. Newsom registered a six-block performance in the Force's 14-13 win at Milwaukee on December 14.

Cleveland goalkeeper Jim Larkin stopped 39 of 50 shots faced for a .780 save percentage in going 1-1 in two outings last week.

MARINARO RECORDS HISTORIC GOAL...

Cleveland forward Hector Marinaro became the first player in indoor soccer history to record 1,200 career goals with a fourth quarter tally at Dallas on December 15. Marinaro hit the milestone in just 652 games played. Indoor soccer's all-time leading scorer has average 1.84 goals per game during his career.

2002 MISL AMATEUR DRAFT SLATED FOR TUESDAY...

The Major Indoor Soccer League will hold its annual amateur draft on Tuesday, December 17. The five-round event will be held via teleconference and will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET. The draft will consist of one territorial round and four standard rounds of selections. Draft order is based on the winning percentages of each club during its previous season of play. The Harrisburg Heat holds the first pick in each round of the event.

THIS WEEK'S MISL SCHEDULE...

Saturday, December 21 Milwaukee at Philadelphia 7:05 p.m. ET
Dallas at Kansas City 8:05 p.m. CT
Baltimore at San Diego 7:05 p.m. PT MISL GAME RECAPS (December 9 – December 15, 2002)

GAMES OF 12/13/2002
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
BALTIMORE 12 (OT) 4-0-2-4-2 5,152 29 2 0-0 Phillips (8-13)
Harrisburg 10 2-2-2-4-0 25 0 0-0 Petras (14-20)

Billy Nelson scored the game-winning goal with 3:30 gone in overtime as the Baltimore Blast beat the Harrisburg Heat, 12-10, at the 1st Mariner Arena on Friday, December 13. Andy Wells (1:47) and Giuliano Celenza (3:56) gave the Blast a 4-0 lead before Ze Roberto ended the first quarter scoring with a deuce at 11:38. Marco Coria (12:29) notched the second frame's only goal before David Bascome put Harrisburg in front with a 2-pointer at 5:21 of the third. Denison Cabral tied the game at six with a deuce at 11:40 before Danny Santoro pushed the Blast ahead with a 2-point tally at 10:14 of the fourth. P.J. Wakefield then connected at 10:32 to give Baltimore a 10-6 cushion. Coria (12:44) and Genoni Martinez (14:06) each posted sixth attacker 2-pointers to tie the score and send the game to overtime where Nelson ended the drama with his game-winner. Cabral, Santoro and Wakefield each recorded a 2-point goal and an assist for three points to lead the Baltimore offense. Lopez paced the Heat with a pair of 2-point goals and four points. Brett Phillips (eight saves) got the win while Doug Petras (14 stops) took the loss.

GAMES OF 12/14/2002
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
Cleveland 14 6-4-2-2 5,075 22 12 0-0 Larkin (21-27)
MILWAUKEE 13 3-6-0-4 48 0 2-2 Nogueira (5-12)

Giuliano Oliviero and Chris Stathopoulos each recorded a pair of goals as the Cleveland Force defeated the Milwaukee Wave, 14-13, at the Bradley Center on Saturday, December 14. Cleveland took a 6-0 lead on 2-point goals by Kiley Couch (5:43), Oliviero (6:25) and Steve Butcher (10:39). Joe Reiniger ended the first quarter scoring with a 3-point goal at 12:46 before Butcher (2:31) and Troy Dusosky (8:02) exchanged second quarter scores. Oliviero (10:00) made it a 10-5 game with a deuce before Todd Dusosky (10:41) and Troy Dusosky (14:36) closed the first half scoring with consecutive 2-pointers to establish a 10-9 count through 30 minutes of play. In the third, Stathopoulos connected on a 2-point goal at 2:17 to give the Force a 12-9 lead. Reiniger then answered in the fourth with a deuce at the 12-second mark before Stathopoulos notched his second 2-pointer at 5:10. Greg Howes made it a 14-13 game with a 2-point goal at 11:43, but Milwaukee wouldn't connect on a decisive final score as the Force posted the victory. Couch (2-point goal, three assists), Oliviero and Stathopoulos (two 2-pointers, assist) each posted five points to lead the Force offense. Reiniger led all scorers with a 3-point goal, a 2-point score, two assists and seven points. Jim Larkin (21 stops) earned the win while Victor Nogueira (five stops) took the loss.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
HARRISBURG 14 (OT) 2-2-2-6-2 2,834 45 2 1-2 Petras (5-11)
San Diego 12 0-6-2-4-0 22 5 1-1 Vorberg (19-26)

Marco Lopez scored four goals as the Harrisburg Heat beat the San Diego Sockers, 14-12 (OT), at the PA State Farm Show Arena on Saturday, December 14. Lopez scored the first quarter's only goal with a deuce at 13:22 before Mariano Bollella notched a 2-pointer at 1:03 of the second to tie the score at two. Chris Morman posted a 2-point tally at 5:38 before Anthony Farace (10:02) and Bollella (14:24) each registered 2-pointers to give San Diego a 6-4 halftime lead. In the third, Robbie Aristodemo (3:37) and Morman (5:20) exchanged deuces as San Diego led 8-6 through 45 minutes of play. Carlos Farias then gave the Sockers a 10-6 lead with a deuce at 4:05 of the fourth before Lopez posted back-to-back 2-pointers at 9:33 and 12:03 to tie the score at 10. After Aristodemo gave San Diego a 2-point lead with a deuce at 12:30, Lopez sent the game into overtime with his fourth score at 14:07. That set the stage for David Bascome's overtime 2-pointer at 5:04 that gave the Heat the two-point victory. Lopez led all scorers with four 2-point goals and eight points. Bollella and Aristodemo each posted a pair of 2-pointers and four points to lead the Sockers. Doug Petras (five saves) got the win while Nick Vorberg (19 stops) took the loss.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
DALLAS 17 6-2-4-5 9,373 31 0 1-3 Sagu (15-19)
Baltimore 10 2-3-2-3 27 6 0-0 Hileman (10-17)

David Doyle and Tatu each notched five points as the Dallas Sidekicks downed the Baltimore Blast, 17-10, in front of a crowd of 9,373 at Reunion Arena on Saturday, December 14. Doyle opened the scoring with a 2-point goal at 5:19 of the first and Jeff Betts followed with a deuce at 6:43 to push the Sidekicks ahead, 4-0. After Tarik Walker connected for a 2-pointer at 7:11, Patrick Shamu closed the first quarter with a deuce at 9:53 to give Dallas a 6-2 lead. Tatu opened the second with a 2-point goal at 1:17 before Sean Bowers followed with a 3-point strike at 2:24. In the third, Nick Stavrou made the score 10-5 with a 2-pointer at 2:23 before Lance Johnson (7:55) and Armando Valdivia (11:12) exchanged 2-pointers to produce a 12-7 game through 45 minutes of play. Doyle opened the fourth with a 2-pointer at 3:06 before Bowers connected on his second 3-pointer at 12:00. Brad Flanagan ended the scoring with a trifecta at 13:47 that sealed the Sidekicks' 17-10 victory. Doyle posted a pair of 2-points and an assist while Tatu added a 2-point goal and three assists to lead Dallas. Bowers paced Baltimore with a pair of 3-point goals and six points. Sagu (15 stops) earned the win while Scott Hileman (10 saves) took the loss.

(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
Philadelphia 15 2-2-4-7 5,345 26 6 0-2 Morris (0-0)
KANSAS CITY 13 2-0-7-4 23 16 0-5 Ceccarelli (10-17)

Joel Shanker scored a game-winning sixth-attacker goal with 11 seconds remaining as the Philadelphia Kixx downed the Kansas City Comets, 15-13, at Kemper Arena on Saturday, December 14. Goran Vasic (7:01) and Dino Delevski (13:49) exchanged first quarter goals before Shawn Boney notched a deuce at 5:19 of the second to give the Kixx a 4-2 halftime lead. In the third, Alex Zotinca notched a 3-pointer at 1:27 before Pat Morris (2:25) and Joe Scigliano (4:00) bagged 2-pointers to push Philadelphia in front, 8-5. Goran Hunjak (8:28) and Delevski (15:00) ended the third quarter scoring with a pair of 2-pointers to move the Comets ahead, 9-8, before Delevski (1:59) and Chad James (4:58) increased the Kansas City advantage to five with back-to-back deuces to open the fourth quarter. Kevin Sloan (7:05) began the Kixx comeback with a deuce and Shanker added a 2-pointer at 7:18 before scoring the decisive trifecta at 14:49. Shanker led Philadelphia with a 3-point goal, a 2-point strike and five points. Dino Delevski paced Kansas City with three 2-pointers and six points. Pat Morris (0 saves) got the win as the sixth attacker while Paolo Ceccarelli (10 stops) took the loss for the Comets.

GAMES OF 12/15/2002
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF)
DALLAS 13 6-2-0-5 8,013 28 7 2-2 Sagu (11-13)
Cleveland 4 2-0-0-2 32 29 0-1 Larkin (18-23)

Nick Stavrou posted seven points as the Dallas Sidekicks defeated the Cleveland Force, 13-4, in front of a crowd of 8,013 at Reunion Arena on Sunday, December 15. Chris Stathopoulos opened the scoring with a 2-point goal at the 35-second mark of the first quarter and gave the Force a 2-0 lead before Stavrou started a 6-0 Dallas run with a deuce at 2:50. David Doyle then added a 2-pointer at 4:42 and Antonio Sutton scored at 6:34 to give the Sidekicks a 6-2 lead. Stavrou then scored the second quarter's only goal at 14:40 to push the Sidekicks ahead, 8-2, at the half. Following a scoreless third quarter, Doyle notched a deuce at 7:37 of the fourth before Hector Marinaro answered with a 2-pointer at 11:11. Stavrou then ended the scoring with a 3-point goal at 14:41 to produce the 13-4 final. Stavrou led all scorers with a 3-point goal, two 2-pointers and seven points. Chris Stathopoulos paced Cleveland with a 2-point goal, an assist and three points. Sagu (11 saves) earned the win in the Dallas goal while Jim Larkin (18 stops) took the loss.

TEAM CAPSULES (December 9 – December 15, 2002)

Baltimore Blast (5-10)
The Blast split a pair of games last week under new head coach Bobby McAvan with a 12-10 (OT) win vs. Harrisburg on December 13 and a 17-10 loss at Dallas on December 14. Denison Cabral leads Baltimore and is tied for 11th in MISL scoring with 32 points. Cabral is also tied for second in restart goals with three. Rookie P.J. Wakefield continues to pace MISL freshmen in scoring with 25 points on the campaign. Sean Bowers is second in the League in blocks with 38 and Jason Dieter ranks fifth with 28. Scott Hileman ranks sixth in the MISL in points against average at 11.60. Baltimore is fifth in the League in offense at 10.8 points per game. The Blast is seventh in defense, allowing 12.7 points per contest. Baltimore is 3-6 vs. Eastern Conference opponents and 2-4 vs. National Conference foes. The Blast power play has gone four for 17 (23.5%) while the penalty kill is 12 for 23 (52.2%). Baltimore will travel to San Diego on December 21 and Harrisburg on December 29 before hosting Cleveland on January 4.
Leading Scorer: Cabral (32 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Hileman (3-8; 11.60 paa; .705 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 12/21 at San Diego, Sun. 12/29 at Harrisburg, Sat. 1/4 vs. Cleveland

Cleveland Force (8-6)
The Force split a pair of road dates last week with a 14-13 victory at Milwaukee on December 14 and a 13-4 setback at Dallas on December 15. Giuliano Oliviero continues his offensive surge. Oliviero posted five points in the win over Milwaukee and is tied for 14th in MISL scoring with 31 points. Hector Marinaro returned from injury and posted his 1,200th career goal at Dallas. Marinaro is tied for eighth in scoring with 35 points. D.J. Newsom blocked eight shots in two games last week and ranks fourth in the MISL in that statistical category with 31 blocks on the season. Jim Larkin leads the League in saves with 221 and ranks second in minutes with 827. Larkin is third in wins with eight and fourth in save percentage at .742. Cleveland's power play is ranked second in the MISL at 50% while the team's penalty kill is sixth at 54.2%. The Force offense is fourth in the MISL at 11.4 points per game while the club's defense is also fourth, allowing 11.6 points per contest. Cleveland joins Milwaukee and Philadelphia as one of just three MISL clubs currently sporting a record above .500. The Force will host Kansas City on December 28 and Dallas on January 3 before traveling to Baltimore on January 4.
Leading Scorer: Marinaro (35 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Larkin (8-6; 11.61 paa; .742 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 12/28 vs. Kansas City, Fri. 1/3 vs. Dallas, Sat. 1/4 at Baltimore

Dallas Sidekicks (5-11)
The Sidekicks went a perfect 2-0 last week with a 17-10 victory over Baltimore on December 14 and a 13-4 triumph over Cleveland on December 15. David Doyle posted nine points on the week and ranks fifth in the MISL in scoring with 43 points. Doyle is also ranked third in power play goals with four and is tied for fifth in the League in 2-point goals with 13. Tatu added five points in the two Dallas wins and is ranked sixth in MISL scoring with 39 points. Tatu is also tied for the League lead in assists with 15. Nick Stavrou is tied for 11th in scoring with 32 points and Patrick Shamu is tied for 14th in League scoring with 31 points. Goalkeeper Sagu leads the MISL in minutes with 854 and ranks third in saves with 182. Sagu is fourth in points against average at 10.82. The Sidekicks are averaging 10.2 points per game and allowing 11.3 points per contest. Dallas is third in the MISL on the power play at 41.7% and seventh on the penalty kill at 53.8%. The Sidekicks are 5-3 vs. Eastern Conference opponents, but 0-8 vs. Western Conference foes. Dallas will travel to Kansas City on December 21 before heading to Harrisburg on December 28 and Milwaukee on December 31.
Leading Scorer: Doyle (43 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Sagu (4-10, 10.82 paa, .717 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 12/21 at Kansas City, Sat. 12/28 at Harrisburg, Tues. 12/31 at Milwaukee

Harrisburg Heat (7-9)
The Heat split a pair of dates last week with a 12-10 (OT) loss at Baltimore on December 13 and a 14-12 (OT) victory vs. San Diego on December 14. Harrisburg has played six overtime games in the club's first 16 contests of the 2002-03 season. The Heat is 3-3 in those extra session matches. David Bascome is tied for third in the MISL in scoring with 48 points. Bascome leads the MISL in 2-point goals (22), total goals (22) and power play goals (9). Genoni Martinez leads MISL defenders and ranks seventh in League scoring with 37 points. Martinez is third in the League in blocks with 35. Marco Lopez posted 10 points last week and is tied for 11th in MISL scoring with 32 points. Marco Coria is tied for 17th with 29 points. Coria is tied with teammate Ato Leone for third in the League in assist with 13. Doug Petras is second in the MISL in saves with 195 and fourth in minutes with 792. The Heat penalty kill is second best in the MISL at 71.4%. Harrisburg leads the League in sixth-attacker goals with eight and restart goals with 12. The Heat will host Dallas on December 28 and Baltimore on December 29 before traveling to Kansas City on December 31.
Leading Scorer: Bascome (48 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Petras (5-6; 11.28 paa; .733 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 12/28 vs. Dallas, Sun. 12/29 vs. Baltimore, Tues. 12/31 at Kansas City

TEAM CAPSULES (Continued)

Kansas City Comets (5-7)
The Comets dropped a 15-13 decision to Philadelphia on December 14 in the club's only game of the week. Dino Delevski posted six points in the contest and is tied for third in MISL scoring with 48 points. Delevski is also tied for third in 2-point goals with 15 and ranks fourth in total goals with 18. Nino DaSilva is 16th in League scoring with 30 points. Paolo Ceccarelli leads the MISL in save percentage at .771 and ranks fourth in saves with 168. Kansas City boasts the MISL's second best offense at 13.4 points per game. The Comets are ranked fourth on the power play at 40.9% and fifth on the penalty kill at 55.6%. Kansas City is 5-3 on the road and 0-4 at home this season. The Comets will host Dallas on December 21 before traveling to San Diego on December 26 and Cleveland on December 28.
Leading Scorer: Delevski (48 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Ceccarelli (5-2; 12.13 paa; .771 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 12/21 vs. Dallas, Thurs. 12/26 at San Diego, Sat. 12/28 at Cleveland

Milwaukee Wave (11-3)
The Wave experienced a rare home loss by way of a 14-13 setback to Cleveland on December 14. Joe Reiniger posted seven points in the game and is second in MISL scoring with 49 points. Reiniger is also second in 3-point goals with four and power play goals with seven. He ranks third in total goals with 19 and is tied for third in 2-point goals with 15. Greg Howes is tied for eighth in League scoring with 35 points and is tied for the MISL lead in game-winning goals with four. Todd Dusosky is tied for the League lead in assists with 15. Victor Nogueira paces the MISL in points against average (7.94) and wins (11). Nogueira is tied for second in save percentage at .751 and ranks third in minutes with 793. The Wave has the League's top offense at 14.3 points per game and best defense at 8.6 points per contest. The Wave also own the MISL's best power play at 59.3% and penalty kill at 73.7%. Milwaukee will travel to Philadelphia on December 21 before hosting Dallas on December 31. The Wave will then head to San Diego on January 2.
Leading Scorer: Reiniger (48 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Nogueira (11-2; 7.94 paa; .751 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 12/21 at Philadelphia, Tues. 12/31 vs. Dallas, Thurs. 1/2 at San Diego

Philadelphia Kixx (13-3)
The Kixx won their sixth straight contest with a 15-13 victory over Kansas City on December 14. Joel Shanker had five points in the victory and is now 10th in League scoring with 34 points. Don D'Ambra is tied for the MISL lead in game-winning goals with four and Kevin Sloan is knotted for second in first goals with three. Peter Pappas ranks second in the MISL in both points against average (8.89) and wins (10). Pappas is fifth in minutes (782), saves (155) and save percentage (.738). Philadelphia is 9-0 at home and 4-3 on the road. The Kixx have the League's second best defense at 8.9 points per game and the third most proficient offense at 11.7 points per contest. Philadelphia is 8-1 vs. Eastern Conference opponents and 5-2 against Western Conference foes. The Kixx will entertain Milwaukee on December 21 and Dallas on January 4 before traveling to Baltimore on January 11.
Leading Scorer: Shanker (34 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Pappas (11-2; 8.82 paa, .738 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 12/21 vs. Milwaukee, Sat. 1/4 vs. Dallas, Sat. 1/11 at Baltimore

San Diego (6-11)
The Sockers fell, 14-12 (OT), at Harrisburg on December 14. Carlos Farias leads the MISL in scoring with 60 points and paces the League in 3-point goals with five. Farias ranks second in total goals (21) and 2-point goals (16). He is tied for third in assists with 13. Alejandro Cardenas is tied for 17th in League scoring with 29 points while Gaston Pernia is the MISL leader in blocks with 40. Nick Vorberg is tied for second in the League in save percentage at .751 and ranks third in save percentage at 8.92. The Sockers are second in the MISL in 3-point goals scored with 13. San Diego is averaging 9.8 points per contest and surrendering 12.1 points per match. The San Diego penalty kill is the MISL's third best unit at 58.3%. The Sockers will host Baltimore on December 21, Kansas City on December 26 and Milwaukee on January 2.
Leading Scorer: Farias (60 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Vorberg (3-6; 8.92 paa; .751 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 12/21 vs. Baltimore, Thurs. 12/26 vs. Kansas City, Sun. 1/12 vs. Milwaukee

LEAGUE NOTES...

- Dallas forward David Doyle moved into 10th place on indoor soccer's all-time scoring list with a 2-point goal at 5:19 of the first quarter during the Sidekicks' 17-10 win vs. Baltimore on December 14; Doyle posted a total of nine points in two outings last week to push his career total to 978

- Baltimore forward Denison Cabral recorded the 600th point of his career during the Blast's 12-10 (OT) victory vs. Harrisburg on December 13; Cabral, who added an assist in Baltimore's contest at Dallas on December 14, now has 601 career points

- The Harrisburg Heat's six overtime games this season is a single-season club record; five of those extra-session contests have come during the team's first nine home games

- Todd and Troy Dusosky of the Milwaukee Wave have combined for 730 career points through play on December 15; the duo of Randy and Rudy Pikuzinski hold the all-time scoring record between brothers with 2,222 career points

- The Philadelphia Kixx are just 1,273 fans away from welcoming the 1,000,000 patron in the club's seven-year history; Philadelphia is expected to welcome the historic visitor on December 21 when the Kixx entertain the Milwaukee Wave

- Milwaukee defender Lovelace Ackah has played in 119 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...

"The effort was superb tonight...I challenged the guys on what it was to be a Baltimore Blast player – drive, determination, effort and intensity – and to believe that you're going to win this game...they earned it."

- Baltimore head coach Bobby McAvan following the Blast's 14-12 (OT) victory vs. Harrisburg on December 13; the win was the first for McAvan as the Baltimore skipper

"The ball hasn't been falling our way most of the season, but today things seemed to be clicking...we finished a little better and the effort is good."

- Dallas head coach Tatu following the Sidekicks' 17-10 win over Baltimore on December 14; Dallas went 2-0 last week

"Whenever you face a six-man attack with a one-point lead, it gets kind of helter-skelter...(D.J.) Newsom was awesome in front of the net...he had a couple of great blocks."

- Cleveland goalkeeper Jim Larkin after facing Milwaukee's sixth attacker in the closing minutes of a 14-13 victory over the Wave on December 14

FARIAS HOLDS SPALDING SCORING LEAD...

San Diego forward Carlos "Chile" Farias posted a two points in one outing last week to increase his 2002-03 scoring total to an MISL best 60 points. Farias, who has played in 16 games, leads Milwaukee's Joe Reiniger (49 points) by 11 points. Harrisburg's Dino Delevski and David Bascome are tied for third with 48 points apiece while Dallas' David Doyle is fifth with 43 points.

Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from December 16, 2002

• Dallas Turns Back the Clock - MISL 2
• Heat Weekly - Harrisburg Heat

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