D'Ambra/Pappas Bobble Head Night set for Sunday, March 1
February 25, 2009 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA, February 25, 2009 - The Philadelphia KiXX will entertain the Rockford Rampage for the club's third consecutive meeting on Sunday. March 1. The first 3,000 fans, 14 and under, to enter the gates will receive a complimentary Don D'Ambra/Peter Pappas dual bobble head, courtesy of EwingCole. Game-time at the Wachovia Spectrum is scheduled for 4:05 pm ET and can be heard live via webcast at www.wmssfm.com.
This Week's Itinerary:
Thursday, February 26, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Friday, February 27, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, Off Day
Sunday, March 1, KiXX vs. Rockford Rampage, Wachovia Spectrum, 4:05 pm
Monday, March 2, Off Day
Tuesday, March 3, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesday, March 4, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
*all times are Eastern and subject to change
University of Penn Health Systems Injury Report: Player Injury Status
Don D'Ambra Foot Out
Hewerton Moreira Knee Out-Season
John Barry Nusum Quad Questionable
Meet the Opponent: Rockford Rampage
2008-09 Series: 1-1 (home 1-0, away 0-1)
Overall: 1-1 (home 1-0, away 0-1)
Sunday's contest is the third consecutive meeting between Philadelphia and Rockford. The KiXX earned an 11-10 victory in the clubs' first ever meeting on February 21, the first game in a home-and-home series. Philadelphia native Pat Morris led the hosts with five points, including a three-point goal to pull the KiXX within one with just over three minutes to play and the assist to teammate Anthony Maher (four points) on the game-winning goal. Bato Radoncic led Rockford with five points, while Semir Mesanovic chipped in four. The Rampage, formerly of the American Indoor Soccer League (AISL), concluded the two-game series with a 4-2 win at the Metro Centre on February 22. Cape May native Anthony Maher registered the only goal for the visiting KiXX. Rockford features several familiar faces headlined by former Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Most Valuable Player Jamar Beasley, and standouts Novi Marojevic, Matthew Stewart, and Sanaldo. Rockford also recently announced the acquisition of forward Gary Brooks. Brooks began his professional indoor career with Philadelphia in 2004.
Last Week's Outings:
ROC 4, PHI 2 (2/22/09) - The KiXX dropped a 4-2 decision to the Rockford Rampage at the MetroCentre in the second game of a home-and-home series. After a scoreless first quarter, Cape May Court House, NJ native Anthony Maher gave the visiting KiXX an early 2-0 advantage after depositing a centering pass from Northeast Catholic graduate Pat Morris on the power play. Philadelphia received the man-advantage opportunity courtesy of a two-minute tripping infraction assessed on former KiXX midfielder Gary Brooks. Bato Radoncic knotted the game at 2-2, connecting on a rebound at 8:47 of the third stanza. With defender Joe Di Buono in the penalty box, forward Enrique Tovar registered a power-play two-point score to give the Rampage their first lead of the night, 4-2, and what proved to be the game winner at 10:39.
PHI 11, ROC 10 (2/21/09) - The Philadelphia KiXX defeated the Rockford Rampage 11-10 to post their fourth consecutive win and improve to 7-5 on the season. The contest also featured a live post-game auction of the team's game-worn jerseys with all proceeds benefiting the Children's Miracle Network at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Player/coach Don D'Ambra gave Philadelphia an early lead, 2-0, at 2:38 of the first stanza on his 450th career goal. Rockford's Semir Mesanovic responded quickly with a two-point goal at 3:55, 2-2. Forward Anthony Maher scored next off the rebound of teammate Joe Di Buono, 4-2. With less than five minutes remaining, Enrique Tovar knotted the two teams at four to close the first period, 4-4. Philadelphia regained the lead with quick movement on the front line from Philadelphia native Pat Morris over to midfielder David Castellanos for the only score of the second quarter, 6-4. Forward Bato Radoncic scored unassisted for Rockford only 12 seconds into the third period of play, 6-6. Radoncic's next shot rebounded off the boards to teammate Geison Moura who scored a two-pointer at 3:38, making it 6-8. Radoncic extended the lead for Rockford late in the last stanza at 3:51, 6-10. Morris answered back scoring a three-point goal with the sixth-man attack, 9-10. Anthony Maher headed the ball into the net off Morris' pass high off the glass to seal the 11-10 KiXX victory.
Double-Bobble: The Philadelphia KiXX has partnered with the nationally and internationally acclaimed EwingCole to present the Don D'Ambra/Peter Pappas dual bobble head giveaway for the 2008-09 National Indoor Soccer League (NISL) season. The collectible will be distributed to the first 3,000 fans, 14 and under, and all season ticket holders on Sunday, March 1, as the team entertains the Rockford Rampage. D'Ambra and Pappas are the only two players that have played with the team since the club's inception in 1996. The bobble head, produced by Alexander Global Promotions, includes an environmental-friendly recyclable insert that replaces the non-eco friendly Styrofoam. EwingCole has served as the presenting sponsor of the team's bobble head giveaway for the past six seasons. The previous collectibles have included mascot SocceRoo, forward John Barry Nusum, Shawn Boney, Kevin Sloan, and D'Ambra and Pappas individually.
CMN Jersey Auction: The KiXX hosted their annual game-worn jersey auction, which raised over $7,000 to benefit the Children's Miracle Network at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, on February 21. The auction continues as two additional packages, an Experience Philadelphia Family Package and an Experience Philadelphia Cultural Package, are available via raffle at the March 1 and March 14 games. Raffle tickets, priced at $5 for five tickets or $20 for an arms length, are available for purchase at the KiXX Information Booth located on the Wachovia Spectrum concourse behind section 201. Winners for each package will be announced during the fourth quarter of each contest.
Follow the Leader: Despite missing the club's last two contests, forward Hewerton Moreira continues to pace all NISL scorers this season, sitting atop the NISL leaderboard with 47 points. The native of Santos, Brazil, however, sustained an injury just before the half versus Massachusetts on February 7 and had season-ending knee surgery on Tuesday, February 10. Moreira posted a season-best 10 points on five two-point goals versus Monterrey on January 25 to reclaim the top spot from teammate and Philadelphia native Pat Morris. Overall, either Moreira or Morris has held the top spot among all NISL scorers for the entire length of the season. Moreira, who was the League's first two-time winner of the NISL Player of the Week accolade, had recorded at least one point in each of his nine games played this season, his first with Philadelphia.
Still Going ...: KiXX midfielder Ptah Myers is well on his way to becoming Philadelphia's Ironman. The Columbus, OH native appeared in his 104th consecutive regular-season game versus Massachusetts on February 7 and has now appeared in 110 consecutive contests including playoffs. The UMASS product has played in every game each of the last three seasons and last missed an outing when he did not participate in the team's contest versus the Milwaukee Wave on February 9, 2005. Scott Henderson holds the team's all-time mark with 147 consecutive outings.
Registration Open for Summer Camps: The club recently announced that online registration for the 2009 Philadelphia KiXX Summer Kamp program is now available. The summer camp program, which opens in mid-June and runs through late August, is designed for boys and girls (ages four to 14) with approximately 40 locations offered throughout the Tri-State area. The online registration webpage can be accessed by clicking on the Camps menu option located on the top bar of the team's official website, www.kixxonline.com.
Approaching Milestones Streaking
MILESTONE NEEDS PLAYER STREAK NUMBER
David Castellanos 50 career points 1 Ptah Myers Games Played 110*
Ricardinho 50 career blocks 1 Hewerton Moreira Points 9**
Lee Tschantret 400 career goals 6 *includes postseason play
**season-ending knee surgery on February 10
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 25, 2009
- D'Ambra/Pappas Bobble Head Night set for Sunday, March 1 - Philadelphia KiXX
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