Detroit is XSL Champion
Published on March 30, 2009 under Xtreme Soccer League (XSL) News Release
CHICAGO (March 30, 2009) -- There was plenty of tension for all 8,272 fans packed into the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee on Sunday, as the Wave and New Jersey battled to the final seconds.
But out in suburban Detroit, the 15-14 New Jersey victory wrung plenty of emotion out of members of the Detroit Ignition, who clinched the first Xtreme Soccer League championship while watching the broadcast on B2 Networks.
With Milwaukee's loss, the Ignition (11-7) were assured of finishing in no worse than a tie with both the Wave (9-9) and New Jersey (9-9). Because Detroit owns the tiebreaker over both teams by virtue of winning the season series, the title goes to the Motor City.
"It was definitely a little unusual, because we were in front of a TV screen instead of on the field," said Matt Johnson, the Ignition's rookie head coach. "But the game was very exciting, so we were definitely on the edge of our seats right until the end."
Detroit dropped two of its first three games before winning what turned out to be one of the most important games of the season. Josh Rife's overtime goal in Milwaukee gave the Ignition a 14-12 victory. It was the only road game either team would win of the seven they played, and helped secure that tiebreaker for Detroit.
That victory was the first of five in a row, a streak that put the Ignition at the top of the table. Detroit remained in a battle with the Wave for much of the season, but then won three times from March 20-27 and took control of the race.
Along the way, the Ignition survived the loss of striker Worteh Sampson to an Achilles injury and midfielder Vahid Assadpour to an ankle. Assadpour was in and out of the lineup, but Sampson missed most of the last six weeks of the season.
"I really feel like over the course of the season, we just kept working and getting better," Johnson said. "It's also a testament to the fact that we're a team who's bigger than the sum of our parts."
There were contributions up and down the line, but probably none bigger than the season-long play of goalkeeper Danny Waltman. The Gig Harbor, Wash., native made big save after big save for the Ignition, frustrating opposing players every night.
"There's no question in my mind, Danny's the league MVP," Johnson said. "He won some games for us early in the year, games we had no business winning."
Detroit will be able to celebrate the championship with its fans on Friday night, when it closes out the home season against Chicago at 7:35 p.m. EST at Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth.
Xtreme Soccer League Stories from March 30, 2009
- Ignition Clinch XSL Championship - Detroit Ignition
- Detroit is XSL Champion - XSL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
