Heat Drops Defensive Clash in OT

Published on November 3, 2002 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Harrisburg Heat News Release


Harrisburg, PA - A head ball from Philadelphia's Don D'Ambra just eight seconds into overtime temporarily halted the Harrisburg Heat's bid for first place in the Major Indoor Soccer League's Eastern Conference and allowed the visiting Philadelphia KiXX to secure a 6-4 win over the Heat in a tense defensive struggle at the Farm Show Arena on Sunday night. The Heat, an 18-14 winner over Dallas here on Saturday, falls to 3-3 with the loss. Philadelphia improves to 6-2. Raul Salas (5 saves) takes the loss in goal for Harrisburg, while Peter Pappas (7 saves) gets the win.

Neither team was able to find a workable offensive rhythm through the first half. Philadelphia's Gary DePalma opened the scoring at 8:53 of the first to give the KiXX a 2-0 lead. Harrisburg's Genoni Martinez answered early in the second, at 2:45, when he took a Marco Coria service and moved deep into the left corner before poking a shot just under the crossbar to tie it at 2-2. Philly regained the lead before halftime, however, when Joe Scigliano pounded home a loose ball following a flurry in front of the net at 9:58. The KiXX led 4-2 at the break.

Chances were sparse in a scoreless third quarter, but the pace picked up in the fourth as Harrisburg upped its pressure. The high-energy tactics paid off at 5:25, when Ato Leone drifted to the right wing before banging a pass perfectly off the boards to a charging Renato Pereira, who tapped a 2pg past Pappas for a 4-4 tie.

The Heat was faced with an excellent late opportunity when Philly's Pat Morris was sent off for tripping at 12:52, giving Harrisburg a power play as time wound down. But the KiXX defense stood strong to send the game into overtime.

The visitors ended the extra stanza with alacrity. Off the opening kickoff, Pappas controlled the ball outside his yellow line and played a sharp ball down to D'Ambra at the post. The KiXX interim player/coach planted and nodded the ball on net; Salas got a hand on it but could not save it from crossing the line. Philadelphia maintained its hold on first place in the MISL's Eastern Conference with the 6-4 win.

NOTES: The Heat's current four-game homestand concludes next weekend with games against Baltimore on Saturday, November 9 (7:35 p.m.) and Kansas City on Sunday, November 10 (6:05 p.m.).

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from November 3, 2002


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