Heat Weekly

March 10, 2003 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Harrisburg Heat News Release


The Heat lost its only game last week, falling 22-14 to the Milwaukee Wave in the first annual Got Milk? School Day Game at the Farm Show Arena on Wednesday morning. The loss dropped the Heat to 12-21 on the season and put the team's playoff hopes in dire jeopardy: with one loss or Baltimore win, the Heat will be eliminated from postseason contention. Chris Morman scored five points (3pg, 2pg) in the game, and Nikola Vignjevic added four points (2gp, two assists) for Harrisburg, while Chris Damico (13 saves on 24 shots) took the loss in goal. Defender Genoni Martinez also scored four points (3pg, assist) and blocked a pair of shots; with a rejection in the first quarter, he broke Morman's single-season franchise record of 78, set in 2000-01. Martinez has now blocked 80 shots this season.

The 27-year-old defender also enjoyed a productive outing in the 2003 MISL All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Martinez led the Eastern Conference with a 3pg and a 2pg for five points. Morman, Ato Leone, and David Bascome also represented the Heat in the contest. Marco "Chikis" Lopez was voted into the contest, but remains in Mexico on personal business and was not in attendance for the game. The Western Conference captured a 20-13 win in large part due to Kansas City's Dino Delevski, who scored eight points (3pg, two 2pgs, assist) on his way to winning the All-Star Most Valuable Player Award.

THIS WEEK FOR THE HEAT:

Saturday, March 15, San Diego Sockers, San Diego Sports Arena, 10:05 p.m.. EST

The Heat will make its final West Coast trip of the regular season this Saturday, March 15, heading to San Diego to take on the Sockers. Game time at San Diego Sports Arena is 10:05 p.m. EST. Harrisburg is 4-0 against the Sockers this season, defeating them twice at home (12-10 in overtime on December 1 and 14-12 in overtime on December 14) and twice on the road (13-7 on October 11 and 21-10 on February 6). The 21-10 win on February 6 remains the Heat's most lopsided of the season.

A loss in this game, or a win by Baltimore in either of the Blast's two games this weekend, will eliminate the Heat from postseason contention.

MISL ADDS TWO EXPANSION TEAMS FOR '03-04:

This past weekend's All-Star festivities were underscored by Friday's announcement that the MISL's governing body had granted conditional approval to ownership groups in St. Louis, MO, and Laredo, TX, to field expansion teams for the 2003-04 season.

The St. Louis franchise will be called the Steamers (as the city's team in the original MISL was known from 1980-88) and will play in the Family Arena in nearby St. Charles. St. Louis was also home to the Storm of the original MISL from 1989-92, the Ambush of the National Professional Soccer League from 1992-2000, and the Steamers of the World Indoor Soccer League in 2000 and 2001. Daryl Doran, who starred as a defender on all of St. Louis' indoor teams, will coach the squad.

The "Texas Outlaws of Laredo" will play at the Laredo Entertainment Center. Laredo, noted as the second-fastest growing city in the United States, is situated along the border with Mexico, approximately 130 miles south of San Antonio.

THIS WEEK'S ITINERARY: Tuesday, March 11, Practice, Farm Show Arena, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, Practice, Farm Show Arena, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 13 Practice, Farm Show Arena, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

*As always, it is best to call Heat Director of Public and Media Relations Phil Yerger at the office (717-233-8172) or on his cell phone (717-497-5315) to confirm practice times and player availability.

HEATERS ON THE MISL LEADERBOARD:

#40 David Bascome, F -
7th in the MISL with 80 points.
Tied for 2nd in the MISL with 36 total goals.
2nd in the MISL with 35 2pgs.
Leads the MISL with 13 power play goals.

#18 Marco Coria, MF -
Tied for 16th in the MISL with 60 points.

#17 Ato Leone, MF -
Tied for 10th in the MISL with 72 points.
3rd in the MISL with 29 assists.

#3 Genoni Martinez, D -
Tied for 10th in the MISL with 72 points.
Leads the MISL with 80 blocks.
2nd in the MISL with 205 shots.



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 10, 2003


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.

OurSports Central