Hovaker wins first career game
January 27, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA, January 27, 2008 - The defending MISL Champion Philadelphia KiXX (8-11) snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the expansion New Jersey Ironmen (10-7) in front of 6,142 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. Nick Hovaker won the first game of his rookie season in net and John Barry Nusum scored a hat trick for the home crowd, recording five points in the first quarter alone. The KiXX were without Peter Pappas for a third straight game due to a neck injury.
John Barry Nusum and Sandre Naumoski hooked up twice to get the KiXX rolling to a 4-0 start. The goals were Nusum's seventh and eighth on the season. Player/coach Don D'Ambra spread the KiXX lead to 6-0 when he knocked home a lob from Jonathan Steele. The goal was D'Ambra's team-leading 11th of the season, and the 301st of his 14-year career. On January 25 in Orlando, D'Ambra became just the 14th player in MISL history to score 300 goals in his career. Tiguinho's fourth of the season put the Ironmen on the board to make it 6-2. Just 14 seconds later, former KiXX standout and current Ironmen player/assistant coach Kevin Sloan buried a three-pointer to bring the Ironmen to within one. With five seconds remaining in the opening frame, Pat Morris knocked a two-pointer by Ironmen keeper Tony Meola to give the KiXX an 8-5 lead after one. Nusum was given the assist on the play.
After a scoreless second quarter, Ptah Myers gave the KiXX a 10-5 lead just 27 seconds into the second half. D'Ambra was credited with the assist, the 200th of his career. With the assist, D'Ambra became just the 12th player in MISL history to record 200 assists. 3:55 into the quarter, former KiXX player and Ironmen leading scorer Dan Antoniuk brought NJ to with three points with his 24th goal of the season. Jonathan Steele restored the KiXX five-point lead with a goal 10:09 into the third frame, assisted by Aaron Susi.
Osni Neto pulled the Ironmen to within one goal after his fifth of the season made the score 12-9. Nusum completed the hat trick for the KiXX giving the home team a 14-9 lead. Nusum scored on a rebound after Ryan Heins brought the ball the length of the field. With Goran Vasic on as sixth attacker for New Jersey, KiXX captain Pat Morris buried a three-point empty net goal to give the KiXX a 17-9 lead. Antoniuk would follow with two more goals to complete the hat trick, ending scoring at 17-13.
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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from January 27, 2008
- Early deficit too much for Ironmen to overcome - New Jersey Ironmen
- Hovaker wins first career game - Philadelphia KiXX
- Everyone gets in on the act as Wave roll over Storm - Milwaukee Wave
- Wave silence Storm - Chicago Storm
- Cougars sign PASL all-star midfielder M'Bemba to contract - California Cougars
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