Ironmen fall to Ignition
March 8, 2009 - Xtreme Soccer League (XSL)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
Plymouth, Mich. (Sunday, March 8, 2009) - The New Jersey Ironmen (6-8) saw their two-game winning streak come to an end today at Compuware Arena, coming out on the wrong end of a 21-14 result to the Detroit Ignition (8-6). By defeating the Ironmen, the Ignition take the season series between these two teams.
Detroit forward Leo Gibson put up the first points of the evening at 5:11 of the opening frame, but an Adauto Neto to Lucio Gonzaga tally at 6:51 equalized for New Jersey. Following a goal by Ignition defender Wes Sechrist at 11:41, the Ironmen again knotted it up, 4-4, on a Neto to Tiguinho score.
The two sides continued to exchange goals in the second quarter with New Jersey midfielder Chile Farias finishing a Shaun David feed at 8:22 and defender Rey Martinez making good on a Goran Vasic pass at 10:27. The helper by Vasic was the 250th career assist for the Serbian playmaker. With the score even at 8-8, Vasic and David hooked up at 10:46 to give the Ironmen their first lead of the contest, 10-8, heading into intermission.
The second half of this match-up was all Detroit, with the host Ignition outscoring New Jersey 13-4. The two notches for the Ironmen came on a pair of goals by Neto, with Vasic and Lucio assisting.
With the win, Detroit owns the season tiebreaker between these two teams. This becomes critical should the two clubs finish with identical records. New Jersey must now finish one game better than the Ignition in the final standings.
When 13,249 fans welcomed the legendary Pelé to Prudential Center at their first home contest in team history on December 1, 2007, the New Jersey Ironmen established their honorary captain program. The Ironmen have since built on their honorary captain program by having such stars as former U.S. National Team midfielder Tab Ramos, former MLS offensive juggernaut Giovanni Savarese, Survivor-Africa winner and philanthropist Ethan Zohn, former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi, former Cosmo midfielder Vladislav Bogicevic and former NASL/MISL goalkeeper Shep Messing being among their previously honorees. Former Cosmo Captain Werner Roth will be honored on Sunday, March 22nd, five-time MLS Cup Champion Jeff Agoos will serve as honorary captain on Friday, March 27th, and Super Bowl Champion George Martin will be honorary captain on Saturday, April 4th.
ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY IRONMEN The New Jersey Ironmen, owned by Jeff Vanderbeek and Michael Gilfillan of the NHL New Jersey Devils ownership group, are a professional indoor soccer team that completed their inaugural season in April of 2008. The Ironmen play their home schedule at Prudential Center in the Downtown Core Redevelopment District of Newark, and the team is currently amid their sophomore campaign as charter members of the newly-founded Xtreme Soccer League. The Ironmen are coached by two-time MISL Coach of the Year Omid Namazi. For more information on the New Jersey Ironmen, visit www.njironmen.com.
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Xtreme Soccer League Stories from March 8, 2009
- Ironmen fall to Ignition - New Jersey Ironmen
- Detroit hangs 21 on New Jersey to snap three-game losing streak - Detroit Ignition
- Wave fall at Chicago 19-10 - Milwaukee Wave
- Storm upend first-place Wave - Chicago Storm
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