Ironmen Head To Chicago For Critical Midseason Match-Up
February 13, 2009 - Xtreme Soccer League (XSL)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
Newark, N.J. (Friday, February 13, 2009) -If we learn anything from the return of Jason Voorhees to the big screen today, it's to never consider something dead when there is still a breath of hope. While their backs may be completely against the wall, the New Jersey Ironmen (3-6) refuse to give up the fight to keep their 2008-09 season alive.
"We have to be better on both ends of the floor," Ironmen Head Coach Omid Namazi stated. "If we are able to get a few wins, it would kick start everyone's confidence level. We would then see better overall team performance and hopefully a run."
New Jersey hits the road tomorrow for a Sunday evening meeting with the Chicago Storm at the U.S. Cellular Centre Arena, which is slated for a startup time of 4:00 p.m. The Ironmen have been on the wrong end of their past four decisions, and any more slipups will likely cost the team their season. It will take an incredible run, but New Jersey still has an opportunity to get themselves back into the fight for the XSL championship.
"We have to roll up our sleeves and do everything it takes to grind out wins," Namazi continued. "That's how you get yourself out of a funk."
With no playoffs in the XSL, the regular season champion will take the league crown. The Ironmen are currently 3.5 games behind the first place Detroit Ignition (6-2), who travel to Milwaukee to play the second place Wave (6-4) on Sunday. A Milwaukee win coupled with a New Jersey victory all of a sudden has the Ironmen only 2.5 back with half the season to go. In their final 10 games, New Jersey will play Detroit five times and the Wave three times. Long story short, if the Ironmen take it one game at a time and handle their business on the field, they have the opportunity to go on that aforementioned incredible run.
The fifth installation into the Friday the 13th series was subtitled A New Beginning, and New Jersey will look to take that fresh approach to the second half of the season. All we can do is sit back and watch the show to see how the season will shake out. One thing is for sure, though. Don't stick an ax in the Ironmen season just yet.
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Following the contest on Sunday, the Ironmen return to Prudential Center for a pair of midweek games next Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, New Jersey will host the Detroit Ignition at 11:00 a.m. in a special business outing game before hosting the Chicago Storm in a Thursday night showdown at 7:30 p.m. Joining the Ironmen as honorary captain that Thursday will be former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi.
Xtreme Soccer League Stories from February 13, 2009
- Storm to Visit Children's Memorial Hospital - Milwaukee Wave
- Wave vs. Detroit Preview - Milwaukee Wave
- Ironmen Head To Chicago For Critical Midseason Match-Up - New Jersey Ironmen
- Storm v. New Jersey preview - Chicago Storm
- Game Preview - Ignition at Wave - Milwaukee Wave
- Storm sign Clay, Osmanovic - Chicago Storm
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