Ironmen See Three Game Winning Streak Snapped by Milwaukee
January 16, 2009 - Xtreme Soccer League (XSL)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
Milwaukee, Wis. (Friday, January 16, 2009) - Defenses shined in a game that saw stellar play from the goalkeepers of the Milwaukee Wave (4-2) and New Jersey Ironmen (3-3), but the host Wave were one goal better than the Ironmen tonight at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, 8-6. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the East Coast representatives of the Xtreme Soccer League, and the two-point decision marks the third time this season that New Jersey has lost by a single knock.
Photo by Dario CantatoreMilwaukee got on the board first at 8:22 of the opening period when forward Giuliano Oliviero set up defender Nathan Sabich for the first goal of his career, but Ironmen midfielder Goran Vasic answered at 6:25 when he launched a bullet into the upper netting behind Wave goalkeeper Marcel Feenstra. The knock put Vasic over a rare milestone in the game of indoor soccer as it was the 601st point of his career. Midfielder Rey Martinez then gave New Jersey their first lead of the contest, 4-2, by chipping a ball over the head of Feenstra on the left wing at 5:13.
Defenses prevailed in the second quarter with neither team surrendering a goal. Ironmen goalkeeper Brett Phillips played very well in net for New Jersey, and the 4-2 count stood as the two clubs headed into the locker rooms at halftime.
Milwaukee midfielder Marcelo Fontana equalized for the Wave at 11:59 of the third frame, followed by forward Marco Terminesi giving the home team a 6-4 advantage at 10:58. New Jersey midfielder Sunny Naumoski then evened the tally at six each by making good on a Shawn Boney feed at 5:12, and the score remained knotted up as the final seconds ticked off the third quarter clock.
Both sides played strong on the defensive side of the turf in the final 15, but Fontana delivered a strike at 2:33 that would prove to be the game-winner. Ironmen Head Coach Omid Namazi pulled Phillips in favor of Vasic as the sixth attacker after the second notch of the evening by Fontana, and New Jersey had a handful of opportunities to send the game into an extra stanza. After being unable to convert on the 6-5 man advantage, New Jersey saw their three-game winning streak come to an end as the 8-6 result on the scoreboard would favor the Wave. The loss puts the record of the Ironmen even at 3-3 for the season.
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Xtreme Soccer League Stories from January 16, 2009
- Ironmen See Three Game Winning Streak Snapped by Milwaukee - New Jersey Ironmen
- Wave Beat Ironmen 8-6 - Milwaukee Wave
- Game Preview - Ignition vs. Wave on Sunday - Detroit Ignition
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