Ironmen sweep MISL weekly awards for week 10
January 8, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
NEWARK, NJ-The Major Indoor Soccer League announced today that the New Jersey Ironmen (8-5) swept the MISL weekly awards for the week ending Wednesday, January 5, 2008. Midfielder Lazo Alavanja, defender Matt Maher and goalkeeper Tony Meola were named Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively.
The delayed announcement was due to the holiday season.
Over the period of two games, the Ironmen amassed 45 points in road victories over La Raza de Monterrey (Mexico), 21-12, and the California Cougars, 24-15. The club stumbled this past weekend in a pair of games on the road against the Baltimore Blast and at home against the Detroit Ignition, but New Jersey still remains only a game out of the top spot in the league.
"You have to identify the problems so they can be corrected," Ironmen Head Coach Omid Namazi stated in reference to bouncing back from last weekend. "In this game, things won't always come easy. You have to develop a killer instinct so you know when to knuckle down and grind it out."
Alavanja received Offensive Player of the Week accolades after recording 13 points in two contests, including a MISL season-high 11 points in the win over Monterrey. He scored the first three goals in that game for the Ironmen. On the evening, he tallied a total of four goals including a pair of three-pointers and a pair of two-pointers while adding an assist. One of the goals was on the power play, and he also hit the game-winning-goal. He followed up that performance three days later in Stockton, California, by scoring a restart goal on the only shot he took. In total Alavanja had 13 points, two three-pointers, three two-pointers, an assist, a game-winning-goal, a power play goal, a restart goal, a first goal and a block.
"The goal seemed really big, and the ball felt really light," Alavanja recalled about the 11-point performance in Monterrey. "It was a good day."
Maher, a Cape May Court House, New Jersey, native, received Defensive Player of the Week honors after two solid defensive performances in the road trip out west. He registered six blocks in the victory over La Raza, and he put in another solid defensive performance against the California Cougars three days later.
Maher commented on where the Ironmen defense needed to direct more attention.
"We have to focus on possession and killing a game when we have a lead," he said. "We cannot allow ourselves to become complacent when we are on top late in a game. We've been working hard this week; the sooner we can get on the field, the better."
Kearny native Tony Meola received his second MISL Goalkeeper of the Week award after putting in a solid performance in net for the Ironmen in the 21-12 win over La Raza de Monterrey. Meola registered 23 saves in a game that he saw La Raza take 51 shots. He recorded 13 saves in the second half, yielding only one goal in the entire half. Meola also served as the backbone of the offensive attack, helping to set up plays for the offense throughout the contest.
He remarked about hosting the Baltimore Blast a week after falling to them at 1st Mariner Arena in Maryland.
"It is a positive aspect in that the game is still fresh on our minds," Meola, who was named Goalkeeper of the Week after a week one win over the Orlando Sharks, stated. "We vividly remember the game, and we know what preparation we must do. This game will definitely be another good test."
Alavanja also had a similar feeling to that of Meola.
"You're only as good as your last game, but your next game is just as important," he commented. "No matter who you play, you have to want to win the next game."
The Ironmen will host the Baltimore Blast (6-6) this Friday at Prudential Center with kickoff slated for 8:00 p.m. The team is currently offering a free soccer ball to anyone who calls in advance and orders two tickets at the $20 level or higher. Get your free soccer ball today by calling 1-800-IRONMEN.
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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from January 8, 2008
- Ironmen sweep MISL weekly awards for week 10 - New Jersey Ironmen
- Blast and MPT team up to televise four games - Baltimore Blast
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