KiXX face Blast live on Fox Soccer Channel Friday at 8:00pm ET with just five games remaining
March 5, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA, March 5, 2008 - The defending MISL Champion Philadelphia KiXX lost to the Monterrey La Raza in an overtime game on March 1 in Philadelphia by a score of 10-8. With the loss, the KiXX fell two games back of the sixth and final playoff spot, currently held by La Raza. Philadelphia has five games left in the regular season, four on the road, beginning with a Friday night match in Baltimore. The game will be televised live on the Fox Soccer Channel beginning at 8:00pm ET.
The KiXX announced on March 4 that the club has agreed to terms with veteran defender Casey Barton for the remainder of the 2007-08 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) season. Barton was a key defender on the KiXX 2007 MISL Championship team. Barton was originally acquired with the club's fifth-round selection in the 2005 MISL Dispersal Draft, but was inactive for the 2005-06 season after spending the previous two campaigns with the Kansas City Comets. Barton joined the KiXX for the 2006-07 season, scoring two goals and recording an assist in 23 games. Barton's 27 blocks were good for third on the team behind All-MISL Defenders Pat Morris and Genoni Martinez.
This Week's Itinerary:
Wednesday, March 5, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Thursday, March 6, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Friday, March 7, at Baltimore Blast, 8:00pm ET
Saturday, March 8, Off Day
Sunday, March 9, Off Day
Monday, March 10, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Tuesday, March 11, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
*all times are Eastern and subject to change
University of Penn Health Systems Injury Report:
Player Injury Status
Steve Wacker Knee Out
Drew Kopp Knee Questionable
MEET THE OPPONENT: BALTIMORE BLAST
4th Meeting this Season
10/19/07 - KiXX 2 at Blast 8
1/5/08 - Blast 0 at KiXX 4
1/19/08 - Blast 12 at KiXX 6
Philadelphia faces rival Baltimore for the final time this season, looking to even the season series at 2-2. The KiXX opened the season with a loss in Baltimore, 8-2, with Ptah Myers scoring the loan KiXX goal. In Philadelphia on January 5, Peter Pappas recorded the first shut out in the MISL in four years and the first against the Blast in their 15-year history. On January 19, the Blast beat the KiXX 12-6 in Philadelphia, getting two goals each from Carlos Garcia and David Bascome.
Baltimore is led by 2006 MISL Final MVP Machel Millwood, who has 22 goals in 22 games to go along with 20 assists for 64 points. Millwood ranks first in all three categories, while sitting fourth in goals and fifth in points in the MISL. Denison Cabral has chipped in 21 goals, and PJ Wakefield leads the defense with 12 assists and 35 blocks. Sagu holds a 10-8 record in net, and a League-low 8.62 PAA. Baltimore boasts the League's best home record, 10-2, and converts and MISL-best 56.3% of the club's power plays.
Last Week's Outing(s):
KiXX 8, MTY 10 (3/1) - The KiXX fell to the Monterrey La Raza in front of 6,595 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. Tony Donatelli scored a hat trick, but it wasn't enough as Victor Negrete scored in overtime to give Monterrey the 10-8 win. With the loss, the KiXX dropped two games out of the final playoff spot with just five games remaining. After a scoreless first period, Monterrey opened 3:30 into the second quarter with Jorge Campos' second goal of the season off a feed from Genoni Martinez. Martinez, named the 2006-07 MISL Defender-of-the-Year, was a key member of the KiXX 2007 Championship squad. Tony Donatelli tied the score at two apiece after capitalizing on a pass from John Barry Nusum. The goal was a power play goal, resulting from a tripping call from Campos. Donatelli tacked on another with 1:05 remaining in the half, assisted again by Nusum. Heading into the locker room, the score was tied at 4-4. Just 10 seconds into the third quarter, Marco Vega buried his 10th of the season, assisted by Ivan Medina to tie the game at four. Over two minutes later, La Raza recaptured the lead when Medina scored his 14th of the season, unassisted. Medina scored again on a break away with 4:26 left in the third frame, also unassisted. Aaron Susi answered less than a minute later on a rebound from a Ptah Myers shot. The goal was Susi's 10th of the season and brought the KiXX to within two points. Donatelli completed the hat trick 4:55 into the final frame, set-up by Don D'Ambra, tying the game at 8-8. Donatelli's hat trick marked the second straight game a KiXX player accomplished the feat; Jonathan Steele scored three in a 19-15 win over California on February 23. The score remained 8-8 after regulation. After 8:07 of overtime play, Victor Negrete won the game for Monterrey with the assist from former KiXX player Dino Delevski. Donatelli's three goals give him a share of the team-lead with D'Ambra at 16 on the season. Defender Drew Kopp missed his fifth straight game with a knee injury.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 5, 2008
- Ignition Weekly - Detroit Ignition
- KiXX face Blast live on Fox Soccer Channel Friday at 8:00pm ET with just five games remaining - Philadelphia KiXX
- Wave Weekly - Milwaukee Wave
- California Cougars Weekly Report - California Cougars
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