KiXX misses postseason for just the second time in team history
April 5, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA - The defending MISL Champion Philadelphia KiXX (12-18) were defeated by the California Cougars (11-19) in the final game of the 2007-08 regular season. Both teams came into the game without a chance of advancing to the postseason. Philadelphia missed the postseason for just the second time in the club's 12-year history, just one year after winning the MISL championship.
California player/coach Bernie Lilavois scored first for the Cougars, assisted by Brian Farber 10:27 into the first frame. Farber tallied two of his own goals in the second quarter, giving him five first half points. Nelson Santana tacked on another two-point goal for the Cougars with 2:41 remaining in the half, giving California an 8-0 lead at half time.
21 seconds into the third quarter, KiXX captain Pat Morris scored his 16th goal of the season, to put the KiXX on the board for the first time, 8-2. Morris scored the 150th goal of his career in the 300th game of his career on April 3 against Monterrey. Evan McNeley answered with a two-point goal to make the score 10-2 California 2:51 into the third quarter. Lilavois scored his second of the night on a header set up by Frank M'Bemba, and completed the hat trick with 5:56 remaining in the third frame. Angel Rivillo scored at 4:13, set up by Jonathan Steele. Steele scored a hat trick the last time the two teams met in Philadelphia on February 23, a 19-15 KiXX win. Less than one minute later, Aaron Susi and Tony Donatelli scored back-to-back goals to bring the score to 14-8.
Frank M'Bemba scored his seventh goal of the season to start the fourth quarter, giving California a 16-8 lead, assisted by Santana. Donatelli tacked on another goal with 4:30 left to play, bringing the KiXX to within six points. Donatelli finished the regular season with 20 goals, 13 assists, and 55 points, all career highs for the Temple native. KiXX player/coach Don D'Ambra was credited with the assist, and scored his own goal over four minutes later, assisted by Rivillo. D'Ambra finished the season with 21 goals, tops on the team. Aaron Susi out as sixth attacker for the KiXX, Enrique Tovar scored on the empty net, his first of the night. Morris finished scoring with his second goal, ending the game 18-14.
Notes: The KiXX and Cougars split the season series at two games apiece. Ptah Myers also finished the season with career highs in goals (19), assists (8), and points (50). Philadelphia finished the season with a 4-11 record away from the Wachovia Spectrum.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from April 5, 2008
- KiXX misses postseason for just the second time in team history - Philadelphia KiXX
- Wave win game but can't get help for title - Milwaukee Wave
- Focus shifts to playoffs - Chicago Storm
- Ignition capture regular-season title with 22-21 win over Baltimore - Detroit Ignition
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