KiXX' Morris Finishes 2nd in Defender of the Year Voting
Published on May 2, 2002 under Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA (May 2, 2002) - Philadelphia KiXX defender Pat Morris finished second to Baltimore's Sean Bowers in MISL Defender of the Year voting the league announced Tuesday. As a result, Morris becomes the third member of the KiXX to finish second for a post-season award this year. Teammate Peter Pappas finished second for Goalkeeper of the Year and player/coach Omid Namazi also ended runner-up for Coach of the Year.
Morris garnered three first-place votes and total of 37 points, but fell short of Bowers' 79 points and 13 first-place votes. Milwaukee's Troy Dusosky placed third with 36 points and five first-place votes. Namazi, the Defender of the Year last season, ended fifth in the voting with one first-place vote.
Despite not taking home the honor, Morris has had a very successful season. In addition to the KiXX playing for the MISL Championship this Friday night in Milwaukee, Morris will be leaving for Gank, Belgium this Sunday to participate in the Gank Cup with the U.S. National Futsal Team.
The 24-year-old Morris, who is only one of three new players making the trip for the U.S., finished the regular season with a club-high seven 3-point goals, 20 2-pointers and 12 assists for a career-high 73 points, which was also good enough for third on the team. He also ended the season tied for the club's top spot with four game-winning goals and played in 43 of the 44 games for Philadelphia.
Morris will play with the KiXX this weekend when they take on the Milwaukee Wave in the third and deciding game of the MISL Championship Series on Friday night. He will then depart for the tournament on Sunday, May 5 and prepare for the U.S.'s tournament opener on May 8 against Oquido Affligen of Belgium. The Gank Cup is considered the top club tournament in the world.
A Philadelphia native, Morris is making a name for himself throughout the indoor soccer community. The Philadelphia University and Northeast Catholic High School graduate has spent just three seasons in professional indoor soccer and was selected as a starter to his first Major Indoor Soccer League All-Star Game this season.
Morris, who was named the 1998 Philadelphia Soccer 7 Player of the Year, was also a Regional All-American during his senior season at Philadelphia University and was a four-time Soccer 7 All-Star selection. He ended his collegiate career fourth on the school's all-time points list, recording 120 points and 49 goals.
The annual futsal tournament sanctioned by FIFA and Belgium's Football Association will feature 24 invited teams from around the world. Futsal is a sport derivative of soccer and played with five-man teams on a basketball style court with no walls and a low bouncing ball. Great soccer superstars such as Pele, Zico and Ronaldo grew up playing the game and credit futsal with developing their skills.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from May 2, 2002
- KiXX Prepare for Game Three of MISL Championship Series - Philadelphia KiXX
- KiXX' Morris Finishes 2nd in Defender of the Year Voting - Philadelphia KiXX
- Two Blast Players Honored by League, Media - Baltimore Blast
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