KiXX prepares for second consecutive back-to-back weekend
Published on March 20, 2006 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA, March 20, 2006 - The Philadelphia KiXX (6-18) return to the familiar confines of the Wachovia Spectrum to entertain the fourth-placed Chicago Storm (9-15) on Saturday, March 25. The Storm currently hold the final position available to qualify for the 2006 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Playoffs, holding a full-three game lead on Philadelphia with six games remaining. Saturday's contest, dubbed "Girl Scout Night," features discounts and special promotions for the area girl-scout troops. Game-time at the Wachovia Spectrum is scheduled for 7:05 pm ET with the doors opening at 6:00 pm ET. The club then concluded their back-to-back set with a trip south to battle the Baltimore Blast on Sunday, March 26. The contest is slated to kick-off at 5:05 pm ET at the 1st Mariner Arena.
This Week's Itinerary:
Monday, March 20, Off Day
Tuesday, March 21, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesday, March 22, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Thursday, March 23, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Friday, March 24, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, March 25, KiXX vs. Chicago Storm, Wachovia Spectrum, 7:05 pm
Sunday, March 26, KiXX @ Baltimore Blast, 1st Mariner Arena, 5:05 pm
*all times are Eastern and subject to change
Injury Report:
Player Injury Status
Shawn Boney Hamstring Questionable
Dino Delevski Hamstring Questionable
Andy Guastaferro Ankle Out
John Barry Nusum Abdominal Doubtful
Kevin Sloan Back Doubtful
Goran Vasic Jaw Out
KiXX vs. Storm
2005-06 Series: 1-3 (home 1-1, away 0-2) Overall: 3-5 (home 2-2, away 1-3)
The Philadelphia KiXX and the Chicago Storm met for the first time in franchise history on November 14, 2004 ... Philadelphia dropped the decision, 4-7, but split the season-series, two-games apiece, in 2004-05 ... Philadelphia edged past the visiting Storm, 3-2, in a low-scoring affair in the first meeting this season on December 10 ... Shawn Boney, Drew Kopp and John Barry Nusum each netted a goal for the KiXX, while Novi Marojevic and Byron Alvarez struck for Chicago ... the Storm bounced back to equally edge past the hosting KiXX, 4-3, in the opening game of a home-and-home series on January 28 ... despite a season-high three-point performance (two goals, assist) from midfielder Andy Guastaferro, the KiXX then dropped the second game, 8-6, in the Windy City on January 29 ... Marojevic paced Chicago, who rallied for a 4-0 deficit, with three points on a pair of goals and two assists ... the club fell in their last match-up, 8-4, on February 12 as three Storm players recorded three points ... Guastaferro made his professional indoor debut with Philadelphia in the 2003-04 campaign, but was then selected third overall by the Storm in the 2004 MISL Expansion Draft ... with Chicago, the native of Canandaigua, NY recorded 16 points on 10 goals and six assists ... the KiXX reacquired the rights to the 26-year-old midfielder in exchange for a player-to-be-named (Allen Eller) on October 24 ... led by Head Coach Frank Klopas, the Storm enter the contest with a 9-15 overall record and holding three-game lead over Philadelphia for the fourth spot in the MISL standings ... the two clubs will square-off a total of six times this season.
KiXX vs. Blast
2005-06 Series: 1-3 (home 1-1, away 0-2) Overall: 37-29 (home 21-12, away 16-17)
The Blast earned a 8-2 victory in the first match-up between the Interstate-95 rivals on December 30 ... Giuliano Celenza and Adauto Neto each posted a ha trick for Baltimore, while John Barry Nusum and Andy Guastaferro notched the only goals for the KiXX ... the Blast then defeated the hosting KiXX 8-4 in front of a season-high 9,356 fans for the club's 11th Annual School Day Game on February 8 ... all-star defender P.J. Wakefield led all scorers with three assists ... Nusum and veteran forward Goran Vasic each posted a pair of points for Philadelphia .... Baltimore continued to dominate the KiXX with a 5-2 decision in the first game of a home-and-home series at 1st Mariner Arena on March 3 ... Neto led all scorers with four points on three goals and one assist ... Philadelphia then defeated the visiting Blast, 7-5, on March 4 thanks to solid performances from newcomers David Schofield, Josh Rife and local product David Castellanos ... Baltimore, who enters riding a three-game losing streak, will be without the services of Head Coach Tim Wittman for the remainder of the 2005-06 season and as well as the 2006 Championship Series ... Wittman was suspended by the MISL for his actions following the club's contest in California on March 18 ... the Blast entered the season with a revamped roster, courtesy of the additions of forwards Adauto Neto and Robbie Aristodemo ... both players were acquired in the 2005 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Dispersal Draft of the Cleveland Force and the Kansas City Comets ... with veteran forward Denison Cabral on the inactive list after sustaining a knee injury versus the KiXX on December 30, the duo have become a potent one-two punch for the Blast ... the two clubs squared-off in a preseason exhibition at Tri-State Sports, the KiXX practice facility on October 27 with the five-quarter scrimmage ending in a nine-nine tie ... Philadelphia and the Blast, one of the League's oldest rivals, will meet a total of six times in 2005-06.
Playoff Scenario: With three of the spots for the 2006 MISL Championship Series secured by the St. Louis Steamers, Milwaukee Wave and Baltimore Blast, only the fourth and final position remains up for grabs with all of the three clubs alive and able to make a run down the stretch ... the Chicago Storm (9-15) currently holds the seed, but Philadelphia and the California Cougars (8-18) trailing close behind ... the Cougars, winners of their last four and seven of their last nine, rank fifth and trail Chicago by two-full games, while the KiXX are seated in the cellar position and trail an additional one game ... entering this weekend, the Storm's magic number to eliminate Philadelphia is four ... any combination of Chicago victories/KiXX losses that equal four will eliminate the KiXX from postseason contention ... the Storm's magic number to eliminate California is three ... Philadelphia has qualified for the playoffs in each of their previous nine years of existence.
Operation Soccer Ball: The Philadelphia KiXX have partnered with the Defense Department's "America Supports You," as well as several branches of the United States Military and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPSYA) to distribute soccer balls to the youth players throughout the countries of Afghanistan and Iraq .. any fan bringing a new soccer ball to the team's home finale versus the Baltimore Blast on Saturday, April 8 will receive a voucher for a complimentary ticket to a KiXX home game in the 2006-07 season ... the contest, which will be televised live on CN8, The Comcast Network, is scheduled to kick-off at 7:05 pm ET with the doors opening at 6:00 pm ET ... the KiXX and Spalding, the official soccer ball of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), will partner to donate a minimum of 50 new official rocket red soccer balls to the cause .. for more information, please contact the KiXX Office at 1-888-888-KIXX (5499).
Back-to-Back: The KiXX embark on their sixth set of back-to-back contests this weekend, commencing with a meeting versus the Chicago Storm at the Wachovia Spectrum on Saturday, March 25 ... the series concludes versus the Baltimore Blast at 1st Mariner Arena on Sunday, March 26 ... to date this season, the team is 0-5 in the first game of back-to-back sets and 2-3 in the latter contest ... last season (2004-05), the club posted a 7-4 record in the first game of back-to-back series and an even 5-5 mark in the latter ... listed below are all of the back-to-back sets this season:
Date Opponent W/L* Date Opponent W/L*
12/9 at Milwaukee L, 3-5 12/10 vs. Chicago W, 3-2
1/20 at Milwaukee L, 5-10 1/21 vs. Milwaukee L, 4-7
1/28 vs. Chicago L, 3-4 1/29 at Chicago L, 6-8
3/3 at Baltimore L, 2-5 3/4 vs. Baltimore W, 7-5
3/18 vs. St. Louis L, 3-7 3/19 at Milwaukee L, 1-6
3/25 vs. Chicago Storm 7:05 pm 3/26 at Baltimore Blast 5:05 pm
4/8 vs. Baltimore 7:05 pm 4/9 at Chicago 5:00 pm
*all times are Eastern and subject to change
Coming into his Own: Six-year veteran defender Drew Kopp is enjoying one of his most productive seasons ... the native of Bridgeport, CT has already surpassed his career-high of 15 points with a personal-best 10 goals and six assists for 16 points in only 22 appearances this season ... Kopp recorded his previous high after playing in 36 games in the 2003-04 campaign ... the product of the University of Pittsburgh, who registered his first career hat trick (three goals) in Milwaukee on January 20, was also named the Collector's Corner KiXX Player of the Month, as voted by the fans via an online poll on www.kixxonline.com, for his play throughout December.
A Good Cause: The Philadelphia KiXX held their Fourth Annual Sports Memorabilia Auction on Saturday, March 19 and raised nearly $9,000 for the Children's Miracle Network at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ... a silent auction of memorabilia from the area sports teams and establishments was held throughout the contest's first half, while a live auction featuring game-worn autographed jerseys from each of the KiXX members followed the conclusion of the action ... some of the items available in the silent portion included a pair of 2006-07 KiXX season tickets, a 12-person suite for a 2006-07 home game, a full dance-team autographed calendar, an autographed Shawn Boney bobblehead and various items from the Philadelphia Eagles, 76ers, Phillies, Phantoms, Soul and Wings .. veteran auctioneer Ed Barkowitz and Dave Pace of Pace Auction Group have voluntarily offered their services.
Last Week's Outing(s):
Wave 6, KiXX 1 (3/19): Milwaukee's Eduardo Sebrango registered the only score on an assist from Troy Dusosky at 12:43 of the opening quarter to give the hosting Wave a 1-0 advantage. Greenfield extended Milwaukee's lead to two, 2-0, depositing a pass from Greg Howes at 7:54 of the second stanza. The Wave doubled their advantage, 4-0, on a pair of unanswered goals in the third period. Johnny Torres struck first, connecting on a dish from Howes just 53 seconds into the frame, followed by a score from defender Matt Schmidt at 7:57. Fontana recorded his second tally of the day at 11:30 to increase the home team's lead to five, 5-0. The KiXX finally struck onto the scoreboard when player/coach Don D'Ambra found the back of the net on a feed from Drew Kopp at 12:29. Milwaukee secured the victory as team captain Michael King connected on a tally from Kyt Selaidopoulos at 10:43 of the fourth quarter of action.
Steamers 7, KiXX 3 (3/18): Former KiXX midfielder Damien Pottinger finished off a feed from Michael Apple at 7:11 of the first frame to open the scoring for the first-place Steamers, 1-0. At 12:19 of the first quarter, Apple extended the St. Louis lead to two goals by sending a Justin McMillian pass beyond the outstretched arms of Pappas. The hometown KiXX got on the scoreboard at 1:09 of the second stanza, 2-1, as Vlatko Andonovski sent a powerful shot into the back of the net. Gary DePalma recorded the assist on the play. At 11:18 of the second period, Ptah Myers dribbled the entire length of the field before placing an unassisted tally past Phillips, knotting the count at two goals each. Genoni Martinez regained the lead for the Steamers, 3-2, scoring the go-ahead goal off a feed from Jeff DiMaria (12:31). Kafedzic extended the St. Louis lead, 4-2, when he finished off a dish from Westcott at 7:12 of the third frame. Philadelphia climbed within one goal, 4-3, after David Schofield headed an unassisted score past Phillips at 9:38 of the third quarter. A mere 29 seconds into the fourth stanza, Apple sent a solo strike past Pappas to extend the Steamer lead, 5-3. At 5:09 of the fourth period, Westcott extended the St. Louis advantage, 6-3, when he netted an open shot in the middle of the field. The Steamers acquired a four-goal lead, 7-3, when Pottinger sent a McMillian assist into the back of the net.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 20, 2006
- Cougars forward named MISL offensive player of the week - California Cougars
- Steamers weekly - St. Louis Steamers
- Steamers Keeper Receives MISL Goalkeeper of the Week - St. Louis Steamers
- Schmidt picks up Defensive Player of the Week honors - Milwaukee Wave
- MISL Names Players of the Week - MISL 2
- Blast names new head coach for remainder of 2005-06 season - Baltimore Blast
- KiXX prepares for second consecutive back-to-back weekend - Philadelphia KiXX
- MISL Statement Regarding Events Following the Baltimore Blast @ California Cougars Match on March 18 - MISL 2
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