KiXX Weekly
Published on November 3, 2003 under Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA, November 3, 2003 â The Philadelphia KiXX (3-1) kicked-off their 18-game home schedule with a 9-4 victory over the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Champion Baltimore Blast in front of 6,878 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum on Saturday, November 1, 2003. Philadelphia remains home to battle Eastern Division foe the Cleveland Force on Saturday, November 8 at 7:05 pm ET. The first 2,500 patrons to enter the gates will receive a complimentary 2003-2004 Philadelphia KiXX Rally Towel.
This Week's Itinerary:
Monday, November 3, Off
Tuesday, November 4, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesday, November 5, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Thursday, November 6, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Friday, November 7, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, November 8, KiXX vs. Cleveland Force, Wachovia Spectrum, 7:05 pm
*all times are Eastern Standard and subject to change
Injury Report:
Player Injury Status
No Injuries Reported
KiXX vs. Force:
2002-2003: 2-4 Home: 2-1 Away: 0-3
Overall: 23-15
Last season, the Cleveland Force claimed the season series versus Philadelphia, earning victories in four of the club's six overall meetings and sweeping all three outings at the Convocation Center at CSU. The KiXX, however, took the upper hand in the meetings in the City of Brotherly Love, two-games-to-one. Overall the clubs have squared-off a total of 38 times since their first meeting on January 4, 1997. Philadelphia holds a 23-15 advantage against the Force including an impressive 17-3 mark at home. The KiXX are 6-12 in games in held in Cleveland. The squads are an even 2-2 when meeting in post-season play. Saturday's contest is the first of the six meetings this season.
Permanent Fixture: Philadelphia native Pat Morris has become a permanent fixture for the KiXX backline. The five-year veteran defender has appeared in 151 of the team's 170 total contests since he first stepped onto the floor as a rookie in the 1999-00 season. Morris did not miss a single game in both the 2000-01 and the 2002-03 campaigns and he is currently in the midst of a 69 consecutive games played streak.
Home Sweet Home: The Philadelphia KiXX improved to an impressive 108-35 (.755) record at home with the 9-4 victory over the Baltimore Blast in the club's eighth home opener on November 1. Last season, the club posted a League-best 16-2 mark at what was then known as the First Union Spectrum, including a perfect 15-0 record to start the season.
Automatic: The KiXX are nearly automatic on the power play this season, connecting on two-of-three one-man advantage opportunities for a MISL-high 66.7 percent. Philadelphia, however, has fallen victim to the man-advantage opportunities, stopping only one of the six situations they have defended the power play. The club's penalty-killing unit is a League-worst 16.7 percent.
Follow the Captain: KiXX Captain Kevin Sloan currently leads the club with nine points (seven goals, two assists) after exploding for a season-high four goals in the team's home-opening victory, 9-4, over the Baltimore Blast on November 1. The Columbia, Maryland native sits first in the MISL with four goals, tied first with three power-play goals and tied second with nine points. The 37-year old midfielder finished the 2002-03 campaign third on the team with 61 points, despite playing in only 28 of the team's 36 regular season contests.
Deadly Tandem: Goran Vasic and Joel Shanker connected twice in the club's 5-3 victory over the MISL Champion Baltimore Blast at the 1st Mariner Arena on October 11. Vasic dished two brilliant assists to Shanker, who had no problem finding the back of the net on either occasion. The 31-year old forward also connected on two assists against Dallas on October 22. He currently ranks second on the KiXX leaderboard with eight points (tied 5th MISL) and a team-high six assists, while Shanker sits directly behind the Yugoslavian native with six on three goals and three assists.
Brick Wall: Goalkeeper Peter Pappas has proven to a brick wall between the posts for Philadelphia this season. The 31-year old native of Toronto, Ontario recorded 22 saves on the 26 shots he faced to earn the victory in club's home opener versus the Baltimore Blast (11/1). Pappas currently holds a 3.64 goals against average (1st MISL) and is second with a 3-1 record. Overall, the six-time all-star has stopped 72 of the 86 shots he faced for a League-high 0.837 save percentage. Pappas was named the MISL Goalkeeper of the Week for consecutive weeks to open the 2003-04 campaign with stellar performances in San Diego (10/4) and Baltimore (10/11). He dropped his only decision of the season with the 8-4 loss to the Dallas Sidekicks on October 22.
Last Time Out: The Philadelphia KiXX kicked-off their 18-game home schedule with a 9-4 victory over the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Champion Baltimore Blast in front of 6,878 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum on Saturday, November 1. The nine-point performance marked the highest output for the squad in the 2003-04 campaign. Philadelphia captain Kevin Sloan connected on a game-high four goals in the contest, while forward Shawn Boney recorded the game-winner at 7:59 of the second quarter. Sloan's performance ties his highest output as a member of the KiXX and gives him 300 points scored with Philadelphia. Denison Cabral led the Blast with a pair of goals for two points, while former KiXX forward Chris Handsor chipped in with two points of his own with a goal and one assist. Goalkeeper Peter Pappas (3-1) earned the victory between the posts for Philadelphia, recording 22 saves on the 26 shots he faced, while Karim Moumban (1-1) took the loss for the Blast. Midfielder Andy Guastaferro recorded an assist in the second quarter to mark his first professional point scored. Player/coach Don D'Ambra's two-point performance pushed him over 350 points as a member of the KiXX, which stands as the franchise best. Defender Pat Morris appeared his in 69th consecutive contest, while Nikola Vignjevic, in his home debut with Philadelphia, played in his 200th career game.
Milestones Approaching: Ongoing Streaks:
Player Milestone Needs Player Streak Games
Peter Pappas 50 career assists 1 Pat Morris Games Played 69
Goran Vasic 150 career goals 2 Goran Vasic Scoring 7
50 games with the KiXX 2 Kevin Sloan Scoring 5
Nikola Vignjevic 150 career goals 3
Don D'Ambra 450 career points 3
Joel Shanker 100 career assists 7
KiXX on the MISL Leaderboard (as of 11/3):
#9 Joel Shanker
Tied 15th MISL with six points
#10 Goran Vasic
Tied 2nd MISL with six assists
Tied 5th MISL with eight points
#17 Pat Morris
Tied 3rd MISL with 11 blocks
#22 Peter Pappas
1st MISL with a 3.64 goals against average
1st MISL with a 0.837 save percentage
Tied 1st MISL with three victories
2nd MISL with 72 saves
#37 Kevin Sloan
1st MISL with four goals
Tied 1st MISL with three power-play goals
Tied 2nd MISL with nine points
Future Games: Philadelphia takes to the road for a battle with the St. Louis Steamers on Friday, November 14 at 8:35 pm ET, before returning home to the Wachovia Spectrum to entertain the Kansas City Comets on Saturday, November 15. Game-time is scheduled for 7:05 pm ET. For ticket information, contact the club's Executive Office at 1-888-888-KiXX (5499) or log onto the team's official website, www.kixxonline.com.
KiXX RECORD:
Overall: 3-1
Home: 1-0
Road: 2-1
vs. Eastern Division Opponents: 2-0
vs. Central Division Opponents: 0-0
vs. Western Division Opponents: 1-1
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
11/1 vs. Baltimore â W, 9-4
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
11/8 vs. Cleveland â 7:05 pm ET
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from November 3, 2003
- Wave Splits Pair with Force to Go 3-1 - Milwaukee Wave
- KiXX Weekly - Philadelphia KiXX
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