KiXX Weekly
Published on April 1, 2008 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
KiXX RECORD:
Overall: 12-16
Home: 8-7
Road: 4-9
PREVIOUS RESULTS:
3/29 vs. Milwaukee Wave, L 15-13 OT
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
4/3 at Monterrey La Raza, 10:35pm ET
4/5 at California Cougars, 10:15pm ET
Philadelphia, PA - The defending MISL Champion Philadelphia KiXX will depart for their last road trip of the regular season this weekend to finish out the schedule. The KiXX will be in Monterrey on Thursday, April 3 to face La Raza at 10:35pm ET, and then in California on April 5 to play the Cougars at 10:15pm ET. Philadelphia is currently 1.5 games behind the New Jersey Ironmen. The KiXX and Ironmen are the final two teams in the MISL whose postseason fate has yet to be determined, and it could come down to the final day of the regular season, April 5. New Jersey has one game remaining, Friday, April 4 against the Baltimore Blast. The KiXX need Baltimore to defeat New Jersey, and the KiXX need to win out. This scenario would mean a 14-16 record for each the KiXX and Ironmen. Philadelphia has beaten New Jersey in all three games the two teams have played against each other this season, thus the KiXX would be awarded the final playoff spot for owning the tiebreaker.
This Week's Itinerary:
Wednesday, April 2, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Thursday, April 3, at Monterrey, 10:35pm ET
Friday, April 4, Travel Day
Saturday, April 5, at California, 10:15pm ET
Sunday, April 6, Travel Day
Monday, April 7, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Tuesday, April 8, 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
MEET THE OPPONENT: MONTERREY LA RAZA
4th Meeting this Season
3/1/08 - Monterrey 10 at KiXX 8, OT
11/17/07 - Monterrey 13 at KiXX 15
11/8/07 - KiXX 10 at Monterrey 17
Philadelphia traveled to Monterrey for the third game of the season, where they dropped a 17-10 decision to the expansion La Raza. Jose Birche recorded a hat trick, including a three-point goal for seven points in the win. Two weeks later in Philadelphia, the KiXX avenged their loss with a 15-13 win. Aaron Susi scored a goal and two assists and was credited with the game-winner. On March 1, the KiXX dropped an overtime decision to Monterrey 10-8, despite a hat trick from Tony Donatelli. Monterrey's rookie goalkeeper Jose Bontii stopped 14 of 18 shots in the win.
Monterrey is led by two familiar faces for the KiXX in Genoni Martinez and Dino Delevski. Both were key members of the 2007 KiXX Championship team. Martinez was named the MISL Defender-of-the-Year for his efforts with Philadelphia, and currently leads La Raza with 23 assists and 64 blocks. Delevski, a former League MVP, leads the entire League with 41 goals in just 27 games. The two were traded to Monterrey during the off-season; in return Philadelphia received Monterrey's first four draft picks in the 2007 MISL Expansion Draft. The KiXX went on to select Aaron Susi, Angel Rivillo, and Gaston Pernia, who they later traded to Orlando for Jonathan Steele.
MEET THE OPPONENT: CALIFORNIA COUGARS
4th Meeting this Season
2/23/08 - California 15 at KiXX 19
11/30/07 - California 8 at KiXX 6 (OT)
11/25/07 - KiXX 14 at California 6
Philadelphia and California met the first month of the season, when the clubs split a home-and-home series on November 25 and 30. In Stockton, Aaron Susi broke out against his former team scoring two goals and recording an assist for five points. Susi was selected first overall by Philadelphia in the 2007 MISL Expansion Draft after the Cougars left him unprotected. Ptah Myers also contributed two goals, one being a three-pointer against a sixth attacker. On November 30 in Philadelphia, Don D'Ambra scored a goal and two assists in an overtime loss. Former KiXX player Chris Handsor scored 2:41 into the extra frame to win it for California. On March 23 in Philadelphia, the KiXX won 19-15. Jonathan Steele scored a hat trick to lead the KiXX back from a 13-7 deficit with 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Enrique Tovar leads California with 28 goals in 26 games this season on the offensive end, while Ryan Hall ranks third in the League in blocks with 53. Sanaldo has started 26 of 29 games for the Cougars, after being picked up in a trade with the Detroit Ignition during the offseason. Sanaldo holds a 9-15 record and a 13.89 PAA.
Last Week's Outing:
KiXX 13, Wave 15, OT (3/29) - The KiXX (12-16) lost a critical game to the Milwaukee Wave (20-7), 15-13 in front of 9,429 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. MISL leading scorer Greg Howes scored a hat trick, including the game-winner in overtime. Sandre Naumoski had sent the game to overtime with just 26 remaining in regulation. Howes started the game with his 37th goal of the season, a two-pointer just 1:12 into the match. Ptah Myers tied the game at two apiece with his 18th of the season exactly three minutes later, unassisted. Newcomer Casey Barton gave the KiXX their first lead of the game on a three-point blast from the point, set up by Aaron Susi. Barton, a defender from the team's 2007 MISL championship squad, was recently signed by the KiXX for the playoff push. David Castellanos put the KiXX up 7-2 on his fourth goal of the season at 7:10 of the second quarter, assisted by Tony Donatelli. Donatelli is coming off of an eight-point effort in New Jersey, which included three assists. Warren Ukah's 14th goal pulled the Wave to within three, set-up by Oral Bullen. Troy Dusosky followed with three-point goal to tie the game up at three with only 1:16 remaining in the half. Howes was given the assist. Howes took the lead back for Milwaukee 6:58 into the third quarter, the Wave's third straight goal and Howes' second of the night. 13 seconds into the final frame, Brett Wiesner gave the Wave their first two-goal lead, his 12th of the season assisted by Ukah. Ptah Myers answered right back for the KiXX 21 seconds later, his second unassisted goal of the night. With the goal, his 19th, Myers took a share of the team-lead with player/coach Don D'Ambra. KiXX captain Pat Morris tied the game up for the KiXX three minutes later, following up on his own rebound for Morris' 14th of the season. With 4:08 remaining, Wiesner buried his second of the night, giving the Wave a 13-11 lead. With the KiXX playoff hopes on the line, Aaron Susi replaced Peter Pappas as sixth attacker. With just 26 seconds remaining in the game, Sandre Naumoski scored his sixth goal of the season to tie the game at 13-13. Donatelli was credited with his second assist. Greg Howes completed the hat trick in overtime, giving Milwaukee a 15-13 win at the 5:16 mark. John Barry Nusum missed action while playing for the Bermuda National Team, who is participating in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying games. Jonathan Steele sat out his second straight game for accumulating three yellow cards this season. Aaron Susi recorded the 100th block of his nine-year career.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from April 1, 2008
- Chicago Storm Weekly - Chicago Storm
- KiXX Weekly - Philadelphia KiXX
- Wave set date for MISL Semifinal - Milwaukee Wave
- Ignition Announce April 20 Semi-Final Game at Compuware - Detroit Ignition
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