KiXX welcomes top-seeded Baltimore Blast to the Spectrum
March 12, 2009 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA, March 12, 2009 - The Philadelphia KiXX welcome the top-seeded Baltimore Blast for the club's second to last home game at the Wachovia Spectrum this season. The contest, dubbed 'Girl Scout Night', features special promotions and discounts for the area's Girl Scouts. The team enters with an 8-8 overall record and sitting in fourth place in the National Indoor Soccer League (NISL) standings. Game-time is scheduled for 7:05 pm ET with the doors opening at 6:00 pm ET.
This Week's Itinerary:
Thursday, March 12, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Friday, March 13, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, March 14, KiXX vs. Baltimore Blast, Wachovia Spectrum, 7:05 pm
Sunday, March 15, Off Day
Monday, March 16, Off Day
Tuesday, March 17, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesday, March 18, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
*all times are Eastern and subject to change
University of Penn Health Systems Injury Report: Player Injury Status
Don D'Ambra Foot Questionable
Matthew Maher Knee Out-Season
Hewerton Moreira Knee Out-Season
Meet the Opponent: Baltimore Blast
2008-09 Series: 1-3 (home 0-1, away 1-2)
Overall: 43-39 (home 25-15, away 18-24)
Saturday's contest will be the fifth and final meeting between the KiXX and Baltimore this season. Despite a hat trick and seven points from Philadelphia native Pat Morris, the Blast earned the victory, 16-10, in the first meeting at the 1st Mariner Arena on December 20. Machel Millwod also posted seven points, while Guiliano Celenza and Denison Cabral each registered six for Baltimore. The Blast followed with an 18-6 win the City of Brotherly Love on January 17 thanks to a balanced attack that witnessed five different Baltimore players record at least three points. The KiXX then knocked-off the top-ranked team, 13-6, on January 31. Forwards Hewerton Moreira and Anthony Maher each registered four points for Philadelphia; Celenza led the Blast with four as well. Baltimore easily defeated the visiting KiXX, 12-2, in the most recent meeting on March 7; Medford, NJ native Ryan Heins registered the team's lone score in the loss. Overall, the two clubs have a long-storied rivalry with the KiXX holding a slight advantage, 43-39, in the head-to-head meetings.
Last Week's Outings:
ROC 16, PHI 2 (3/8/09) - Midfielder Sandre Naumoski registered Philadelphia's lone score in the club's 16-2 loss in Rockford. With the loss, the KiXX fell to 8-8 on the season and lost the tiebreaker advantage to the Rampage based on the point differential in the team's four meetings this season. Forward Jamar Beasley led all scorers with a game-high seven points including a breakaway two-point goal to open the scoring at the one-minute mark of the first quarter. Naumoski's tally knotted the game even, 2-2, with a power-play goal at 3:16 of the first, but that proved to be the last offensive score for the visitors.
BAL 12, PHI 2 (3/7/09) - The KiXX fell to the first-place Baltimore Blast, 12-2, in front of 8,828 fans at 1st Mariner Arena. With the victory, Baltimore clinches the number one seed and the first-round bye in the 2008 National Indoor Soccer League (NISL) postseason. The top-seeded Blast wasted little time, connecting on a pair of scores in the game's first two minutes. Guiliano Celenza struck first with a two-pointer on an assist from Carlos Garcia at 1:16, followed by an unassisted two-point score from Machel Millwood at 1:47. After a scoreless second quarter, Medford, NJ native Ryan Heins put the visitors on the board, 4-2, with a two-point tally on a feed from newcomer Jeremy Ortiz at 2:10 of the third stanza. Millwood responded with his second score of the evening on an assist from defender Jonathan Greenfield at 4:30. Celenza followed with his second two-point goal of the contest to stretch Baltimore's advantage to six, 8-2, entering the final period. Robbie Aristodemo and Mike Lookingland sealed the victory for the Blast, 12-2, with two-point scores at 1:29 and 6:01, respectively of the fourth quarter.
Playoffs on the Line: With Philadelphia's loss in Rockford this weekend, the KiXX fell to 8-8 on the season and has now lost the tiebreaker advantage to both the Monterrey La RaZa and the Rampage for playoff positioning. The club remains alive for postseason play, but needs a pair of victories in their final two home games this season and some help. The KiXX would qualify with two victories and if Rockford lost one of their final two games or if Monterrey lost two of their final three. After this weekend's contest versus Baltimore, the team closes out the 2008-09 season versus the Massachusetts Twisters on March 22. Rockford closes out the season versus Monterrey and Massachusetts, while the La RaZa finish the regular-season versus Massachusetts, Rockford, and Baltimore.
CityTeam Change Drive: The Philadelphia KiXX announced that the team will collect financial donations at the club's contest versus the Baltimore Blast on Saturday, March 14. All proceeds from the collections will benefit CityTeam Ministries, located in Chester, PA. The donation bins will be located at various points throughout the Wachovia Spectrum concourse or donate directly online at http://www.cityteam.org/donate. The Philadelphia KiXX have also partnered with FromDovetoStorks.com, an internet-based company that creates custom made gifts for all occasions, specializing in gifts for Brides and Babies. From Dove to Storks will be contributing several hundred diapers along with other essential baby products including bottles, diaper creams.
CMN Jersey Auction: The KiXX hosted their annual game-worn jersey auction, which raised over $7,000 to benefit the Children's Miracle Network at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, on February 21 and then raffled off an Experience Philadelphia Family Package on March 1. The auction continues as the lone remaining package, an Experience Philadelphia Cultural Package will be available via raffle at club's home game on Saturday, March 14. Raffle tickets, priced at $5 for five tickets or $20 for an arms length, are available for purchase at the KiXX Information Booth located on the Wachovia Spectrum concourse behind section 201. Winners for the package will be announced during the fourth quarter.
Still Going ...: KiXX midfielder Ptah Myers is well on his way to becoming Philadelphia's Ironman. The Columbus, OH native has now appeared in 113 consecutive contests including playoffs (107 regular-season and six playoffs). The UMASS product has played in every game each of the last three seasons and last missed an outing when he did not participate in the team's contest versus the Milwaukee Wave on February 9, 2005. Scott Henderson holds the team's all-time mark with 147 consecutive outings.
Registration Open for Summer Camps: Online registration for the 2009 Philadelphia KiXX Summer Kamp program is now available. The summer camp program, which opens in mid-June and runs through late August, is designed for boys and girls (ages four to 14) with approximately 45 locations offered throughout the Tri-State area. The online registration webpage can be accessed by clicking on the Camps menu option located on the top bar of the team's official website, www.kixxonline.com.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from March 12, 2009
- KiXX welcomes top-seeded Baltimore Blast to the Spectrum - Philadelphia KiXX
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
