MISL names players of the week

Published on February 27, 2006 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release

GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK

Jim Larkin, California Cougars

Jim Larkin's weekend ended with his having to be assisted off the field and treated for injury. However the California Cougars come away from the week with a 1-1 record, and for Larkin, the best goals against average of any MISL goalkeeper during the week and his third MISL Goalkeeper of the Week award of the season (Feb. 13, Jan. 9). California began the season 1-16, but has won three of its last five and Larkin's return to all-star form in goal has much to do with the team's recent surge. In splitting a pair of 5-3 decisions in the last week, Larkin saved 22 of 30 shots on goal in a Monday win against Philadelphia and Friday loss to Baltimore. Since returning from offseason surgery, Larkin continues to improve on the field for the MISL expansion team. A veteran of more than 10,000 career minutes as a goalkeeper in this League, Larkin, with the help of his team's defense, has lowered his goals against average from 9.17 in November, to 8.22 in games played in December, to 5.89 during games played during the month of January, to just 4.79 in six starts in February. Due to these trends Larkin's overall numbers continue to improve. His g.a.a. is 6.47, and his save percentage of 66.9, which is now tied for fourth in the MISL. Unfortunately for Larkin and the Cougars, his playing status for upcoming games remains unknown as he was forced out of Friday's game following a hard collision with former teammate, and Baltimore forward Adauto Neto. Larkin is a 14-time Goalkeeper of the Week and has won 79 games in a career that began in 1999.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Pat Morris, Philadelphia KiXX

Pat Morris, a veteran Philadelphia KiXX star, pretty much put his team on his back late in Saturday night's game and carried the KiXX to victory. The 2004-05 MISL Defender of the Year had a six-point week with one goal and one assist coming in a 5-3 loss to California on Feb. 27. But in leading Philadelphia, which had been mired in a nine-game losing streak, the longest in the club's 10-year history, Morris and the KiXX were able to rebound from a 6-2 first half deficit to the defending MISL Champion Milwaukee Wave on Saturday night, to win, 7-6, on Morris' game-winner at 2:39 of the overtime session. The goal was the fourth of four consecutive goals by the Philadelphia native and MISL All-Star, who started his Saturday night scoring charge with third quarter goal off the assist from John Barry Nusum. Still trailing 6-4, Morris tied the game for the KiXX with goals at 0:19 and 11:42, the first from Dino Delevski, the second off the restart. His game-winner came off an assist from veteran midfielder Gary DePalma. Morris is now tied for second on the team in points (17), has 11 goals, six assists, and a KiXX-leading 16 blocks despite playing in only 15 games in what has been a injury-plagued season for the defender. The one-time Philadelphia University standout is a four-time MISL All-Star, most recently serving as Philadelphia's only representative at the 2006 MISL All-Star Game which was played before a capacity crowd in Milwaukee on February 11, 2006.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Enrique Tovar, California Cougars

Enrique Tovar had another strong week for the California Cougars, totaling three goals and one assist and continues to be one of the game's rising stars at the forward/target positions. Tovar, who like teammate and fellow Player of the Week honoree Jim Larkin, was a key contributor in the Cougars' 5-3 win over Philadelphia on Monday and 5-3 loss to Baltimore Friday. Similar to Larkin, Tovar continues to get better as this season goes on. He had season-highs of five goals and six points in February, as his totals in playing 18 of 22 games with California increased to 10 goals and three assists. Unlike with Larkin, however, this season is Tovar's first in the Major Indoor Soccer League, and first professional indoor season overall. The San Jose native had previously played in international futsal exhibitions, and had tenures with the Syracuse Salty Dogs and the California Gold, both then of the United Soccer Leagues. Nicknamed "Kiki," Tovar was a team captain at DeAnza College, before becoming a team captain for San Diego State in 2000-2001. He trails only Vicente Figueroa (16) and Aaron Susi (12) in the race for the team's lead in goals. Today, Tovar becomes the first Cougars field player to win an MISL Player of the Week award.

Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 27, 2006

• Steamers weekly - St. Louis Steamers
• MISL names players of the week - MISL 2
• KiXX battles the Baltimore Blast in a home-and-home series this weekend - MISL 2
• Philly Native Pat Morris Named MISL Defensive Player of the Week - Philadelphia KiXX

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