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MISL names players of the week

January 22, 2007 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release


MISL GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK

Nick Vorberg, Milwaukee Wave

Nick Vorberg receives his 10th career MISL Goalkeeper of the Week award in recognition of a pair of winning efforts this past weekend, and the Wave improved to 8-8 and moved into a tie for third place in the MISL standings with victories over Baltimore and Chicago. A native of Grants Pass, Ore., Vorberg is a veteran of five seasons in the MISL, four with the Wave, in a professional indoor soccer career that began in 2000. However, despite all of that experience, on Friday Vorberg came within six minutes of accomplishing something he'd never recorded as an MISL professional, - a goalkeeper shutout - when he and his teammates nearly pulled off the unlikely feat against the Baltimore Blast before more than 6,000 fans on the road at 1st Mariner Arena in a 7-2 Wave victory. Despite a late goal by Denison Cabral, Vorberg was stellar in stopping nine of 10 shots-on-goal in the Wave win. For an encore on Saturday, Vorberg and the Wave defense returned to the friendly confines of U.S. Cellular Arena and defeated the Chicago Storm for a 12-4 victory in one of the MISL's top rivalry series. The win for Milwaukee was its first in three meetings this season with Chicago (7-7), and the result left the two clubs in a tie for third-place in the League standings. Vorberg saved 14 of 16 shots-on-goal on Saturday night's victory, increasing his league-leading total to 182 (182 of 261). The 31-year-old goalkeeper has played 961 minutes this season in starting all 16 games for the Wave, and like his team, has a record of 8-8. Vorberg is on pace to eclipse his individual totals from the 2005-06 season in wins (13), saves (298) and minutes (1,442:24). A Second Team All-MISL selection following the 2004-05 season, Vorberg was acquired by Milwaukee in a 2003 trade with the San Diego Sockers.

MISL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Pat Morris, Philadelphia KiXX

Pat Morris, a four-time All-MISL defender, stars for the MISL's leading defensive unit in playing with the first-place Philadelphia KiXX, a club that surrenders just 9.9 points per game under the Major Indoor Soccer League's multi-point scoring system. This past Saturday, Morris and his KiXX teammates upended the Detroit Ignition, who arrived in Philadelphia as winners of five-straight games and with that top spot in the Major Indoor Soccer League standings at stake. In defeating Detroit 8-6 before 6,840 at the Wachovia Spectrum, the KiXX improved to 9-4 with another stellar defensive effort, and Morris, who gave the KiXX a 6-4 lead late in the third quarter with a two-point goal off of an assist from midfielder Edgar Bartolomeu, and added one block, increased his season totals to 12 points and 12 blocks in 10 games played. With 250 goals and 400 career blocks in his eight seasons in the League, the four-time All-Star Morris is no stranger to individual statistical accomplishments, or League accolades. Now a 12-time MISL Defensive Player of the Week, Morris enjoyed perhaps his most complete season in 2004-05 when he was named MISL Defender of the Year. Morris totaled an MISL-best 93 blocks, 22 goals, and 21 assists in 36 games that season. Morris is a Philadelphia University graduate, and a Philadelphia native.

MISL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Anthony Maher, Milwaukee Wave

Anthony Maher quickly attained a reputation as one of the Major Indoor Soccer League's most fierce and talented target men upon his arrival in 2002. Until breaking through with a commanding three-goal performance against the Chicago Storm on Saturday in Milwaukee's 12-4 victory at U.S. Cellular Arena, however, it had been several seasons since the oft-injured Maher had demonstrated that consistent dominant ability that made him a much-feared attacker, known to all opponents. With his latest performance and improved health, Maher receives a deserved MISL Offensive Player of the Week honor. Playing on a club loaded with proven offensive talents, Maher was acquired to further strengthen Milwaukee's scoring and distribution talents up top. A month-long stint on injured reserve, and another injury-related absence this season now behind him, Maher was all over the Storm on Saturday, scoring three two-point goals, including one that was particularly impressive and impressionable in nature, in that in came on a scissor-kick before the home crowd. The native of Cape May, NJ, who was an All-American at Mercyhurst University, was an MISL All-Rookie Team selection with the Cleveland in 2002-03. Then acquired by Kansas City, Maher had his best season to date in 2003-04 when he totaled 28 goals and 10 assists. In 2004-05, injuries limited Maher to 16 games, however he managed 20 goals and five assists. In an injury-riddled 2005-06 season, Maher split time with California and Chicago, totaling six goals and seven assists in 21 games. A 27-year-old forward, Maher has four goals and one assist in six games with the Milwaukee Wave this season. Maher was acquired in an offseason trade with Chicago.

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