Sports stats



MISL names players of the week

February 19, 2007 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release


MISL GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK

Sagu, Baltimore Blast

Sagu turned in one of his stronger performances in what is shaping up to be a banner year for the 33-year-old native of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Now leading the MISL in save percentage (74.6 percent) and ranked second with a 10.32 points against average, the fifth-year Major Indoor Soccer League veteran was in goal for the Baltimore Blast's 13-7 victory over the Milwaukee Wave on Saturday night. Sagu allowed just three goals under the MISL's multi-point scoring system, as the defending MISL Champions moved into third place in the current MISL standings. In Saturday's pivotal victory Sagu shutout the MISL's leading offense for the first 33:46 of play. In earning his fourth MISL Goalkeeper of the Week award this season, and his second this month (February 5), Sagu and his Baltimore teammates continued on a four-game winning streak, in which Sagu has started and won three times in goal. With Saturday's victory over the Milwaukee Wave before 7,303 fans at 1st Mariner Arena, Sagu stopped 14 of 17 shots on goal (82.4 percent) and improved his 2006-07 MISL Regular Season record to 9-6.

MISL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Matt Johnson, Detroit Ignition

Matt Johnson's inclusion on the Detroit Ignition's inaugural season roster was again validated as one of the club's many favorable preseason decisions, as the veteran defender kept pace with what has been an impressive season for both he and the first year Major Indoor Soccer League team. Johnson, who also serves as the club's assistant coach, earned his second MISL Player of the Week honor of the season, and of his career, after recording two blocks and assisting on the game-winning goal in Detroit's 16-10 victory over the Chicago Storm on Saturday before another sellout crowd at the Compuware Sports Arena. With two goals, two assists and 13 blocks in just 12 games played, Johnson has proved his value in limited minutes along the Ignition backline, which, as a unit, has helped the expansion club to a second-place MISL standing and a record of 12-9. Playing before the home capacity crowd, it was Johnson that found Detroit midfielder Miodrag Djerisilo for a two-point goal that would prove the game-winner as the Chicago Storm was sent home with a loss and the Ignition improved to 7-3 at home, and moved to just one game behind the Philadelphia KiXX (12-7) in the race for first place.

MISL CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Don D'Ambra, Philadelphia KiXX

Don D'Ambra has scored 339 goals in his 11-year Philadelphia KiXX career. Few goal-scoring outings, however, like the one four-goal showing D'Ambra produced in the KiXX 18-16 overtime victory before more than 5,384 fans at the Stockton Arena, the home of the MISL's California Cougars, could have been considered as stunning as this performance. D'Ambra, the head coach and target forward for the first-place KiXX rallied his club from a 14-8 deficit with less than two minutes remaining in regulation on Saturday, and scored with 1:27 left on the clock, assisted midfielder Sandre Naumoski with 14 seconds left, then scored again with just one second to play in regulation, as the KiXX tied the Cougars at 16, and won the game in overtime, the clinching goal coming on a two-point score by rookie Tony Donatelli just 40 seconds into the extra session. D'Ambra, who ranks tied for fourth-place in the MISL PUMA Scoring Champions race in points, with 56, also leads the team with 21 goals and is second on the club with 13 assists. D'Ambra, who has played 13 seasons in the League (the last 11 with the KiXX) was a League All-Rookie Team selection in 1994-95 with the Milwaukee Wave, and has since earned multiple All-MISL and All-Star selections. The Philadelphia native received perhaps his highest individual honor when he was voted to the All-MISL First Team following the 2004-05 season. Now a League Player of the Week honoree seven times in his career, D'Ambra has earned the honor three times this season in keeping the KiXX (12-7) atop the regular season standings race.

MISL CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Machel Millwood, Baltimore Blast

Machel Millwood was solid as he's been all season on Saturday, but on Sunday the still up-and-coming MISL attacker claimed center stage, scoring four goals in a five-goal weekend, and leading Baltimore to a sweep of the Milwaukee Wave. A three-year veteran of the Major Indoor Soccer League and the reigning MISL Championship Series Finals Most Valuable Player, Millwood has claimed the individual scoring lead on a team full of proven forwards, producing 56 points already this season for his team. The 56 points rank fourth in the League's PUMA Scoring Champions race, tied with fellow MISL Offensive Player of the Week Don D'Ambra of Philadelphia. Scoring once on Saturday before 7,303 fans at 1st Mariner Arena in a 13-7 victory, the former Towson University player delivered his second hat trick of the season, and then tacked on a fourth goal before a pro-Wave crowd on Sunday at Milwaukee's U.S. Cellular Arena. Millwood's three fourth quarter goals were crucial in allowing the Blast to squeeze out a 14-12 victory on the road before 4,910, as Baltimore (11-9) won its fourth in a row, this one in dramatic come-from-behind fashion.

• Discuss this story on the Major Indoor Soccer League 2 message board...

Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 19, 2007


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central