MISL weekly

Published on March 30, 2006 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release


This Week: (All Times Local To Home Team) & Broadcast Information
- Baltimore Hosts STL, Fri. 7:35 ET; At CHI, Sun. 4 CT (Both - WCBM-680, wcbm.com).
- California Hosts PHI, Sat. 7:30 PT.
- Chicago Hosts MIL, Fri. 7:30 CT; Hosts BAL, Sun 4 CT (BOTH - chicagostorm.net).
- Milwaukee At CHI, Fri. 7:30 CT; AT STL, Sat. 7:35 CT (Both - Joy-1340, milwaukeewave.com).
- Philadelphia At CAL, Sat. 7:30 PT.
- St. Louis At BAL, Fri. 7:35 ET; Hosts MIL, Sat. 7:05 CT (Both - KFNS-590, kfns.com).

Last Week:
- Baltimore (L, W) Held to four goals by CAL, lose 5-4; Kelly gets 1st win, 6-2, over PHI (3/24, 3/26).
- California (W, L) Big win in BAL, offset by first loss in a month on Sunday in Chicago (3/24, 3/26).
- Chicago (L, W) Lose lead, game, 6-5 in PHI; Take crucial 7-4 result from CAL at home (3/25, 3/26).
- Milwaukee (L, L) Lose one-goal games in home-and-home with STL; draw 8,771 Sunday (3/25, 3/26).
- Philadelphia (W, L, W) Huge win over Chicago (Sat.) and in St. Louis (Thurs.) (3/25, 3/26, 3/30).
- St. Louis (W, W, L) Regular season champs, take two from MIL, downed by PHI (3/25, 3/26, 3/30).

What They Are Saying
* "We were in a little slump ... but the goals will come. You can't ask for anything better than [this game]." - Baltimore All-Star forward Giuliano Celenza, following the team's 6-2 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday which resulted in the first career MISL coaching win for interim player/head coach Danny Kelly (The Sun, 3/27).
* "I think we're just getting better. If we're the defending champs and they're the best team in the League right now, I don't think there's too much of a difference between us. This is what a semifinal or finals weekend is going to feel like." - Milwaukee head coach Keith Tozer, following the second of the Wave's narrow one-goal losses to St. Louis over the weekend (Journal Sentinel, 3/27).
* "We kept our composure, and that begins with our coach (Omid Namazi). That was the key. This one proves we can play in our home, and it gives us more confidence." - Mariano Bollella after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime that lifted the 2006 MISL Regular Season Champion St. Louis Steamers to the first of two one-goal weekend victories over the defending MISL Champion Milwaukee Wave. (Post Dispatch, 3/26).

Baltimore Blast
baltimoreblast.com
Record: 16-11
Leading Scorer: Adauto Neto (35G, 21A)
Leading GK: Sagu (14-8, 4.72 g.a.a.)
Head Coach: Danny Kelly, 1st Season (Interim)

Blast Notes - Interim player/head coach and 2006 MISL All-Star defender Danny Kelly earned his first MISL coaching victory in defeating Philadelphia, 6-2, on Sunday. Afterwards, players presented the 14-year veteran with an autographed game ball.
* Loyal fans drive an average crowd of 6,994
* Remain the only team to have beaten both St. Louis (21-6) and Milwaukee (17-10) twice.
* Are 16-8 when high-scoring target Adauto Neto scores a point, 0-3 when he does not.
* Looking for third win of the season versus the Regular Season Champion Steamers on Friday when St. Louis visits 1st Mariner Arena.

California Cougars
californiacougars.net
Record: 9-19 (Expansion Team)
Leading Scorer: John Ball (14G, 22A)
Leading GK: Jim Larkin (4-15, 6.45 g.a.a.)
Head Coach: Troy Dayak, 1st Season

Cougars Notes - Streak stopped at five on Sunday. Cougars had won eight of 11 since the beginning of February, including a 5-4 win at BAL on Friday. On Sunday, team's offense finally slowed by Chicago, resulting in a 7-4 loss. The 3-3 split in the season series, and a goal differential benefiting the Chicago, means the Cougars lose the tie-breaker and that California must win its final two games (PHI, MIL) and hope for help in order to qualify for mid-April's MISL Championship Series.
* Attempt (MISL-low) 20.6 shots per game.
* Outscore opponents 54-48 in 4th qtr/overtime.
* First to hold BAL to four goals at BAL (Fri.).

Chicago Storm
chicagostorm.com
Record: 10-16
Leading Scorer: Matthew Stewart (14G, 12A)
Leading GK: Danny Waltman (7-14, 5.16 g.a.a.)
Head Coach: Frank Klopas, 2nd Season

Storm Notes - Overcame a four-game losing streak, to defeat California, and position themselves in the driver's seat for the fourth and final postseason spot with a 7-4 win on Sunday.
* GK Jeff Richey made his fifth start of the season, improved to 3-2, with a 4.43 goals against average and a 74.1 save percentage. Richey has made three of five starts vs. STL.
* After missing six weeks (knee) Fabinho returned Saturday with a goal. On Sunday he assisted Tamas Weisz game winner for CHI.
* Target Mark Ughy had three goals, three assists and two blocks over the weekend.

Milwaukee Wave
milwaukeewave.com
Record: 17-10 (Defending MISL Champions)
Leading Scorer: Greg Howes (36G, 32A)
Leading GK: Nick Vorberg (13-9, 4.96 g.a.a.)
Head Coach: Keith Tozer, 14th season (22nd overall)

Wave Notes - MISL's most lethal scoring tandem - Greg Howes and Todd Dusosky - rank 1st and 3rd in the Spalding Scoring Championship Race. In addition, Dusosky has at least one goal or assist in 25-straght games, Howes in 21 consecutive.
* Howes has nine goals, 11 assists in March.
* Have won 28 consecutive regular season games when allowing five goals or less.
* Marcelo Fontana needs four points for 300. Midfielder has nine goals in past four games.
* Closed the home portion of the 2005-06 Regular Season with a record crowd of 8,771, most-ever at U.S. Cellular Arena. Wave attendance increased 30 percent in 2005-06.

Philadelphia KiXX
kixxonline.com
Record: 8-19
Leading Scorer: Pat Morris (13G, 8A).
Leading GK: Peter Pappas (8-17, 5.48 g.a.a.)
Head Coach: Don D'Ambra, 4th season

KiXX Notes - Thursday's school day game in St. Louis, produced a 4-3 result for the KiXX, now winners of two of three, and still in the postseason hunt. Joshua Rife netted game-winner. First win in six tries vs. Steamers, who'd gone 12-0 at home.
* Shawn Boney led the KiXX to a come-from-behind, 6-5, win over Chicago (Sat.) before 7,770 at the Wachovia Spectrum. Boney had his sixth hat trick in nine League seasons.
* 2005 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year Peter Pappas - a seven-time All-Star - leads MISL GK's in minutes (1479) and saves (333).
* Visit California (SAT). KiXX have won three of five, but lost their last two to the Cougars.

St. Louis Steamers
stlsteamers.com
Record: 21-6 (2006 MISL Regular Season Champs)
Leading Scorer: Jamar Beasley (32G, 11A)
Leading GK: Brett Phillips (18-4, 4.75 g.a.a.)
Head Coach: Omid Namazi, 1st season (6th overall)

Steamers Notes - Thursday's loss to PHI cools what had been incredible week for the Steamers and head coach Omid Namazi. First a pair of one-goal wins over second-place Milwaukee clinch the 2006 MISL Regular Season Championship and top seed in the upcoming MISL Championship Series, then a contract extension for Namazi is announced by owner Michael Hetelson. Finally, Namazi is activated as a player to rest others this weekend.
* Joe Reiniger has 599 pro indoor goals.
* In 27 games, six have been decided by one goal, inc. last three games. Steamers are 4-2.
* Lead season series with Milwaukee 4-1.
* Daryl Doran Night on April 1 at Savvis Center.

GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
Dominik Jakubek, GK, California Cougars, 6-1, 195
Dominik Jakubek led a Cougars defense to do what no other MISL team had managed this season when it held Baltimore to less than five goals at its home arena in the Cougars 5-4 victory before 6,823 at 1st Mariner Arena on Friday. Jakubek stopped 19 of 23 shots in his only appearance of the weekend, winning his fifth consecutive start, and accruing an 82.6 save percentage - unmatched by any other MISL goalkeeper this week. Included in Friday's performance was a third quarter in which the Blast unleashed 15 shots on goal, and the Cougars were able to get three key blocks from Antonio Sutton, John Ball, and Vicente Figueroa, and 10 saves from their first-year MISL goalkeeper. The Lodi, Calif., native was pressed into regular action more than a month ago following an injury suffered by starter Jim Larkin on Feb. 24. Since that time, Jakubek's recovered from early-season struggles and maintains a 5-2 overall record in 10 games (seven starts, 402:57 minutes), a 5.66 goals against average and a 71.0 save percentage for the expansion California Cougars (9-19). In winning his last five starts, Jakubek's numbers include a 72.8 save percentage and 4.98 goals against average in 300 minutes. The 26-year-old played collegiate soccer at San Joaquin Delta College, Sonoma State, and had a record-setting year at Chico State. He also trained in Poland. This is Jakubek's second Goalkeeper of the Week award (Mar. 27, Mar. 6).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matt Schmidt, D, Milwaukee Wave, 6-0, 175
Matt Schmidt again demonstrated his skills as both a defensive and an offensive weapon for the Milwaukee Wave this weekend, leading all players at his position with five points (four goals, one assist), including a hat trick and an assist in an 8-7 loss at St. Louis on Saturday. On Sunday afternoon he came back to tie a team season-high with five blocks, and picked up an assist in another narrow, 7-6, loss to the Steamers before 8,771 fans at U.S. Cellular Arena. The MISL leader in blocks for much of the season is now at 44, one shy of his career high. In addition, with his four goal weekend Schmidt increased his goal total to 16 eclipsing his previous record-output for goals in a season (12). In fact Schmidt has moved up to fourth on the team in goals, trailing All-MISL forwards Greg Howes and Todd Dusosky, and midfielder Marcelo Fontana. He'll need four assists in his last three regular season games to match his previous career record in that category (11), which he set in the Wave's 2004-05 MISL Championship season. Finally, Schmidt ranks second in the MISL in restart goals with six, trailing only Howes. A 26-year-old Milwaukee native, Schmidt is in his fifth season with the Wave. Previously he first attended Yale University and was the 33rd pick in the 2000 Amateur Draft. Schmidt was named a 2006 MISL All-Star, the Defensive Player of the Month in December and earns the MISL's Weekly award for the third time this season (Mar. 27, Mar. 20, Dec. 12).

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mike Apple, F, St. Louis Steamers, 5-6, 145
Mike Apple delivered for the St. Louis Steamers this weekend - plain and simple. The powerful forward had two pivotal scores that led to the St. Louis Steamers clinching the 2005-06 Major Indoor Soccer League Regular Season Championship, and the top seed in next month's MISL Championship Series. Apple's key goal on Saturday, which came off a header by Joe Reiniger, and then off of Apple's head from the back post with 13.3 seconds remaining in regulation, sent the crowd of nearly 6,000 into a frenzy and allowed the Steamers to press the battle into overtime, and set the stage for an 8-7 win over Milwaukee as St. Louis maintained its perfect (12-0) record this season at Savvis Center. Apple scored two goals in that game and equaled that production the next day, giving him seven goals against the Wave this season. In following up those heroics, the former University of Akron All-American again came through with the game-winner on Sunday, off the assist from Reiniger at 6:14 of the fourth quarter for a 7-6 lead, as the Steamers improved to 21-5. Apple improved his season totals to 14 goals, six assists and 20 points in 24 games. He's attempted a mere 36 shots, which ranks 10th on the team, and serves as evidence of his productivity for St. Louis, where he now joins Jamar Beasley, Carlos "Chile" Farias, Shaun David, Genoni Martinez, Reiniger and Bollella, to make the Steamers the only MISL team with seven 20-point scorers. The 28-year-old started his League indoor career with Cleveland, and is in his third season with the Steamers. The award is Apple's first MISL Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 30, 2006


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