Ontario Fury Game Day Notes - December 18, 2015
December 18, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Ontario Fury News Release
Welcome to CITIZENS BUSINESS BANK ARENA for tonight's first-ever MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE game between Pacific Division rivals, the TACOMA STARS and the ONTARIO FURY. This is the final game of a three-game home stand for the Fury, and the first of games on back-to-back night for the Fury, who will play tomorrow night in San Diego.
ABOUT THE FURY
PREVIOUS GAME: Defeated the Las Vegas Legends 8-7 in overtime.
NEXT GAME: 7 p.m. Dec. 19 vs. San Diego Sockers at Valley View Casino Center.
LAST GAME: Mauricio Salles scored with the sixth attacker on the field with 38 seconds remaining to force overtime and Israel Sesay netted the game-winner 4:59 into the extra period as the Fury pulled out an 8-7 victory. Salles led the Fury with two goals and an assist, while Luan Sales Oliveira also had a pair of goals, along with an assist for Ontario.
RESTED BUT BEAT UP: Ontario has been off since the Dec. 4 victory over Las Vegas. The two weeks have not healed up all the Fury's bumps and bruises. Tiguinho (hamstring) and Joey Tavernese (sports hernia) have both been placed on injured reserve for the weekend. Tino Nunez (knee) and Nelson Santana (hamstring) are both questionable.
BIG BLUE FURY FAN: The Fury are proud to be hosting Tommy Lasorda for his second visit to Citizens Business Bank Arena for MASL soccer. Twelve lucky fans who donated $200 or more in toys to the "CHiPs For Kids" toy drive before the game were able to meet the legendary Dodgers' manager during an exclusive meet-and-greet.
FIRST TIMER: A single goal turned out to be a milestone for two members of the Fury. Josh Ayers picked up his first career point on a long ball served to Shaun David in the second quarter against Las Vegas. David's goal on the play also marked his first goal with the Fury.
ACCURATE SHOTS: Ontario has scored 44 times in six games this season, and currently leads the league in shooting percentage. The Fury have scored on 28.9 percent of their 152 official shots on goal, nine-tenths of a percent ahead of Sonora. However, the Fury is a minus-5 on the season as far as goals scored, as they have given up 49 total goals in six games.
SCORING LEADERS: Mauricio Salles is in a four-way tie for tenth in the league in scoring, putting up 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in the six Fury games. Only one other player has scored as many points in so few games (Chicago's Miguel Vaca has 10 goals and five assists in six games).
KIDS IN CHARGE: Tonight's game is also the 2nd Annual "Kids Take Over CBBA" event, where students, getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on a pro sporting event, are shadowing Fury staff members.
STRYKER'S BIG GAME: The Fury's mascot will be on the field at halftime with mascots from other teams, as well as local businesses as part of the annual mascot game.
HOLIDAY SOCCER CAMP: Head coach Bernie Lilavois along with Fury players will be conducting a pair of three-day soccer camps at the Scheu Family YMCA of Upland over the holiday school break. The camps will run from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 28-30. Cost for the camp, which is open for young players ages 4 to 16, is $65 for YMCA members and season ticket holders and $75 for non-members.
TODAY'S OPPONENT
TACOMA STARS
LAST GAME: Defeated the St. Louis Ambush, 6-5 in overtime.
NEXT GAME: Saturday vs. Las Vegas at Las Vegas Sports Park.
ABOUT THE STARS: Tacoma is in its first full season in the league, after finishing off the schedule in place of the disbanded Seattle Impact last winter. The Stars are an established team, having roots back to the original MISL. The team played in the PASL four seasons ago, and last season played in both the semi-pro WISL and MASL last season, winning the WISL title.
The Stars didn't stand pat this offseason, bringing in established free agents to fill out its roster. Tacoma has US National Indoor Team goaltender Danny Waltman holding down the back line. Forward Dan Antoniuk left San Diego for the Pacific Northwest. Tacoma also sports three former members of the Fury on its full roster, with defender Jeff Bader and forwards Tyrone Hall and Jamar Beasley as part of the Stars.
LEAGUE HONORS: Tacoma's Jamael Cox was named to the MASL Team of the Week for this past week's action. In two games, he posted two goals - including the overtime game-winner against St. Louis - and an assist. Galtender Danny Waltman was an honorable mention selection, and is fourth in the league in goals against average at 7.70 and saves with 125 on the season.
AROUND THE MASL
After an 0-6 start, the St. Louis Ambush fired coach Daryl Doran and his assistant Joe Smugala after two-plus seasons in charge. St. Louis was 12-34 under Doran, who has coached the team since it started in the MISL in 2013. Former St. Louis Steamer Tony Glavin replaced him. Glavin played in the original MISL from 1980-85, before moving into coaching. He will be assisted by new player-assistant Freddy Moojen for the rest of the season. ... Chicago made a big splash last week, signing former Mexican National Team player Adolfo Bofo Bautista as a free agent. In his debut game against Milwaukee, he scored twice on six shots, as the Mustangs beat the Wave, 8-3 in front of Chicago's largest crowd of the season. ... Arthur Ivo (Dallas), Gordy Gurson (St. Louis), Jamael Cox (Tacoma), Robert Palmer (Missouri), Adriano Dos Santos (Baltimore) and Juan Gamboa (Dallas) were named to the MASL Team of the Week. ... San Diego's Kraig Chiles moved up the Sockers' record book, scoring his 255th career goal, moving him into second all-time with San Diego, passing Juli Veee. Only Branko Segota, with 298 career goals with the Sockers, has more than Chiles.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from December 18, 2015
- Chicago Mustangs Beat Rampage Again, 9-7 - Chicago Mustangs
- Blast Defeat Heat 5-1 - Baltimore Blast
- Game Preview: Dallas Sidekicks to Take on Brownsville Barracudas this Saturday - Dallas Sidekicks
- Ontario Fury Game Day Notes - December 18, 2015 - Ontario Fury
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