Philadelphia drops both decisions this past weekend, including 1-0 shutout in Dallas
Published on January 26, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA, January 26, 2004 â The Philadelphia KiXX (11-8) continue their three-game road trip with visits to Monterrey and Cleveland; the team first battles the Monterrey Fury at the Monterrey Arena for the first time in franchise history on Thursday, January 29, then square-off against Eastern Division foe, the Cleveland Force, at the Convocation Center at CSU on Saturday, January 31. The KiXX-Force contest is scheduled to kick-off at 7:05 pm ET and can be heard live via webcast on www.pennlive.com/wmss.
Philadelphia dropped both decisions this weekend, a 7-6 overtime loss to Monterrey on January 24 and a 1-0 shutout defeat at the hands of the Dallas Sidekicks on January 25. The two-loss weekend marks only the second time this season the club lost two consecutive decisions and drops the squad three and one-half games behind defending Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Champion Baltimore Blast for the top spot in the Eastern Division.
This Week's Itinerary:
Monday, January 26, Return to Philadelphia
Tuesday, January 27, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesday, January 28, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesday, January 28, Travel to Monterrey, Mexico
Thursday, January 29, KiXX @ Fury, Monterrey Arena, 9:35 pm
Friday, January 30, Travel to Cleveland, OH
Saturday, January 31, KiXX @ Force, Convocation Center at CSU, 7:05 pm
Sunday, February 1, Return to Philadelphia
*all times are Eastern Standard and subject to change
Injury Report:
Player Injury Status
Shawn Boney Foot Out
Tony McPeak Ankle Probable
Kevin Sloan Back Questionable
KiXX vs. Fury:
2003-2004: 1-1 Home: 1-1 Away: 0-0
Overall: 1-1 (home 1-1, away 0-0)
The Philadelphia KiXX and the Monterrey Fury squared-off for the first time in franchise history on November 22. KiXX forward Shawn Boney recorded a personal-best four goals to lead the club to an 8-5 victory over Monterrey at the Wachovia Spectrum. Former Harrisburg Heat defender Genoni Martinez led the Fury with three goals and one assist for four points. In their last meeting, the Fury knocked-off Philadelphia, 7-6, in overtime at the Wachovia Spectrum on January 24. Player/Coach Don D'Ambra had his hand in each of the club's six goals, finishing with six points on four goals and two assists. Martinez led the Fury with three points, all of which were assists. Monterrey was granted an MISL expansion team on July 14, 2003, with play beginning in the 2003-04 campaign. Former KiXX midfielder Gary DePalma was selected by the Fury in the League Expansion Draft, but was shortly thereafter traded to the Milwaukee Wave in exchange for the first round pick in the 2004 MISL Amateur Draft. Martinez, who also played for Philadelphia in a brief stint during the 1999-00 campaign, was acquired in the MISL Dispersal Draft. Saturday's meeting is the second of four between the two clubs this season.
KiXX vs. Force:
2003-2004: 2-0 Home: 1-0 Away: 1-0
Overall: 25-15 (home 18-3, away 7-12)
Philadelphia claimed the first meeting, 7-4, on November 8, thanks to a three-point performance from team captain Kevin Sloan and a pair of goals from Matt Borroks, his first multi-goal contest of his career. In the last meeting in Cleveland (12/27), Shawn Boney paced the club with two goals to defeat the Force 4-2. Former KiXX player/coach Omid Namazi made his Force debut in the contest. Cleveland acquired the rights to Namazi in exchange for the playing rights to Steve Klein. Last season, the Force claimed the season series versus Philadelphia, earning victories in four of the club's six overall meetings and sweeping all three outings at the Convocation Center at CSU. The KiXX, however, took the upper hand in the meetings in the City of Brotherly Love, two-games-to-one. Overall, the clubs have squared-off a total of 39 times since their first meeting on January 4, 1997. Philadelphia holds a 25-15 advantage against the Force including an impressive 18-3 mark at home. The KiXX are 7-12 in games held in Cleveland. The squads are an even 2-2 when meeting in post-season play. Saturday's contest is the third of the six meetings this season and can be heard via webcast at www.pennlive.com/wmss.
KiXX by the Numbers: The Philadelphia KiXX offense has recorded 109 goals in 19 contests this season to post an average of 5.7 goals scored per game ... the shutout loss in Dallas (1/25) dropped the club's ranking to fifth in the nine-team League, trailing the Milwaukee Wave, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast and the Dallas Sidekicks ... the team's defense has allowed 92 goals for an average of 4.8 goals per contest, ranking fourth in the MISL ... the complete breakdown of the team's goals per game is listed below.
Goals per Game 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT TOTAL
KiXX 24 31 21 32 1 109
Opponents 18 19 24 29 2 92
Plus/Minus with Man Advantage: The KiXX have both benefited and suffered from the power play this season ... the team currently sits second in the MISL on the one-man advantage situations, connecting on the power-play 53.3 percent (eight-of-15) of the time ... Philadelphia's defense, however, has fallen victim to the power-play, turning away only 11-of-the-23 situations they have defended the man advantage for a League-worst 52.4 percentage.
Complete Shutdown: One week after blanking the San Diego Sockers to the tune of 5-0 (1/17), the KiXX watched their offense struggle en route to the franchise's first scoreless game in regular season play to the Dallas Sidekicks, 1-0, on January 25 ... the only occasion the club has been shutout in their eight years of existence was a playoff meeting versus Cleveland on April 24, 1999 ... veteran goalkeeper Otto Orf recorded the shutout victory for Cleveland, who was then known as the Crunch.
D'Ambra Busts Loose: Philadelphia native Don D'Ambra played a role in each of the club's six goals versus Monterrey (1/24), but despite his career-night the KiXX fell 7-6 ... the player/coach registered four goals and two assists for six points to set his best outing as member of the KiXX franchise ... his four-goal performance marks his second consecutive hat trick and 21st with the KiXX overall; D'Ambra also recorded a hat trick in the club's 5-0 shutout victory over San Diego (1/17) ... the 32-year old forward now sits second the club (tied 16th MISL) with 24 points on 20 goals and four assists.
Third Quarter Barrage: The team has allowed more goals (24) then they have scored (21) in the third period of action this season, the only quarter in which the club has failed to outscore their opponent ... the Sidekicks connected on the only goal of the game in the club's 1-0 loss in Dallas on January 25 in the third stanza ... overall in the club's last six contests, the KiXX have been outscored 12-3 by their opponents in the third stanza of play.
The Next Iron Man: Philadelphia native Pat Morris has become a permanent fixture for the KiXX backline and is truly becoming the franchise's iron man ... the five-year veteran defender has appeared in 166 of the team's 184 total contests since he first stepped onto the floor as a rookie in the 1999-00 season ... Morris did not miss a single game in both the 2000-01 and the 2002-03 campaigns and is currently in the midst of an 84 consecutive games played streak.
Last Time Out: Sidekicks 1, KiXX 0 (1/25): Philadelphia (11-8) dropped their second game of the weekend, a 1-0 shutout at the hands of the Dallas Sidekicks (13-9) in front of 4,229 fans at Reunion Arena. Patrick Shamu notched the only goal of the game at 4:56 of the third quarter. A defensive tone was established early, sending the game to the second half scoreless, 0-0. The first-half shutout marked only the second time this season the KiXX failed to record a goal in the first two periods of action. The club was previously shutout in the first half in San Diego on November 29, in which the Sockers defeated Philadelphia 3-2. Shamu finally ended the scoring drought, connecting with teammate Nick Stavrou just under the five-minute mark (4:56) of the third stanza to give Dallas the 1-0 advantage. Philadelphia's offense continued to struggle in the second half en route to a 1-0 loss. The Sidekicks out-shot the club 21-9 in the contest. The shutout marks the first time in franchise history the club has failed to record a point in an entire regular season contest. The only occasion the KiXX have been shutout in their eight years of existence was a playoff meeting versus Cleveland on April 24, 1999. Stuart Dobson (1-2) took the loss in net for Philadelphia, while Sagu (13-9) earned the victory for the Sidekicks, his third career shutout.
Fury 7, KiXX 6 OT (1/24): Philadelphia native Don D'Ambra played a part in each of the club's six goals, but his six-point performance proved too little as the KiXX fell, 7-6, to the Monterrey Fury in overtime in front of a season-best 7,114 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. D'Ambra led all scorers with six points on four goals and two assists to set his best outing as a member of the KiXX franchise. Philadelphia led as many as two, 4-2, late into the third period, but the Fury battled back to tie and take their first lead of the game, 6-5, in the fourth period. D'Ambra connected on his fourth tally of the evening with only 12 seconds remaining in regulation forcing the team's third overtime of the season. Marco Coria sealed the Monterrey comeback with a notch at 5:33 of the extra stanza, giving the Fury the 7-6 victory. Genoni Martinez led the Monterrey scorers with three assists, all of which came off assists. Peter Pappas (10-6) took the loss in net for Philadelphia, with 10 saves on 17 chances, while Hector Mireles turned away 12 of 18 shots to earn the victory for Monterrey. Pappas allowed a goal to Caudido in the second quarter of action; the tally snapped his shutout streak at 92:35, marking a new franchise best. Philadelphia defender Tony McPeak appeared his 50th career game tonight. The club is now 1-2 this season when forced to the extra stana of play.
KiXX on the MISL Leaderboard (as of 1/19):
#9 Joel Shanker
17th MISL with 22 points
#10 Goran Vasic
2nd MISL with 23 assists
7th MISL with 32 points
#11 Don D'Ambra
Tied 2nd MISL with three game-winning goals and 20 goals overall
Tied 16th MISL with 24 points
#17 Pat Morris
Tied 2nd MISL with 39 blocks
#22 Peter Pappas
2nd MISL with a .749 save percentage
4th MISL with 10 victories and a 4.60 goals against average
4th MISL with 964 minutes and 221 saves
Future Games: The club returns to the Wachovia Spectrum on February 7, to entertain the defending Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Champion Baltimore Blast. The night, dubbed "Christian Night," includes post-game testimonials from various professional athletes and a live concert featuring national recording artist, KJ-52. For more information or to purchase tickets for any remaining KiXX home contest, contact the club's Executive Office at 1-888-888-KiXX (5499) or log onto the team's official website, www.kixxonline.com.
The Philadelphia KiXX are a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League, a single-entity organization that features a coast-to-coast presence across the United States. The club is entering its eighth season of play in the Wachovia Spectrum located in Philadelphia, PA. For more information, please contact David Deal, KiXX Director of Communications, in the office at (215) 952-5431 or via cell at (267) 688-4127. The Communications Department can also be reached via email, at ddeal@kixxonline.com.
KiXX RECORD:
Overall: 11-8
Home: 6-3
Road: 5-5
vs. Eastern Division Opponents: 4-1
vs. Central Division Opponents: 3-3
vs. Western Division Opponents: 4-4
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
1/24 vs. Monterrey Fury â L, 7-6 OT
1/25 @ Dallas Sidekicks â L, 1-0
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
1/29 @ Monterrey Fury â 9:35 pm ET
1/31 @ Cleveland Force â 7:05 pm ET
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from January 26, 2004
- Comets Weekly - Kansas City Comets
- Sidekicks' Doyle out 6-8 weeks with ankle injury - Dallas Sidekicks
- Philadelphia drops both decisions this past weekend, including 1-0 shutout in Dallas - Philadelphia KiXX
- Chile Farias Named MISL Offensive Player of the Week - Baltimore Blast
- MISL names players of the week - MISL 2
- Force to hold Bobblehead Night - Cleveland Force
- Wave takes two from Force to improve to league-best 15-4 - Milwaukee Wave
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.
