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Playoff-hungry Steamers prepare for season home-finale, March 27

March 22, 2004 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
St. Louis Steamers News Release


(St. Louis, March 22, 2004) -- The St. Louis Steamers split a pair of games over the past weekend. On Friday, March 19, against the intrastate rival Kansas City Comets, the Steamers fell behind 2-0 but rallied for eight unanswered goals en route to a 10-4 victory. Sipho Sibiya and Franck M'Bemba led the way offensively for St. Louis with four and three goals, respectively, and goalkeeper Brett Phillips saved 14 of 18 shots faced to register the victory. The following day (March 20), the Steamers traveled to Philadelphia and lost 7-3 to the KiXX. Philadelphia opened a 3-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back en route to the home win at the Wachovia Spectrum. Player-Coach Daryl Doran led the Steamers offensively with a goal and two assists.

With just five games remaining in the 36-game MISL regular season, the Steamers (13-18) trail Cleveland (14-19) by percentage points in the battle for the sixth and final MISL playoff berth. The Steamers also are just ½ game behind the Kansas City Comets (15-19) for fifth place in the MISL standings. Six MISL teams qualify for the 2003-2004 MISL playoffs. Milwaukee (Central Division) and Dallas (Western Division) have both clinched playoff berths via divisional crowns; Baltimore and Philadelphia of the Eastern Division have both clinched playoff berths. Kansas City, Cleveland, St. Louis, and San Diego are all vying for the final two playoff positions.

The Steamers' next game is March 27 at 1:05 p.m. against the Milwaukee Wave at The Family Arena. The game is the Steamers' final home game of the season and has been designated "Fan Appreciation Day." All fans with a paid admission for the game can redeem their ticket stub for a free admission to a Steamers home game next season, prior to Dec. 31, 2004. The March 27 game also will feature a "Shots on Slobo" fund-raiser to benefit the BackStoppers organization. Fans who stop by the BackStoppers table in The Family Arena concourse on game-day and donate $5 will have the opportunity to go on the field at halftime and take a shot against Steamers legendary goalkeeper Slobo Ilijevski. All funds raised will benefit the BackStoppers, which serves the families of police officers and firefighters in the St. Louis region who have perished in the line of duty. Following the March 27 game, the Steamers travel to Cleveland for a crucial March 28, 2:05 p.m. (Central Standard Time) match against the Force.

This Week's Itinerary: (all times Central Standard Time)

Monday, March 22 – Practice, Soccerdome, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 23 – Practice, Soccerdome, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 24 – Practice, Soccerdome, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 25 – Practice, Soccerdome, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Friday, March 26 – Practice, Soccerdome, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 27 – Steamers vs. Milwaukee Wave, 1:05 p.m., The Family Arena

Sunday, March 28 – Steamers at Cleveland Force, 2:05 p.m., Convocation Center

Injury Report:

Player Injury Status

Danny Santoro Knee IR*

Steve Butcher Foot Out

Sipho Sibiya Ankle Questionable

* IR – Injured Reserve

The March 27, 1:05 p.m. game at The Family Arena offers the final opportunity of the regular season for the Steamers to defeat the MISL Central Division champion Milwaukee Wave. Milwaukee (23-9) won the first five meetings this season, including a 10-3 triumph March 7 at Milwaukee's U.S. Cellular Arena. The Wave offensive attack features MISL points leader Greg Howes, who has tallied 76 points on 52 goals and 24 assists. Other threats for the balanced Milwaukee offense include Todd Dusosky (23 goals, 33 assists), Michael King (25 goals, 15 assists), and Collinsville, Ill., native Joe Reiniger (24 goals, 15 assists). Milwaukee starting goalkeeper Dan Green is 14-3 with a league-leading 3.86 goals-against average.

On March 28, the Steamers travel to Cleveland for a critical game against the Force. The game kicks off at 2:05 p.m. (CST) at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center. The game is the fourth and final matchup of the season between the two teams; the Steamers have won two of the previous three meetings. If the two teams happen to tie in the MISL final regular-season standings, the first tiebreaker to make the playoffs is head-to-head; the second tiebreaker is goal-differential. Cleveland currently holds a plus-two goal differential. In the most recent game between the two clubs, the Force defeated the Steamers 6-2 at The Family Arena as Cleveland goalkeeper Jim Larkin saved 26 of 28 shots faced.

Following the March 28 game, the Steamers have three regular-season games remaining, all on the road: March 31 at Monterrey; April 3 at Dallas; and April 5 at Monterrey.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: (Home games in bold; all times Central Time)

DATE TIME OPPONENT LOCATION

Saturday, March 27 1:05 p.m. Milwaukee Wave The Family Arena

Sunday, March 28 2:05 p.m. Cleveland Force Convocation Center

Wednesday, March 31 8:35 p.m. Monterrey Fury Arena Monterrey

Saturday, April 3 7:05 p.m. Dallas Sidekicks Reunion Arena

Monday, April 5 1:05 p.m. Monterrey Fury Arena Monterrey

Butcher out eight weeks with broken foot The Steamers received tough news just prior to the March 19 game against Kansas City when x-rays revealed that leading scorer Steve Butcher has a broken bone in his right foot and will be sidelined for an estimated eight weeks. Butcher suffered the injury during the Steamers' March 17 loss to Dallas. The 6-foot-2, 25-year-old target forward from North Tonawanda, N.Y., was enjoying a career year with a team-high 31 goals prior to the injury. Butcher also was selected to his first MISL All-Star Game last month in St. Louis.

Sibiya scores four before injury

Forward Sipho Sibiya enjoyed his best game as a Steamer when he netted four goals in roughly 37 minutes of play during the team's 10-4 win over Kansas City. Sibiya nearly scored a fifth goal on the night on a heel shot midway through the third quarter. Shortly thereafter, Sibiya caught his left foot in the Family Arena turf, sprained his left ankle, and was sidelined for the remainder of the game Initial x-rays revealed no fracture, but Sibiya is expected to miss at least the Steamers' March 27 and 28 games. The 32-year-old native of Pretoria, South Africa, is second on the team in goals (16) and third in points (31).

M'Bemba has night to remember

Franck M'Bemba had a memorable night in the 10-4 victory over the Comets March 19. M'Bemba, who was traded by the Comets to the Steamers for Jason Cole and Craig Scheer in early February, scored three goals against his former mates. M'Bemba now has four goals and an assist in 11 games with the Steamers. He had eight goals and three assists for the Comets prior to the trade. The 5-foot-6, 152-pound midfielder is a native of the Republic of the Congo. M'Bemba, who turned 25 this past December, was a member of the Under-18 Congo National Team and played for Vasas SC in the Hungarian First Division before coming to the United States.

Hot Tati

Fernando "Tati" Errecalde has four goals and one assist in his first four games with the Steamers. Errecalde signed with the Steamers on March 11 and is participating in his second stint with the Steamers, albeit in a different league. In 2001, he played 16 games with the St. Louis Steamers of the World Indoor Soccer League (WISL), contributing 21 points on seven goals and 14 assists. Errecalde, 5 feet 6, 135 pounds, was one of four players placed on the "protected list" when the Steamers went inactive for the 2002-03 season. Errecalde, 29, is a native of Tandil, Argentina. The veteran midfielder played part of one season (1996-97) with the Toronto Shooting Stars of the NPSL, and three seasons with the NPSL Detroit Rockers (1996-97 through 1998-99). He played youth soccer for the Independiente club team in Buenos Aires from age 14 to 20 and was a member of the 1994-95 Argentine indoor national team. Errecalde recently has been coaching youth soccer in the Detroit area. He also recently signed a contract to play outdoors for the Windsor Border Stars, a new entry in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, which begins play in late May.

STEAMERS ON THE MISL LEADERBOARD (as of 03/22/04):

#17 Steve Butcher

7th in MISL with 48 points

Tie (4th) in goals with 31

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Saturday, March 27 vs. Milwaukee Wave – 1:05 p.m. kickoff

The BackStoppers "Shots on Slobo" Fund-raiser

· Fans who stop by the BackStoppers table in the concourse of The Family Arena and donate $5 will get the opportunity to go on the field at halftime and take a shot against legendary Steamers goalkeeper Slobo Ilijevski;

· Space is limited, so be sure to stop by the registration table in the main concourse as soon as you arrive at the game;

· 100% of donations will benefit the BackStoppers, which serves the families of police officers and firefighters in the St. Louis region who have perished in the line of duty.

Lions Club Eyeglass Program

· The Lions Club will be collecting used eyeglasses from fans for donation to its Lions Club Eyeglass Program. Fans are encouraged to bring any used eyeglasses to the game and drop them off at the collection tables.

Fan Appreciation Day

· All fans with paid admission for this game can redeem their ticket stub for a free admission to a Steamers home game next season, prior to Dec. 31, 2004.

TICKET INFORMATION: Single-game tickets ranging from $7 to $15 are available at The Family Arena box office; by calling MetroTix at 314-534-1111; or by visiting metrotix.com. For general information on the Steamers, visit www.stlsteamers.com, or call 1-866-STL-KICK (1-866-785-5425).

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