Rivals on Fox Sports World Friday
Published on August 29, 2002 under A-League (A-League) News Release
This week's A-League game on Fox Sports World is a big one. The Milwaukee Rampage (15-6-5, 71 pts.) take on the Minnesota Thunder (13-8-5, 66 pts.) at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN in a match that will go a long way toward determining which of these two teams wins the Central Division title.
Milwaukee and Minnesota are also entwined in a battle for the second and third seeds in the Western Conference playoffs. League-leaders Seattle Sounders have locked up the top seed in the conference.
The team that earns first place in the Central Division receives a first round playoff bye and home field advantage in the second round. The opportunity to rest players after a grueling 28 game season can't be underestimated.
After an eight-game unbeaten streak in the middle of the season, the Rampage look to be a team very much in the class of the Seattles, Charlestons, Richmonds and Rochesters of the league.
But Milwaukee suffered an August swoon that had many questioning whether the Rampage are the legit title contenders they looked to be as recently as the beginning of the month.
In their first five games in August, Milwaukee went 1-3-1. The Rampage's 18-point lead over the Thunder from a few weeks ago evaporated, and the Rampage found themselves in a tie at the top of the division table with the rival Thunder at the start of this week.
A five-game winning streak by Minnesota corresponded with Milwaukee's drop-off was enough to propel the Thunder right back into the race.
The Rampage made an emphatic statement in their most recent match, however, trouncing the Cincinnati Riverhawks 6-1 Tuesday night. John Wolyneic (8G, 5A, 21 pts.) had 2 goals and 2 helpers in the match. Going into the game, Wolyneic hadn't scored a goal since July 6.
Milwaukee's Digital Takawira (9G, 8A, 26 pts.) also bagged a goal against Cincinnati. Rampage fans are keen to see the Zimbabwean crowd-favorite return to his high-scoring ways. Digital had been stuck on seven goals during a five week stretch after suffering a high ankle sprain versus the Atlanta Silverbacks in a game shown on Fox Sports World on July 19.
The Rampage's triumph over the Riverhawks was also one of the five point variety (in the standings), which means the Rampage now need only to draw with Minnesota on Friday night to clinch the Central Division crown. Milwaukee owns the first tiebreaker between the two clubs.
The Thunder, meanwhile, had their winning run broken in a 2-1 OT loss to Portland Sunday night at home in Blaine.
So, Minnesota needs to win its two remaining games to have any chance of capturing the division title while at the same time hoping Milwaukee tanks. The Thunder finish up their league slate against the defending champion Rochester Raging Rhinos at Frontier Field, while Rampage play high-scoring Seattle at home in Franklin, WI on Saturday night.
Heading into this Friday's TV showdown, Minnesota's money-man is Johnny Menyongar (10G, 11A, 31 pts.) who posted two goals and two assists in the games against Cincinnati and Portland, good enough to earn A-League Team of the Week honors. F Johnny Torres (11G, 5A, 27 pts.) received Team of the Week plaudits a week earlier for his strong play during the Thunder's winning streak.
The game is also a battle of two of the top goalkeepers in the A-League, Milwaukee's Dan Popik (1.10 GAA, 13-6-4, 8SO) and Minnesota's Jonathan Lowery (1.31 GAA, 7-5-5).
The game should be a barn-burner. Play-by-play man Sean Wheelock and Color Analyst Steve Bell will have the call on Fox Sport World Friday night at 8 pm eastern.
A-League Stories from August 29, 2002
- Rivals on Fox Sports World Friday - A-League
- World Cup Stars Offer Hand - Indiana Blast
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