Rockford Rampage, Baltimore Blast Square Off This Sunday
Published on February 20, 2010 under Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Rockford Rampage News Release
ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Earlier this season the Rockford Rampage and Baltimore Blast were among the mix of teams battling for first place in the Major Indoor Soccer League standings.
But quite a bit has changed for defending champion Baltimore and last season's runner-up Rampage. Now both teams are merely fighting to make sure they secure a playoff position heading into the final third of the regular season. The Rampage host the Blast at 5:05 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, in MISL action at the MetroCentre.
Rockford (6-8) has dropped a season-high four straight games. Baltimore (6-7) had dropped five straight before earning a 12-8 home victory Friday against first-place La RaZa de Monterrey. With the win, the Blast moved ahead of the Rampage by a half game in the MISL standings to move into third place.
Rockford's four-game slide is in large part due to a decline of offensive production. Since the Rampage's 22-12 victory over the Philadelphia KiXX on Jan. 23, Rockford has lost four in a row and has averaged less than five points per game.
Defensively the Rampage have done their part during this four-game stretch. They have allowed an average of only 7.5 points per game.
The Rampage and Blast have split their season series at one game apiece. Rockford topped the Blast, 10-8, in overtime on Nov. 13, 2009, at Baltimore in both teams' season opener. The Blast earned a 10-8 victory over the Rampage on Dec. 27, 2009, at the MetroCentre while playing without regular starting goalkeeper Sagu.
Sunday promotion: The first 500 people in attendance at Sunday's Rampage-Blast game will receive a free 12-by-18-inch Crash Dance Team poster.
Rampage-Blast Notes:
- Making their points: Rampage midfielder Matthew Stewart leads the Rampage with 30 points this season, and he is only two points away from tallying 300 for his career.... Baltimore midfielder Lucio Gonzaga has tallied a team-high 28 points and 11 goals.
- Familiar faces: Rampage defender Ibrahim Kante began his MISL career with the Blast in 2003-2004. He also played for Baltimore during the 2005-2006 season.... Rockford head coach Jeff Kraft is a Baltimore native as he led the Rampage to the 2008-2009 National Indoor Soccer League Championship against his hometown Blast.
- Undercover Cop: His 2-4 record in goal is a bit deceiving, but Rampage goalkeeper Ante Cop currently is allowing only eight points per game while saving 63 of 86 shots (.759 save percentage). Heading into the weekend, that miniscule points average is tops in the MISL ahead of the Milwaukee Wave's Nick Vorberg (9.09).
- Recent suspension: Blast goalkeeper Sagu missed Friday's game against Monterrey, serving a red card suspension issued to him on Feb. 14. But his backup Dave Kern stepped up in Sagu's absence, saving 11 of 15 shots for his second victory this season.
- Max production: Blast rookie Max Ferdinand scored three goals to lead Baltimore past Monterrey on Friday. it marked his first MISL hat trick.
- MISL injury report: For the Rampage, goalkeeper Danny Waltman is out (knee) and defender Fabinho is questionable (jaw). For the Blast, forward Adriano Dos Santos is out (elbow), forward Giuliano Celenza is probable (lower back) and the following Baltimore players are questionable -- midfielder Scott Buete (foot/hand), forward Carlos Garcia (hamstring) and defender Jonathan Greenfield (abdomen).
The Rockford Rampage are members of the Major Indoor Soccer League and play their home games at the MetroCentre. Rampage tickets for the 2009-2010 MISL season are on sale. Log on to www.RockfordRampage.com or call the Rampage at (779) 423-1082. Individual game tickets are available at www.MetroCentre.com or by calling (815) 968-5222. All Rampage home broadcasts are available online at http://www.depor13.com/rampage_prewebcast.htm.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 20, 2010
- Dramatic D'Ambra Three-Pointer Triggers Huge Win - Philadelphia KiXX
- Rockford Rampage, Baltimore Blast Square Off This Sunday - Rockford Rampage
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