Rockford Rampage Home Opener Friday Vs. Milwaukee
Published on November 25, 2009 under Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Rockford Rampage News Release
ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Rockford Rampage host their neighbors to the northeast, the Milwaukee Wave, in the first-ever meeting between the two squads on Friday, Nov. 27, at the MetroCentre. The Rampage's 2009-2010 Major Indoor Soccer League home opener kicks off at 7:35 p.m., and the first 1,000 fans in attendance receive a free magnet schedule, courtesy of Aflac.
Though both teams have only played one match this season, they are each 1-0 in the MISL standings and hope to gain the early first-place lead. The proximity of the two teams -- less than 100 miles apart from one another -- bodes well for the fans' experience. The players and coaches are looking forward to the birth of this Stateline clash, as well.
"Absolutely, we're looking forward to the start of this rivalry," Rampage head coach Jeff Kraft said. "They have a [fan] bus coming down to the game, so this should be a good start to a new rivalry."
The Rampage are coming off a thrilling 10-8 overtime victory over the defending champion Baltimore Blast on Nov. 13 in Baltimore. Rockford defender Chris Brisson netted the game-winner as the Rampage spoiled the Blast's celebration of their 2008-2009 National Indoor Soccer League title. For Brisson, one of the newest members of this season's Rampage, it was his fourth career game-winning goal.
"You want to be efficient, play good defense and score some goals -- you can't have one or the other," Kraft said. "I thought we came out well as a team defensively and attacked. We came away with a great result having lost to them in the final last season."
Rampage goalkeeper Danny Waltman put together a solid Rockford debut, saving 12 of 16 shots and holding the Blast to single-digit scoring. Waltman is coming off a stellar 2008-2009 campaign with the Detroit Ignition that included MVP, Goalkeeper of the Year and an Xtreme Soccer League championship. "He solidifies our goalkeeper position, and he came up with some big saves," Kraft said.
The Wave are riding high after earning their first-ever road shutout, a 15-0 blanking of La RaZa de Monterrey on Sunday, Nov. 22, at Arena Monterrey. Milwaukee goalkeeper Nick Vorberg earned MISL Player of the Week accolades for his 13-save effort.
NOTES:
- Familiar faces: Wave head coach Keith Tozer might be facing the Rampage for the first time, but he is familiar with Rockford's personnel. Tozer is the U.S. Futsal National Team head coach, and in 2008 he coached current Rockford midfielders Jamar Beasley and Matthew Stewart in the FIFA Futsal World Cup. The Rampage's Stewart, defender Tijani Ayegbusi and midfielder Semir Mesanovic all were coached by Tozer in various stints with the Wave.
- Other local ties: Rampage defender Chris Brisson spent his collegiate career in Milwaukee. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he was a four-year starter from 2001 to 2004. He had seven career goals and 11 career assists. In 2004, Brisson became UW-Milwaukee's leader in career games played (88) and career games started (87).
The Rockford Rampage are members of the Major Indoor Soccer League and are coming off a runner-up finish in the National Indoor Soccer League in 2008-2009. Rampage season tickets for the 2009-10 MISL season currently are on sale. For more information, 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.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from November 25, 2009
- Rockford Rampage Home Opener Friday Vs. Milwaukee - Rockford Rampage
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