Three Force Players End Outdoor Season In A-League Playoffs

Published on September 8, 2003 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Cleveland Force News Release


CLEVELAND, OHIO -- Three Cleveland Force players saw their A-League season come to an end this weekend as their teams were eliminated from the A-League Playoffs.

Midfielder John Ball and goalkeeper Jim Larkin along with the Milwaukee Wave United were defeated by defender Mark Schulte and the Minnesota Thunder 2-1 in the a home-and-home, aggregate-goal series. The Wave United posted an A-League season best record of 18-10 as they won the Western Conference and the Central Division titles.

Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the series as forward Greg Howes scored the lone goal on a penalty kick in the opening game on Friday night at Uihlein Park. On Sunday, the Thunder tied the series at 1-1 when forward Johnny Torres scored the lone goal in regulation. Minnesota won the game and the series when Torres scored the game and series-winning goal in the 92 minute of action.

Ball appeared in 26 games and recorded four goals and added eight assists for a total of 16 points in his first season with the Wave United. Larkin appeared in 19 games and posted a record of 10-9 including seven shutouts. Jim finished his first season in Milwaukee with 71 saves and goals against average of 1.26.

Defender Nevio Pizzolitto and the Montreal Impact were defeated by the Rochester Rhinos 2-1 in the home-and-home, aggregate-goal series. Montreal finished the regular season with a record of 16-6-6, which gave them the Eastern Conference and the Northeast Division titles.

Rochester posted a 2-1 victory in the first game of the series on Friday night and the two teams battled to a scoreless tie in the second game allowing the Rhinos to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. In game one, Rochester got goals from Stoian Mladenov and Doug Miller while the Impact got their lone goal from Philadelphia KiXX forward Ze Roberto.

Pizzolitto appeared in 24 games and recorded one goal and added one assist for a total of three points in his eighth season with the Impact.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from September 8, 2003


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