Three-game win streak snapped on school day; KiXX travel to Detroit on Friday, February 15
February 14, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Philadelphia KiXX News Release
Philadelphia, PA, February 14, 2008 - The defending MISL Champion Philadelphia KiXX split two games this week, defeating the first place Milwaukee Wave on Saturday, February 9 and falling to the Chicago Storm on Wednesday, February 13 in the KiXX 13th Annual School Day game. Against the Wave in Philadelphia, Ptah Myers led the charge with two fourth quarter goals and an assist. For his efforts, Myers was named MISL Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Week for the first time in his four-year career. Versus the Storm on Wednesday the 13th, the KiXX fell into a 6-0 whole early in the first quarter and never recovered. All-MISL keeper Peter Pappas, starting his first game in four matches on February 9, was injured again in the second quarter versus the Wave after getting hit in the eye with a shot at close range. Pappas missed the KiXX school day game and will be out of action in Detroit. Rookie Nick Hovaker will mind the net. The KiXX will be playing in Detroit for their first road game in three weeks.
This Week's Itinerary:
Thursday, February 14, Travel
Friday, February 15, at Detroit Ignition, 7:35pm ET
Saturday, February 16, Travel
Sunday, February 17, Off Day
Monday, February 18, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Tuesday, February 19, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Wednesday, February 20, Practice, Tri-State Sports, 10:00am to 12:00pm
*all times are Eastern and subject to change
University of Penn Health Systems Injury Report:
Player Injury Status
Peter Pappas Eye Out
Steve Wacker Knee Out
MEET THE OPPONENT: DETROIT IGNITION
4th Meeting this Season
11/3/07 - KiXX 6 at Detroit 17
11/10/07 - Detroit 11 at KiXX 9
2/2/08 - Detroit 13 at KiXX 15
The KiXX and Ignition met on February 2 in Philadelphia, a game that saw the KiXX score 15 points on one of the League's best defenses. Player/coach Don D'Ambra led the team with four goals, becoming just the 15th player in MISL history to pass the 1,000 point mark in his career. Tony Donatelli also contributed a goal and four assists, three to D'Ambra. Detroit currently sits in third place in the MISL standings with a 12-7 record, but just one game out of first.
On November 3 in Detroit, Hewerton Moriera and Ricardinho each recorded six points in the Ignition 17-6 victory. Angel Rivillo contributed two goals for the KiXX. In the KiXX home opener on November 10, Detroit outlasted Philadelphia 11-9, with goals from four different players. Rivillo again scored two goals, and D'Ambra recorded three assists.
2007 MISL MVP Jamar Beasley leads the club with 19 goals for 47 points. Droo Callahan ranks second in the League with 39 blocks. In net, Danny Waltman sports a 10-7 record with a 8.77 PAA, third in the MISL. His 10 wins are good for second. The team is coached by Bob Lilley, who took over at the beginning of the season for Mark Puscilic, who moved on to soccer operations. Lilley previously coached Tony Donatelli and Nigel Marples with the Vancouver White Caps of the USL.
Last Week's Outing(s):
KiXX 12, DET 8 (2/9) - The KiXX defeated the first-place Milwaukee Wave (14-7) by a score of 12-8 in front of 6,386 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. The first 2,500 fans in attendance received a KiXX hat courtesy of NBC10. Ptah Myers led the charge for the KiXX with two goals and an assist. Peter Pappas, starting in his first game since injuring his neck on January 18, was hurt again in the second quarter and had to leave the game after taking a shot to the face at close range. Rookie Nick Hovaker finished the game and picked up his third career win. Milwaukee came in as the MISL's best road team (7-4) and a three-game winning streak. Sandre Naumoski struck first for Philadelphia with his fifth goal of the season, assisted by Jonathan Steele at 7:47 of the first quarter. Brett Wiesner knotted the game at two with his ninth goal of the season for Milwaukee assisted by Cape May native Anthony Maher. Warren Ukah gave Milwaukee their first lead of the game off a feed from Deco 11:31 into the second quarter. KiXX player/coach and leading scorer Don D'Ambra responded less than a minute later to tie the game again. The goal was on a restart, set up by Naumoski. D'Ambra also extended his point streak to four games. Maher recorded his own two-pointer on a restart set up by MISL leading scorer Greg Howes. The goal put the Wave up 6-4 5:08 into the second half. Just under three minutes later, Aaron Susi scored his eighth of the season on cross field pass from Ptah Myers to tie the game at 6-6. Steele set John Barry Nusum up at 12:27 of the final frame to give the KiXX the lead once again, 8-6. Myers padded the lead for the KiXX with his 12th goal of the season. Naumoski was credited with his second assist of the night. Maher came back with his second of the night for Milwaukee, an unassisted goal to pull the Wave to within one. Marcio Leite was on as sixth attacker for the Wave. With :19 seconds remaining, Pat Morris launched the ball the length of the field towards the empty net, as Myers caught up to it and deposited his second of the night to seal the win for the KiXX. With the assist, Morris extended his point streak to seven games. Tony Donatelli played in the 50th game of his two-year career for the KiXX. Drew Kopp did not dress for Philadelphia due to a sore knee.
KiXX 9, CHI 18 (2/13) - The KiXX dropped an 18-9 decision at the hands of the Chicago Storm (13-7) on the KiXX 13th Annual School Day in front of 5,238 students at the Wachovia Spectrum. The KiXX were without All-MISL goalkeeper Peter Pappas, who suffered an eye injury in the KiXX February 9 game vs. Milwaukee. Philadelphia had their three-game winning streak snapped, and fell to 0-3 against Chicago this season. Chicago opened the game up with three straight goals from Ben Chavolla, Gabriel Cigliano, and John Ball. Ball also assisted Cigliano's goal. The KiXX answered in the second quarter when David Castellanos headed a pass from player/coach Don D'Ambra by Chicago keeper Jeff Richey. With the assist, D'Ambra extended his point streak to five games. At 8:04 of the second frame, Fabinho extended the Storm's lead to seven-points with a three-point goal. The score at half time saw the Storm up 9-2. Aaron Susi struck first in the third quarter to bring the KiXX to within five on an assist from captain Pat Morris. The goal was Susi's ninth of the season and the assist stretched Morris' point streak to eight games. Chicago answered with goals from Andy Rosenband and Ian Bennett, giving the Storm a 13-4 lead after three quarters. The KiXX and Storm each scored two more in the fourth, ending scoring at 18-9. Ryan Heins was credited with the first three-pointer of his career when he launched a mid-field shot that caught Richey off guard. Ptah Myers also scored for the KiXX, his 14th after being named the MISL Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Week for the seven-day period ending February 10. Myers earned the first career nod after scoring two goals and recording an assist against first-place Milwaukee on February 9. Stewart and Bollella tacked on goals for Chicago. KiXX defender Drew Kopp missed his second straight game with a knee injury.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 14, 2008
- Cougars sign Aterado and Bonser to contracts - California Cougars
- Storm shoot for third straight win, travel to California - Chicago Storm
- Coach's Corner, with Storm head coach Steve Morris - Chicago Storm
- KiXX look to get back on track in Detroit Friday - Philadelphia KiXX
- Three-game win streak snapped on school day; KiXX travel to Detroit on Friday, February 15 - Philadelphia KiXX
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