Wave continue to roll at home
by MISL Press Release
Published on April 8, 2002 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
The Milwaukee Wave enters the final week of the 2001-02 Major Indoor Soccer League regular season with plenty to play for, despite having already secured the League's regular season title and home field advantage throughout the 2002 MISL Playoffs. Milwaukee, which posted a thrilling 12-10 (OT) victory vs. Philadelphia on April 5 to clinch the MISL's top seed in the upcoming post-season, is now just one win away from becoming the first team in League history to complete a season with a perfect home record. The Wave, which completed the week with a 12-5 victory over Baltimore on April 7, has already set a League mark for the most home victories in a season (21) while also establishing a club record for most wins in a campaign (32).
Milwaukee (32-10) will vie for its perfect home season while head coach Keith Tozer looks for his 500th career win when the Wave hosts Baltimore on Friday, April 12.
Despite the loss in Milwaukee, the Blast (18-24) also enjoyed a productive week, going 2-1 with a 20-18 victory at Kansas City on April 4 and an 18-6 win vs. Harrisburg on April 6. The Blast secured the League's fourth and final playoff berth with the win over the Heat and will face Milwaukee in the MISL Semifinals.
Kansas City rebounded from the loss to the Blast to post an 18-12 victory over Cleveland on April 7 while improving to 24-17 overall and 18-2 at home on the season. Despite the victory over the Crunch (13-28), Kansas City will finish third in the MISL standings due to Philadelphia's 16-13 win over Harrisburg (10-32) on April 7. The Kixx (28-14), winners of more games than any previous Philadelphia side in club history, have secured second place and will face the Comets in the opening round of the MISL Playoffs.
OPENING ROUND OF THE MISL PLAYOFFS SET
The opening round of the 2002 MISL Playoffs has been set with the top-seeded Milwaukee Wave hosting the fourth seeded Baltimore Blast at the Bradley Center on Friday, April 19. Game time is 7:05 p.m. CDT. In the second semifinal contest, the third-seeded Kansas City Comets will host the second-seeded Philadelphia Kixx. Philadelphia agreed to play the semifinal contest in Kansas City due to scheduling conflicts at the First Union Spectrum. That contest will also be held on Friday, April 19 with kickoff slated for 8:05 p.m. CDT
The winners of the two semifinals will meet in the best-of-three MISL Championship, which is scheduled to begin the week of April 22.
CABRAL AND GREEN EARN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Offensive:
Baltimore midfielder Denison Cabral has been named the MISL Offensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending April 7. Cabral receives the award after posting a 3-point goal, four 2-point scores, and four assists for 15 points in three outings last week.
Cabral opened his week by registering a 3-point goal, two 2-point tallies, and an assist for eight points in Baltimore's 20-18 victory at Kansas City on April 4. The native of Florianopolis, Brazil then posted a 2-point goal and three assists in the Blast's 18-6 win vs. Harrisburg on April 6. The 28-year old concluded his week with a 2-point score in Baltimore's 12-5 loss at Milwaukee on April 7.
Cabral currently ranks fourth in the MISL in scoring with 126 points while leading the League in power play goals with 10. The five-year veteran is also ranked second in 2-point goals with 41 and third in total goals with 53.
The naming of a Cabral as the MISL Offensive Player of the Week marks the second time that the midfielder has received the award this season. Cabral was also honored for the seven-day period ending December 16.
Honorable Mention:
Philadelphia forward Kevin Sloan registered a 3-point goal and four 2-point tallies for 11 points in two outings last week.
Sloan opened his week with a 3-point goal and a 2-point score in Philadelphia's 12-10 (OT) loss at Milwaukee on April 5 before notching three 2-pointers in the Kixx's 16-13 victory over Harrisburg on April 7.
The Columbia, MD native is tied for fourth on the Philadelphia roster in scoring with 70 points while ranking second in 3-point goals with five.
The two-year veteran currently ranks 15th in MISL scoring with 78 points.
Defensive:
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Dan Green has been named the MISL Defensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending April 7. Green receives the award after posting a 12-5 victory over Baltimore on April 7.
The four-year veteran recorded a 5.00 points against average while stopping 11 of 13 shots faced for a .846 save percentage in his first start at the Bradley Center since November, 1999.
Green is now 6-5 on the season with an 11.45 points against average. The naming of the Waukesha, WI native as the Defensive Player of the Week marks the third time this season that the goalkeeper has received the award. Green was also honored for the seven-day periods ending December 9 and March 31.
Honorable Mention:
Baltimore goalkeeper Scott Hileman went 2-1 last week with a 20-18 win at Kansas City on April 4, an 18-6 victory over Harrisburg on April 6, and a 12-5 loss at Milwaukee on April 7. The Phoenix native posted a 12.27 points against average and a .712 save percentage during the three outings.
THIS WEEK'S MISL SCHEDULE (all times local)
Friday, April 12: Baltimore at Milwaukee 7:05 p.m. Cleveland at Kansas City 7:35 p.m. Saturday, April 13: Cleveland at Baltimore 7:35 p.m. Philadelphia at Harrisburg 7:35 p.m. Milwaukee at Kansas City 7:35 p.m. Sunday, April 14: Kansas City at Philadelphia 5:05 p.m. Cleveland at Harrisburg 6:05 p.m.
MISL GAME RECAPS
GAMES OF 04/04/2002 (Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF) Baltimore 20 9-2-6-3 2,688 36 4 0-1 Hileman (14-22) KANSAS CITY 18 4-2-9-3 33 7 1-2 Damico (18-27)
Denison Cabral struck for three goals as the Baltimore Blast defeated the Kansas City Comets, 20-18, at Kemper Arena on Thursday, April 4. Danny Kelly (2-point goal, 46 seconds), Cabral (2-point goal, 3:53), and Billy Nelson (3-point goal, 8:10) stoked the Blast to an early 7-0 lead. Nino DaSilva got the Comets on the board with a deuce at 9:15 before Lee Tschantret made it a 9-2 contest with a 2-pointer at 10:14. Ato Leone then ended the first quarter scoring with a 2-point strike at 12:27 as Baltimore led, 9-4, after one. In the second, Vlatko Andonovski (5:26) scored a deuce before Cabral (8:43) answered to produce an 11-6 Baltimore advantage at the half. Giuliano Celenza opened the third with a 2-pointer at 2:53 before DaSilva notched a deuce at 6:19. Celenza followed with a 2-pointer at 6:45 before Kelly struck again at 9:45 to make the score, 17-8, Blast. The Comets then went on a 10-0 run to take the club's first lead of the game. DaSilva started the spurt with a 2-pointer at 10:29 of before Alex Zotinca added a 3-pointer at 11:01. DaSilva then notched another deuce at 14:29 to close the Baltimore lead to two at 17-15 through three quarters of play. In the fourth, Wes Wade connected on a 3-pointer at 3:53 to give the home team the lead at 18-17, but a Cabral 3-point tally at 9:15 proved to be the game-winner as the Blast notched the 20-18 victory. Cabral paced Baltimore with a 3-point goal, two 2-point scores, and an assist for eight points while DaSilva led the Comets with four 2-point goals and an assist for nine points. Scott Hileman (14 saves) got the win while Chris Damico (18 saves) took the loss.
GAMES OF 04/05/2002 (Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF) MILWAUKEE 12 (OT) 2-4-4-0-2 7,809 32 0 0-0 Nogueira (16-20) Philadelphia 10 2-3-5-0-0 34 0 0-0 Pappas (17-23)
Johnny Torres scored the game-winning goal at 5:04 of overtime as the Milwaukee Wave defeated the Philadelphia Kixx, 12-10, in front of 7,809 fans at the Bradley Center on Friday, April 5. The Wave took an early 2-0 lead on a Greg Howes 2-pointer at 6:34, but Pat Morris answered for the Kixx with a deuce at 7:29 to tie the score at two through first quarter play. In the second, Kevin Sloan gave the visitors their first lead of the game with a 3-point goal at 3:04 before Todd Dusosky (3:12) brought the home team within one and Howes (14:26) gave Milwaukee the lead, 6-5, at the half. Torres then made it a three-point game with his first goal of the night at 6:30 of the third before Sloan answered with a 2-point score at 7:08. After a Marcelo Fontana deuce at 9:22, Don D'Ambra tied the score with a 3-point tally at 13:49. Following a scoreless fourth frame, Torres ended the drama with his overtime strike as the Wave notched the two-point victory. Howes and Torres each posted a pair of 2-point goals and four points to lead the Wave while D'Ambra (3-point goal, two assists) and Sloan (3-point goal, 2-point goal) led the Kixx with five points apiece. Victor Nogueira (16 saves) got the win while Peter Pappas (17 saves) took the loss.
GAMES OF 04/06/2002 (Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF) BALTIMORE 18 6-6-6-0 2,894 34 0 1-2 Hileman (11-14) Harrisburg 6 2-2-2-0 26 4 0-0 Petras (17-26)
Lee Tschantret scored a pair of goals as the Baltimore Blast defeated the Harrisburg Heat, 18-6, at the Baltimore Arena on Saturday, April 6. Harrisburg took its only lead of the game on a Matt Knowles' 2-point goal at 5:46 of the first before the Blast recorded 12 consecutive points to take control of the contest. Paul Wright (11:42), Tschantret (11:54), and Danny Kelly (12:45) bagged deuces as Baltimore led, 6-2, after one. Denison Cabral (2:53), Dewan Bader (10:46), and Tarik Walker (12:21) each collected 2-pointers in the second before Nick Corneli connected at 13:42 to make the score, 12-4, in favor of the Blast. Lance Johnson (4:53) and Tschantret (8:28) each added deuces in the third before Jason Webb (9:37) and Giuliano Celenza (10:37) concluded the scoring with 2-point goals to produce the 18-6 final. The trio of Cabral (2-point goal, three assists), Tschantret (two 2-point goals, assist), and Walker (2-point goal, three assists) led Baltimore with five points. Corneli (2-point goal, assist) paced Harrisburg with three points. Scott Hileman (11 saves) got the win while Doug Petras (17 stops) took the loss.
GAMES OF 04/07/2002 (Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF) MILWAUKEE 12 0-4-4-4 8,503 31 0 0-0 Green (11-13) Baltimore 5 0-3-2-0 23 2 0-0 Hileman (17-23)
Sipho Sibiya recorded a hat-trick as the Milwaukee Wave defeated the Baltimore Blast, 12-5, in front of 8,503 fans at the Bradley Center on Sunday, April 7. After a scoreless first quarter, Milwaukee took a 4-0 lead on 2-point goals by Sibiya (2:02) and Sinisa Alebic (11:29). Sean Bowers followed with a 3-pointer at 12:27 to produce a 4-3 halftime lead for the Wave. In the third, Sibiya notched a deuce at 7:56 before Michael King added a 2-pointer at 8:38. Denison Cabral notched a 2-point goal at 14:06 to bring the Blast within three at 8-5 by the end of three quarters of play; however, Pat White (8:33) and Sibiya (11:48) ended the drama with fourth quarter deuces as Milwaukee notched the seven-point victory. Sibiya led all scores with three 2-point goals and an assist for seven points. Sean Bowers paced Baltimore with a 3-point goal and three points. Dan Green (11 saves) got the win while Scott Hileman (17 stops) took the loss.
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF) KANSAS CITY 18 0-8-7-3 3,246 34 5 1-2 Bowes (11-23) Cleveland 12 3-5-0-4 29 14 0-0 Larkin (13-27)
Dino Delevski scored three goals as the Kansas City Comets defeated the Cleveland Crunch, 18-12, at Kemper Arena on Sunday, April 7. The Crunch took a 3-0 first quarter lead on goals by Steve Butcher (2-pointer, 11:56) and Hector Marinaro, who posted a shootout tally at 12:50. In the second, Cleveland extended its lead when Marinaro scored his second shootout goal at the 44-second mark and Bill Sedgewick added a 2-point goal at 4:01. After Jake Dancy put the Comets on the board with a deuce at 4:10, Marinaro struck again with a 2-pointer at 4:28 to make the score, 8-2 in favor of the Crunch. Kansas City, however, then went on a 16-0 run to take control of the game. Jeff Davis (4:48), Alex Zotinca (8:40), and Nino DaSilva (13:37) each notched 2-point goals to tie the score at eight at the half. Zotinca then posted a 3-point score at 5:38 of the third before Delevski posted a pair of shootout goals (5:38) to give Kansas City a 13-8 lead. Ato Leone added a deuce at 8:01 of the third and Delevski capped the run with a 3-pointer at 6:17 of the fourth before John Ball (12:56) and Giuliano Oliviero (13:43) added a pair of late goals for the Crunch to produce the 18-12 final. Delevski led the Comets in scoring with a 3-point goal and a pair of 1-point scores for five points. Marinaro led Cleveland with a 2-point goal, two 1-point scores, and two assists for six points. Brian Bowes (11 saves) got the win while Jim Larkin (13 saves) took the loss.
(Home CAPS) SCORING ATTN SHOTS PIM PP W/L GOALIE (SV-SF) PHILADELPHIA 16 6-4-4-2 3,074 39 4 0-0 Dobson (8-14) Harrisburg 13 0-7-2-4 26 2 0-1 Ceccarelli (21-29)
Kevin Sloan notched six points as the Philadelphia Kixx downed the Harrisburg Heat, 16-13, at the First Union Spectrum on Sunday, April 7. Philadelphia jumped out to a 6-0 lead after one quarter of play as Chris Handsor (3-point goal, 2:33) and Goran Vasic (2-point goal at 4:57, 1-point tally at 9:31) each found the back of the net for the home team. After Nick Corneli got Harrisburg on the board with a 2-pointer at 1:01 of the second, Kevin Sloan made it an 8-2 game with a deuce at 4:02. Jason Webb (5:16) and Les Lunsford (6:30) then exchanged 2-pointers before Zoran Karic bagged a 3-point tally at 8:18. In the third, Sloan made it a 12-7 game with his second 2-pointer at 8:09 before Adam Eller posted a deuce at 11:29. Sloan then again registered a 2-point goal at 14:51 as the Kixx led, 14-9, through three quarters of play. In the fourth, Matt Knowles bagged a deuce at 2:24 before Adam Bruckner notched a 2-pointer at 13:24. Daniel Barber added a late 2-pointer for the Heat at 14:19, but it wasn't enough as Philadelphia registered the three-point victory. Sloan led all scores with three 2-point goals and six points. Karic (3-point goal, two assists) paced Harrisburg with five points. Stuart Dobson (eight saves) got the win while Paolo Ceccarelli (21 saves) took the loss.
TEAM CAPSULES
Baltimore Blast (18-24)
The Blast went 2-1 last week with a 20-18 victory at Kansas City on April 4, an 18-6 win over Harrisburg on April 6, and a 12-5 loss at Milwaukee on April 7. Denison Cabral posted 15 points in three outings and ranks fourth in MISL scoring with 126 points. Cabral leads the League in power-play goals with 10, ranks second in 2-point goals with 41, and third in total goals with 53. Paul Wright is tied for sixth in scoring with 102 points while ranking second in assists with 38. Sean Bowers is tied for 11th in scoring with 91 points while leading the MISL in restart goals with 14 and blocks with 88. Tarik Walker is tied for 15th in scoring with 82 points, Lee Tschantret is 17th with 81 points, and Giuliano Celenza is tied for 18th with 77 points. Scott Hileman leads the MISL in minutes with 2,184, saves with 552, and save percentage at .726 while ranking third in points against average at 12.19. The Blast power play and penalty kill units each rank second in the League. The Baltimore power play is 25/44 (56.8%) while the penalty kill is 21/34 (61.8%). Baltimore clinched the MISL's fourth and final playoff berth with the victory over Harrisburg. The Blast will face Milwaukee on April 19 in the League Semifinals. Baltimore will conclude its regular season with an April 12 date at Milwaukee and an April 13 contest vs. Cleveland.
Leading Scorers: Cabral (126 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Hileman (16-20; 12.19 paa; .726 save percentage)
Up Next: Fri. 4/12 at Milwaukee, Sat. 4/13 vs. Cleveland
Cleveland Crunch (13-28)
The Crunch dropped the club's only contest of the week by way of an 18-12 loss at Kansas City on April 7. Hector Marinaro recorded six points in the contest and ranks second in the League in scoring with 177 points. Marinaro also paces the MISL in assists with 69 and 1-point goals with 14 while ranking second in total goals with 57. John Ball is tied for 18th in scoring with 77 points. Kiley Couch is second in blocks with 83. The injured Otto Orf remains fourth in points against average at 13.29 and is tied with Jim Larkin for fourth in save percentage at .714. The Crunch power play is now third in the MISL at 14/30 (46.7%). Cleveland will conclude the 2001-02 season with three games in three days. The Crunch will play at Kansas City (April 12), Baltimore (April 13), and Harrisburg (April 14). Cleveland is just 1-7 vs. the Comets this season, but has gone a combined 9-6 vs. Baltimore and Harrisburg.
Leading Scorer: Marinaro (177points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Orf (8-13; 13.29 paa; .714 save percentage)
Up Next: Fri. 4/12 at Kansas City, Sat. 4/13 at Baltimore, Sun. 4/14 at Harrisburg
Harrisburg Heat (10-32)
The Heat lost, 18-6, at Baltimore on April 6 and dropped a 16-13 decision at Philadelphia on April 7. Leading scorer David Bascome continues to be sidelined due to injury. Bascome is tied for 13th in MISL scoring with 88 points. Wendell Regis ranks fifth in blocks with 66. Paolo Ceccarelli got his first start since February 22 in the game vs. Philadelphia and made 21 saves in the losing effort. Doug Petras is second in the MISL in saves with 495 and fifth in minutes played with 1,835. Zoran Karic notched his 1,700th career point in the game vs. the Kixx. Matt Knowles is three points shy of 900 for his career. Harrisburg finished the season with a 4-18 road record, the worst in franchise history. The Heat will conclude the 2001-02 season with a pair of home dates. Harrisburg will host Philadelphia on April 13 and Cleveland on April 14.
Leading Scorer: Bascome (88 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Petras (9-21; 14.22 paa; .705 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 4/13 vs. Philadelphia, Sun. 4/14 vs. Cleveland
Kansas City Comets (24-17)
The Comets went 1-1 last week with a 20-18 loss vs. Baltimore on April 4 and an 18-12 win over Cleveland on April 7. Dino Delevski posted five points to raise his season total to a League-leading 189. Delevski also paces the MISL in 3-point goals (18), 2-point goals (46), and total goals (77) while ranking second in 1-point goals (13). Nino DaSilva is now fifth in League scoring with 112 points while Wes Wade ranks eighth with 98 points. Wade also ranks third in assists with 37 while DaSilva ranks fifth with 35. Alex Zotinca is now tied for ninth in scoring with 93 points. Chris Damico is third in the MISL in minutes played (1,907), wins (20), and saves (484) while ranking fifth in points against average at 13.65. Kansas City leads the League on both the power play and penalty kill. The Comets have gone 25/40 (62.5%) with the extra man while stopping 24/38 (63.1%) of their opponent's power plays. Kansas City has secured the third seed in the upcoming MISL Playoffs, but will host the second-seeded Philadelphia Kixx due to scheduling conflicts in Philadelphia. The Comets will conclude the regular season with three games in three days. Kansas City will host Cleveland (April 12) and Milwaukee (April 13) before traveling to Philadelphia (April 14) in a MISL Semifinal preview.
Leading Scorers: Delevski (189 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Damico (20-13; 13.65 paa; .697 save percentage)
Up Next: Fri. 4/12 vs. Cleveland, Sat. 4/13 vs. Milwaukee, Sun. 4/14 at Philadelphia
Milwaukee Wave (32-10)
The Wave recorded a 12-10 (OT) victory vs. Philadelphia on April 5 and a 12-5 win vs. Baltimore on April 7. In doing so, the Wave established a League record with 21 home wins in a season while setting a club mark for victories in a campaign (32). Milwaukee also clinched first place and home field advantage throughout the upcoming MISL Playoffs. The injured Joe Reiniger remains third in MISL in scoring with 131 points while ranking fourth in total goals (48) and assists (36). Brian Loftin is tied for sixth in scoring with 102 points and ranks third in 2-point goals with 37. Michael King is tied for 11th in scoring with 91 points, Todd Dusosky is tied for 13th with 88 points, and Greg Howes is tied for 15th with 82 points. Victor Nogueira improved to 26-5 on the season with a 9.56 points against average. Nogueira leads the MISL in wins and points against average while ranking second in save percentage at .723. Milwaukee ends the regular season vs. Baltimore on April 12 and at Kansas City on April 13.
Leading Scorers: Reiniger (131 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Nogueira (26-5; 9.56 paa; .723 save percentage)
Up Next: Fri. 4/12 vs. Baltimore, Sat. 4/13 at Kansas City
Philadelphia Kixx (28-14)
The Kixx fell, 12-10 (OT), in Milwaukee on April 5 before recording a 16-13 win over Harrisburg on April 7. Philadelphia clinched second place with the victory over the Heat, but will travel to Kansas City for the opening round of the 2002 MISL Playoffs due to scheduling conflicts in the team's home arena. Chris Handsor is now tied for ninth in MISL scoring with 93 points while Joel Shanker is 20th with 76 points. Peter Pappas ranks second in wins (22), points against average (10.57), and minutes (1,947) while ranking third in save percentage (.718). Philadelphia has scored the fewest (30) and allowed the fewest (30) restart goals in the MISL this season. The overtime loss to Milwaukee was the first of the season for the Kixx as the club is now 3-1 in extra session games this season, having outscored opponents, 7-2 in overtime contests. The Kixx have gone 7-3 in the club's last 10 games. Philadelphia will conclude the regular season with a trip to Harrisburg on April 13 before hosting Kansas City on April 14.
Leading Scorer: Handsor (93 points)
Leading Goalkeeper: Pappas (22-11; 10.57 paa; .718 save percentage)
Up Next: Sat. 4/13 at Harrisburg, Sat. 4/14 vs. Kansas City
MISL NOTES
- The Milwaukee Wave set a club record on April 7 when the team won its 23rd consecutive regular season home game; the streak dates back to the 2000-01 season
- Milwaukee head coach Keith Tozer, who is just one win shy of his 500th career coaching victory, has been selected for induction in the 2002 class of the College of Oneonta Athletic Hall of Fame; Tozer, who is a 1979 graduate of the school as well as the men's soccer program's all-time leading scorer, will be inducted on October 5
- Baltimore's Sean Bowers moved into a tie for seventh place on the League's all-time 3-point goals list with his 50th career trifecta on April 7 at Milwaukee; Bowers is tied with former indoor great Franklin McIntosh
QUOTE CORNER
"I am very happy and humbled by my experiences with this team...this game just shows how much willingness as a team we have to win."
- Milwaukee midfielder Johnny Torres after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during the Wave's 12-10 victory vs. Philadelphia on April 5
"Bottom line, we're in the playoffs...we've fought through a lot and are still fighting through a lot...we've had a ton of injuries and a lot of bounces that didn't go our way, and a lot of the team could have folded easily, but we didn't...hopefully, we're on a good groove right now and we can keep it going."
- Baltimore forward Lee Tschantret after the Blast's 18-6 victory over Harrisburg on April 6
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from April 8, 2002
- Wave continue to roll at home - OSC Original by MISL Press Release
- Heat Weekly - Harrisburg Heat
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
