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MASL Milwaukee Wave

Wave Crashes over the Florida Tropics in Friday Night Thriller

January 21, 2023 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Milwaukee Wave News Release


In back-to-back games, the seven-time champion Milwaukee Wave faced the Florida Tropics. In their last meeting, Sunday in Florida, the Wave washed out the Tropics 6-4 and intended to extend their winning streak Friday at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Final Score: Milwaukee Wave 6, Florida Tropics 5

Between the Wave and the Tropics, possession was evenly split down the middle. With three minutes left in the quarter, Derek Huffman sunk in a goal behind the Tropics keeper. Ian Bennett marked his 38th consecutive scoring game, marking the end of the first quarter 2-0, Wave. Milwaukee goalkeeper William Banahene, a.k.a. as 'Willy The Wall', came to play with three back-to-back saves protecting the Wave lead. Daniel Mattos, one of the Wave 'Players to Watch' scored Milwaukee's third goal of the night. Taking advantage of a breakaway, Azcueta chipped the keeper bringing the score to 4-1, Wave. Maintaining high hopes and intensity, the Wave ended the half in a 4-5, Tropics.

At halftime, Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero said, "We knew this wasn't going to be an easy game. We just need to regroup and come back in the second half." The Tropics did not want a repeat of last Sunday's game, but the Wave continued to fight for the win into the second half.

After the third-quarter confusion of penalty cards and challenge flags, the Milwaukee Wave was in the power play and took majority possession to show off their handles. Marcio Leite tied the Wave back up 5-5 mid-quarter. Maintaining the tie, the Wave found themselves in a Double Power Play. Coming down to the last minutes, Ian Bennett scored the goal the Wave needed. The Tropics knocked in a buzzer-beater goal, but after a review, was deemed to be a second too late, ending the game with a notorious Wave 6-5 win.

"I was pretty confident the refs would get it right," said Coach Giuliano Oliviero on the Tropics last second attempt, "We heard the buzzer go as the ball came off the glass, I felt very confident they were going to turn that goal around and they did.".

Ian Bennett, PCI's Hardest Working Player of the Game, grinned as he reflected on tonight's game. "It came down to the wire, as you could see, but we pulled it out, man."

Claiming to be Bennett's "understudy", Banahene also led the team to success with more saves than you could count on your fingers. "I'm here to do what I do, making saves and getting the result. It was a good team win.".

Coach Oliviero's parting words were, "If you can win, and not be at your best, we'll take that. This league is result-oriented, and we got what we wanted."

The Wave will face the Tropics for a third time this season on Saturday, March 4th at home with a 6:05 CT kickoff.

The next stop of the Wave's tour is tomorrow / Saturday night to face the Kansas City Comets.

They will be kicking off at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Missouri at 6:05 CT.

You can watch the game live and for free on Twitch.

Tickets are available atMilwaukeeWave.comor the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Box Office before kick-off for future home games.

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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from January 21, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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