Sports stats



MASL Milwaukee Wave

Wave Dominate Rival Comets Saturday Night

February 8, 2020 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Milwaukee Wave News Release


After a two week break, the Wave hit the pitch hard in front of a capacity crowd. This was due in no small part to the returning Andre Hayne playing in his first game off the 2019-2020 season. Hayne was ecstatic to be back, saying "I feel at home, this are my brothers, my family." Hayne didn't show much rust either scoring a goal in fourth period, but admitted "it was definitely a different speed (real game vs practice), but I just worked with my teammates and paced out my shifts."

The Wave scored first in the first period with a goal from Max Ferdinand (assisted by Matthew Yang). Ferdinand would also go onto to have three assists. Isaac Pereyra would score the first of two for himself towards the end of the first period which gave them a 2-0 lead. Ian Bennett would score the first his four goals 1 minute into the second period. After an errant kick gave Kansas their first goal, Bennett would respond, giving the Wave a 4-1 halftime lead. Stuart Grable scored for the Wave in the third period (assist by Guilherme Veiga). Pereyra and Ferdinand would also score in the third, the latter off a penalty kick. Luan Oliveira, Bennett (2) and Marcio Leite would score in the fourth, with Leite's goal being a 60-foot booming, cross-court goal.

Rafa Dias was money in net returning from injury saving 12 of 15 shots.

Coach Giuliano Oliviero was very proud of team's defensive efforts, "when you play the way we did, especially against Kansas City, one the team top scoring teams in the league, it gives you a lot confidence heading forward with the season and hopefully towards the playoffs."

The Wave continue their homestand with the second half of a weekend doubleheader taking the Harrisburg Heat (9-5) at 5:07 pm. Join us for our Sunday Funday (enjoy $3 beer, pretzels & popcorn) and our Teacher Appreciation Game. Show your staff ID/badge at the box office and receive a FREE premier ticket to the game!

Milwaukee Wave vs Harrisburg Heat Game Preview (SUNDAY)

The Milwaukee Wave gear up for their first of just two regular season matchups against the Harrisburg Heat and the second half of a weekend doubleheader.

Harrisburg has the opportunity to all but eliminate the Wave's Midwest rival the Kansas City Comets from the playoffs when they battle on February 6, before the two teams each take their shots at the Wave in UW Milwaukee Panther Arena.

The Heat, (at time of writing) have a two game winning streak and a 9-4 record, .5 a game back from the Wave in Eastern Division, (although most of their wins, 6 in total, have come against the winless Rochester Lancers). Their last game before their road trip to the Midwest was an 11-10 win against the Tacoma Stars.

The Wave and Heat are very similar statistically speaking this season with the team's goal differential being plus-37 and plus-36 respectively and their power-play percentages being .552% and .526% respectively. Harrisburg has however been better at scoring goals (99 to the Wave's 84) and in killing penalties (.857% versus Milwaukee's .667%) throughout the season. Both teams are averaging 7.6 goals per game.

Harrisburg has struggled on the road this season, holding a 4-3 record on the road versus a 5-1 home record. Milwaukee has been the direct opposite, holding a 3-2 home record against a 5-1 road record.

The Wave however, have stepped it up at home lately winning their two last games (at time of writing) with a 22-9 total goal count in the Wave's favor across those two games.

Andre Hayne will be playing in just his second game with Wave this season due to visa issues, but he is more than ready to make an impact worthy of the player featured as this year's season ticket holder bobble-head. It may have taken a few more months to take the field than Hayne would have liked, but the tallest player on the Wave (at 6 feet 3 inches), says that "everyone has confidence in me and I am very confident in myself to get back to it." For those seeing Hayne for the first time, he described his playstyle as "being rooted in intensity, trying to create chances up to top for my teammates and myself, basically whatever the team needs."

Coach Giuliano Oliviero echoed Hayne's excitement in his return to play, saying that "everyone knows the value that Hayne brought to the team last season and we're beyond excited to have him back in the lineup." Regarding the match with Harrisburg, Coach Oliviero said that both of the weekend's games (Saturday against Kansas City) and Sunday against Harrisburg "we're treating these like two playoff games and we're looking to take care of business at home."

The Wave take on the Harrisburg Heat starting at 5:07 pm at the UW Milwaukee Panther Arena. It's also our Teacher Appreciation Game. Show your staff ID/badge at the box office and receive a FREE premier ticket to the game! Plus it's a Sunday Funday with the Wave! Enjoy $3 beer, pretzels & popcorn!

Check out the Milwaukee Wave Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major Arena Soccer League message board...

Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 8, 2020


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.

OurSports Central