MISL 2 Milwaukee Wave

Wave Midseason Report

Published on January 22, 2008 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Milwaukee Wave News Release


MILWAUKEE (Jan. 22, 2008) -- A renewed commitment to defense, rookies who produce like veterans and a two-time MVP playing like he wants a third have the Milwaukee Wave in a familiar spot as the MISL season begins the second half.

Milwaukee is 11-5, a half-game behind the Detroit Ignition (11-4) for first place. It's tight at the top, with the Chicago Storm and New Jersey Ironmen each another half-game back at 10-5.

"I'm pleased with where we are at 11-5, but this is crunch time, and time when the true players come through," said Wave Head Coach Keith Tozer.

In the first half, defense has been a hallmark. A year after allowing at least 10 points in 20 of 30 regular season games, the Wave have done that just seven times in their first 16 outings this year. Their defensive average has dropped from 12.0 to 9.6 points per game, and the record reflects that improvement.

Restart situations, so important in indoor soccer, have kept the defense from being even better. The Wave have allowed a league-high seven restart goals, far below their normal standards. Tozer said the remedy has many steps.

"First comes scouting," he said. "Then comes identifying who the main shooters are on the field. Then it's organizing you who have. It's about being fearless and blocking a shot. Then it's about defending the second-pass shot."

Improvement will come with experience, as the Wave rely heavily on no less than five rookies. Yet the group plays at times with the composure and production of veterans. Deco (19 points), Warren Ukah (18 points), Joe Di Buono (15 points) and Jonathan Santos (10 points) all are new to the MISL, and their points have helped offset the season-long absence of target forward Todd Dusosky. Adam West has stepped into the defensive rotation, and could be relied on more as Troy Dusosky recovers from minor knee surgery this week.

"Whenever you have a lot of players playing indoor for the first time, it takes a year or two or three to really get it," Tozer said. "But a lot of these guys took to this game right away."

Tozer said their overall skill, athleticism and attitude helped offset their inexperience and made them big contributors right away.

Another youngster, second-year man midfielder Marcio Leite, is sixth in the league with 39 points, but it's veteran Greg Howes who is threatening to run away with his fourth league scoring championship in five years. Howes has two 3-pointers, 26 2-pointers and 11 assists for 69 points, 17 more than his nearest pursuer. Howes has separated himself with 10 goals and two assists in his last three games.

Howes is known for pouring it on in the second half of the indoor season, once he completes his adjustment from the summer outdoor season. The difference this season is that Howes was already near the scoring leaders before going on his tear.

"If he gets on the board early, it seems he has good games after that," Tozer said. "That's what he's been doing."

He's also leading the league in power play goals (eight) and restart goals (six).

The Wave play eight of their last 13 games at home, starting with Sunday's 2 p.m. game against Chicago at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Milwaukee is aiming to hold its spot in the top two in order to earn a bye for the first round of the MISL Championship Series. With the championship at U.S. Cellular Arena this season on April 26, a return to the finals would give the home fans something special.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from January 22, 2008


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