Wave United Blast Indiana, 6-0
August 4, 2003 - A-League (A-League)
Milwaukee Wave United News Release
(Milwaukee, WI) Milwaukee Wave United, the Wave's A-League (outdoor) team tuned up for its upcoming match against the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS) by defeating the Indiana Blast 6-0 Sunday night (8/3) at Uihlein Soccer Park. The win raised Milwaukee's regular season mark to 11-9-0 (33 points) as Coach Art Kramer's team moved back within four points of the Central Division leading Minnesota Thunder (12-6-1, 37 points).
Wave United, which has won five-of-its-last-six overall, is now preparing to face Chicago in a Fourth Round match of the 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to be held at Uihlein this upcoming Wednesday, August 6 at 7:35 PM. Milwaukee advanced to the tournament's "Sweet Sixteen" by virtue of its 4-1 win over the Milwaukee Bavarians on 7/23 at Uihlein while the Fire, like seven other MLS teams, will be making its first appearance in this year's tourney. It's the second straight year that a Milwaukee A-League club will battle Chicago in the round of 16. Last year's Milwaukee side (the Rampage) upended the Fire 1-0 on 7/17/02 at the County Sports Complex to advance to the "Elite Eight" where it fell to the Kansas City Wizards 2-0 on 8/24/02.
Tickets for the Chicago game at $14 (adult general admission) and $10 (under-12 general admission) are on sale at all Wave / Wave United ticket outlets including the Wave / Wave United Office, 1040 N. Water St. in downtown Milwaukee, the Uihlein Soccer Park Ticket Office, all TicketMaster Outlets or through phone charge at 414-276-4545. Group rates discounts for groups of 10 or more are available through the Wave Office. Call the Wave / Wave United Office at 414-224-WAVE (9283) for more information, or visit www.milwaukeewaveunited.com.
Following Wednesday's clash with the Fire, Wave United will return to A-League action when it travels to Calgary, Alberta to take on Team Calgary on Saturday, August 9, 4:05 PM (CDT) at Foothills Stadium. Milwaukee returns home for a pair of games against the Cincinnati Riverhawks at Uihlein the following week (Wednesday, August 13, 7:35 PM, and Friday, August 15, 7:35 PM).
All games home and away (except for Wednesday's contest) may be heard on 540 AM, WRRD ("The Word"). Air time for each broadcast is 20 minutes prior to kick-off.
Last Week's Recap:
Thu. 7/31 @ Milwaukee Thunder 2, Wave United 0 Attendance: 1,782
The Minnesota Thunder continued its exceptional road play during the 2003 A-League season as it defeated the Milwaukee Wave United 2-0 Thursday night (7/31) at Uihlein Soccer Park. It was Minnesota's second straight 2-0 win at Uihlein Soccer Park following a similar win over Milwaukee in Wave United's opening game on 5/16. The Thunder now lead the season series 3-2-0, with the final meeting set for August 27, 7:35 PM at Uihlein.
Minnesota capitalized on an early injury to Wave United defender Joe Hammes to score the first goal just 12 minutes into the contest. With Hammes out due to an inadvertent elbow that opened up a cut above his right eye, the Thunder scored when Marco Ferruzzi pounced on a header cross from Johnny Torres to nudge one past Milwaukee goalkeeper Jim Larkin at the right post. Hammes was out for nearly nine minutes while the Wave United medical staff repaired the wound.
Minnesota continued to carry the play until midway through the first half when Milwaukee started to create some chances. The best came in the 30th minute when Nick Walls sent Greg Howes through on the right side of the box, but Howes' shot from 12 yards out was just above the goal. That would be the theme of the night for Wave United as it launched 19 shots at goalkeeper Joe Warren but forced him to make just four saves.
Wave United continued to pressure the Thunder throughout the second half and appeared to have its best chance when substitute midfielder John Ball was taken down in the box by defender Mark Schulte. However, no penalty was awarded and Milwaukee did not get an equalizing chance from the spot.
The Thunder put a dagger into Wave United's efforts in the 80th minute when Schulte scored an unassisted goal from the top of the penalty area. The play developed after a controversial foul called against Milwaukee that resulted in a free kick for Minnesota from the top of the area. Johnny Torres' direct kick was blocked by the defensive wall, but the rebound came right back to Schulte, who blasted a low shot through a maze of bodies that left no chance for Milwaukee goalkeeper Jim Larkin to make a save.
Sun. 8/3 @ Milwaukee Wave United 6, Blast 0 Attendance: 1,592
A rainy night at Uihlein Soccer Park did not dampen the spirits of Milwaukee Wave United as the Wave's A-League (outdoor) team rung up a season-high six goals in defeating the Indiana Blast 6-0. The victory improved Milwaukee's regular season record to 11-9-0 (33 points) while the Blast fell to 3-18-2 (11 points) The win also brings Wave United within four points of the Central Division leading Minnesota Thunder (12-6-1, 37 points) while increasing Milwaukee's lead to six points over El Paso (8-12-3, 27 points) and Cincinnati (9-14-0, 27 points) in the race for the division's final playoff spot.
Forward Todd Dusosky opened the scoring just 44 seconds into the match when he received a pass from Josh Timbers and maneuvered past a defender to score from 10 yards out against goalkeeper Matt Reiswerg. It was the fastest goal ever recorded by a Milwaukee A-League side.
The teams battled somewhat evenly for the next 20 minutes when Indiana's Ben Higginbotham was red-carded for a late hit on Matt Schmidt in the 21st minute. From that point on, Wave United dominated the match against the short-handed Blast.
Greg Howes scored in the 38th minute off a cross to the far post from Josh Timbers to make it 2-0. Following the Indiana kick-off, Milwaukee came right back to score again when Howes set up Dino Delevski from the right wing to the top of the penalty area to put Wave United on top 3-0.
Milwaukee scored again in the 69th when Digital Takawira converted a penalty kick against second half goalkeeper Armando Femia after he was taken down in the box by Indiana defender Jeff Samples. Delevski made it 5-0 when he scored his second of the night just inside the box off a touch from Takawira.
Takawira closed out the scoring with an unassisted goal in second half stoppage time after a turnover by the Blast in its defensive end. All told, Milwaukee out-shot Indiana 27-8.
Jeff Richey picked up the win for Milwaukee to improve to 4-0-0 this season, and 6-0-0 for his two-year A-League career. Richey was forced to make just one save, a 60th minute blast by Indiana's Mali Walton from 20 yards out, to preserve his second shutout of the season (the eighth for Wave United).
Milwaukee now leads the season series 2-1-0, with the two teams slated to meet in the regular season finale Sunday, August 31 at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis.
Notes: *Goalkeeper Jeff Richey is 4-0-0 in four starts this season, and 6-0-0 in six career starts. He has two shutouts this year and four for his career. In 571 career minutes he has surrendered just three goals (0.47 GAA).
*Goalkeeper Jim Larkin has six shutouts so far this season which is third on Milwaukee's all-time A-League shutout list. The single season record for Milwaukee A-League goalkeeper shutouts is eight set last season by current LA Galaxy goalkeeper Dan Popik.
*Forward Todd Dusosky scored the fastest goal in Milwaukee A-League history when he found the back of the net just 44 seconds into the match on 8/3 v. Ind. He is currently tied for the Wave United team scoring lead with Dino Delevski. Both players have eight goals and five assists for 21 points.
*Milwaukee is 6-0-0 when Todd Dusosky scores. Todd also has six game-winning goals.
*Forward Greg Howes has scored at least one goal in five of his last six outings, including the 7/23 Open Cup match against the Bavarians.
Midfielder Dino Delevski has had two multi-goal games so far this season: 6/8 v. Por, (two goals) 8/3 v. Ind (two goals).
*Forward Digital Takawira's two goals on 8/3 v. Ind were his first two A-League tallies this season. He is Milwaukee's all-time A-League goal scoring leader with 40. Takawira still ranks third on the Kansas City Wizards (MLS) all-time list with 28 goals from 1996-99.
*Midfielder Steve Bernal was forced to leave the 7/23 match v. the Bavarians with a left knee injury sustained in the 78th minute. He has not played since.
*Wave United's 3-2 win @ Cin on 7/19 was the 100th regular season victory in Milwaukee A-League History (1997-Present)
*Wave United has been awarded just two penalty kicks so far this season, both resulting in successful conversions (Dino Delevski, 7/18 @ Ind and Digital Takawira 8/3 v. Ind). Milwaukee has yielded just one PK attempt, an unsuccessful try by Minnesota's Johnny Torres in the season opener (5/16).
*Rookie defender Joe Hammes (Cedarburg, WI / St. Louis U.), who did not play in the season opener v. Min on 5/16, has played every minute of every game (1713 minutes) since. He tops the club in minutes played followed by Matt Schmidt (1686) and Troy Dusosky (1667).
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A-League Stories from August 4, 2003
- Last Chance to be on TV in '03 - Indiana Blast
- Wave United Blast Indiana, 6-0 - Milwaukee Wave United
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