Wave United Ready to Face Cincinnati
August 13, 2003 - A-League (A-League)
Milwaukee Wave United News Release
Wave United Update: Milwaukee enters tonight's contest looking for its third straight A-League victory, and its sixth league win in the last seven outings. Since July 19, when Wave United defeated the Riverhawks 3-2 @ Cin, Coach Art Kramer's team has lost just once in A-League play, a 2-0 setback to the Minnesota Thunder on 7/31 at Uihlein Soccer Park. Wave United is coming off a 2-1 win at Calgary this past Saturday. Prior to that, Milwaukee suffered a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS) on 8/6 here at Uihlein.
Tonight's match-up with the Riverhawks is the first of two against Cincinnati this week at Uihlein. The two clubs will also do battle this upcoming Friday, August 15 at 7:35 PM. Friday is Froedtert "Family Four Pack Night" with packages that include four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for just $25. Ticket packages must be ordered in advance through the Wave / Wave United Office at 414-224-WAVE.
Wave United Playoff Status: Milwaukee needs just six points (three for a win, one for a tie) in its remaining seven games to assure itself of a playoff spot, which go to the top two teams in each of the A-League's four divisions. A Wave United victory over the Riverhawks (tonight or Friday) will eliminate Cincinnati from post-season consideration; an El Paso loss tomorrow or Saturday at Minnesota will eliminate the Patriots if Wave United wins at least one-of-two against the Riverhawks.
Wave U. in Back-to-Backs: This is Wave United's fourth and final set of back-to-back matches v. the same opponent in 2003.
Walls Named to A-League Team of the Week: Midfielder Nick Walls was named to the A-League Team of the Week for Week 17 (August 4-10). The rookie from Wauwatosa, WI (East H.S.) and St. Louis University scored both of Milwaukee's goals in Wave United's 2-1 win at Calgary on 8/9. It's the first time that Walls has been honored this season, and the 13th time a Milwaukee player has been selected.
Notes: *Goalkeeper Jeff Richey is 5-0-0 in five starts this season and 7-0-0 in seven career starts. He has two shutouts this year and four for his career. In 661 career minutes he has surrendered just four goals (0.54 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 leads Wave United in scoring with 23 points (eight goals, seven assists) followed by Dino Delevski (21 points) and Greg Howes (19 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 six of his last eight outings, including the U.S. Open Cup matches against the Bavarians (7/23) and the Chicago Fire (8/6).
Midfielder Dino Delevski has had two multi-goal games so far this season: 6/8 v. Por (two goals) and 8/3 v. Ind (two goals). Other multi-goal scorers include Todd Dusosky (three v. Ind on 6/29), Greg Howes (two v. Bavarians on 7/23 and EP on 7/27), Digital Takawira (two v. Ind on 8/3), and Nick Walls (two @ Cal on 8/9).
*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 since (1803 minutes). He tops the club in minutes played followed by Matt Schmidt (1776) and Troy Dusosky (1757).
Last Outing:
Sat. 8/9 @ Calgary Wave United 2, Team Calgary 1 Attendance: 400
Rookie forward / midfielder Nick Walls broke a 1-1 tie with his second goal of the contest in the 71st minute to spark Wave United to a 2-1 victory over Team Calgary. Walls opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he ran onto a pass from Todd Dusosky and blasted a shot past Calgary goalkeeper David Wiebenga. Calgary answered just four minutes later when Nicky Reyes scored on a header from six yards out off a right wing cross from Sean Fraser. The winning goal play began with a midfield throw-in from Wave United defender Chris Morman, who found Dusosky behind the Calgary defense. Todd then headed the ball to Walls, who converted from 10 yards out on the right side of the box. Milwaukee goalkeeper Jeff Richey earned his fifth consecutive win (his seventh straight since his career began last season) by stopping five of six shots, including brilliant saves against Fraser (25th minute) and Reyes (82nd minute).
Riverhawks Update: Cincinnati enters tonight's contest hoping to break a two-game losing streak which includes a 1-0 loss on 8/9 v. Min. Prior to that, the Riverhawks were trounced 5-0 on 8/1 @ Van. Cincinnati has dropped six-of-its-last seven, with its only triumph a 2-0 win on 7/31 @ Cal. Coach Nicola Ranieri's team, which has utilized 33 different players so far this season, is led offensively by midfielder Allen Eller who has six goals and three assists for 15 points. Now in its sixth A-League season, Cincinnati is still looking for its first-ever post-season bid. (The Riverhawks have never had a winning season as a professional team.) However, a loss to Wave United in either of this week's confrontations will once again exclude the Riverhawks from playoff competition.
Last Outing v. Riverhawks:
Sat 7/19 @ Cincinnati Wave United 3, Riverhawks 2 Attendance: 407
Wave United outlasted the Riverhawks 3-2 in a game that featured numerous breakaways and high quality scoring chances for both clubs. Rookie forward Nick Walls provided the game-winner in the 79th minute as he scored on Cincinnati goalkeeper Matt Reid after receiving a beautiful pass down the middle from Dino Delevski. Wave United goalkeeper Jeff Richey, who making just his second start in 2003, preserved the win with a sensational stop on Riverhawks forward Jason Cole in the 88th minute when he robbed Cole from 10 yards out. Although Richey remains undefeated for his two-year career he did have his regular season scoreless minutes streak broken (313 minutes from the start of his career) when Cincinnati's Juan Sastoque scored in the 12th minute. Sastoque's goal had leveled the score following Greg Howes' tally in the 9th minute that had initially put Milwaukee in front. The teams traded another pair of goals before Walls' game-winner, the first goal of his professional career.
Tickets: All Wave United home games are played at Uihlein Soccer Park, 7101 W. Good Hope Rd. on Milwaukee's northwest side. General Admission tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for kids under 12. Reserved seating at Uihlein Soccer Park is limited to season ticket holders â call the Wave / Wave United Office at 414-224-WAVE (9283) for more information. Tickets for all Wave United home games are available at the Wave / Wave United Office, 1040 N. Water St. in downtown Milwaukee, the Uihlein Soccer Park Ticket Office, all TicketMaster outlets, and through phone charge at 414-276-4545. Groups of 10 or more should contact the Wave / Wave United Group Sales Dept. at 414-224-WAVE for group rate discounts.
Wave Camps: The 2003 Milwaukee Wave / Wave United Summer Soccer Camp program continues with 58 sessions in 34 locations throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. Call the Wave Office at 414-224-WAVE for a camp brochure and registration form, or register on-line at www.milwaukeewave.com.
Wave MISL (indoor) Season Set to Begin October 11 / Home Opener at U.S. Cellular Arena October 18: The Wave will begin its 20th season (its third in the Major Indoor Soccer League) October 11 against the San Diego Sockers at San Diego. Milwaukee returns for its home opener October 18 v. the Baltimore Blast. All Wave home games will be played at the U.S. Cellular Arena at the corner of 4th St. and Kilbourn Ave. in downtown Milwaukee. Call the Wave / Wave United Office at 414-224-WAVE for more information, or visit www.milwaukeewave.com.
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