Tuesday, April 24, 2012

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Defender Leo Gibson has been invited to train with Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City this summer. He also trained with SKC last summer. His move to the Comets defensive lineup in 2010 proved to be the spark the team needed to propel them to the playoffs. Building on that, Gibson established himself as a team leader and star player in the MISL in 2011-12 and was voted to the ALL-MISL Second Team.

This summer is anything but quiet for Gibson. In addition to the hard work he will be putting in with one of the premier teams in MLS, he is one of four players heading up the Comets Summer Youth Camp program. On top of all that, he is working hard to secure donations for his new charity, Kick for Christ, that collects sports equipment for people in his native Liberia.

Gibson is scheduled to play in the Sporting KC Reserve League match tonight at 6pm at the Sporting KC Training Center in Swope Park, 6310 Lewis Road Kansas City, MO.

HEAD COACH RECRUITING IN DENMARK

Missouri Comets head coach Kim Roentved is heading up an international scouting trip in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 21-day venture (April 22nd -May 13th) will feature recruiting visits with:

• Danish SuperLiga Club FC Copenhagen
• Danish 1st Divison Clubs Randers FC (whom he played for)
• AB Copenhagen Danish 2nd Division East Herlev & Hellerup

Roentved, a Danish native, has successfully scouted major league talent from overseas for Sporting KC, and now looks to do the same for the Comets. The 17-time All-Star is just as much of a fan favorite in his native Denmark as he is here. He became the head coach of the Missouri Comets in 2010, but was well-known locally from his playing days with the KC Comets and the Wichita Wings.

The Comets currently have numerous international players including Geison from Sal Caetano, Brazil, Byron Alvarez from Mexico City, Mexico, Bato Radoncic from Berane, Montenegro, Cristiano from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tiguinho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Lucas Rodriguez from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

For more information about the Comets, 2012-13 Season Tickets or Group Outings please call Nick McCabe at 855.522.7362 or email at nmccabe@kcarenasports.com.

Monday, April 23, 2012

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – The Milwaukee Wave’s Jim Lindenberg, Keith Tozer and Larry Sayles all received awards this past weekend. Lindenberg received the 200th Distinguished Alumni Award from UW-Whitewater while Tozer and Sayles were honored by the Wisconsin Soccer Association. Tozer was inducted in the WSA Hall of Fame and Sayles received the Meritorious Service Award.

Lindenberg received the Distinguished Alumni Award from UW-Whitewater which is presented to a graduate of UW-Whitewater who has exhibited distinguished professional personal and career achievement and is recognized for accomplishments in their field.

Tozer was inducted into the Wisconsin Soccer Association’s Hall of Fame for his unprecedented success as a coach. Tozer surpassed the 700 all-time wins this past season. He is by far the most successful soccer coach in North American indoor soccer history. He has received eight “Coach of the Year” awards, won six league titles and recorded 24 winning seasons.

Sayles received the Meritorious Service Award is given by the Wisconsin Soccer Association’s Hall of Fame Committee to an individual who has contributed to the promotion and development of Wisconsin Soccer Association programs over a long period of time.

Milwaukee Wave Season tickets and Milwaukee Wave Summer Soccer Camps are now on sale and available by calling the Wave office at (414) 224-9283. 

Thursday, March 29, 2012

CHICAGO – The U.S. Futsal National Team will meet for a domestic training camp from April 1-7 in Torrance, Calif., in preparation for the 2012 CONCACAF Futsal Championship.

Guatemala will host the tournament from July 2-8 in which the U.S. will attempt to qualify for the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand.

Head coach Keith Tozer has named 18 players to his roster, including two players from his Milwaukee Wave team, Nicolas Perera and Matthew Stewart. Tozer was recently named Major Indoor Soccer League Coach of the Year as the Wave won the 2012 MISL Championship for the second straight year.

In all 12 of the 18 players called into camp competed in the recently completed the MISL season, with all seven teams represented, including former league MVP Byron Alvarez of the Missouri Comets, All-League selection Machel Millwood of the Baltimore Blast and Rookie of the Year candidate Kevin Ten Eyck of the Wichita Wings.

The roster features nine players who competed in the Grand Prix of Futsal in Manaus, Brazil, last October. Kraig Chiles, Jeff Hughes, Lucas Stauffer and Stewart all notched goals in the invitational tournament.

The U.S. has won the CONCACAF championship twice, in 1996 and 2004. In 2008, the USA reached the Futsal World Cup but failed to advance out of the group stage. Tozer will continue to hold camps until qualifying begins.

U.S. Futsal National Team Roster by Position 

GOALKEEPERS (2): Ryan Oster (Torrance, Calif.), Daniel Waltman (Gig Harbor, Wash./Missouri Comets)

DEFENDERS (4): Patrick Healey (Nottingham, Md./Baltimore Blast), Ljubomir Kocic (Metairie, La./Rochester Lancers), Kevin Ten Eyck (Wichita, Kan./Wichita Wings), Nelson Torres (Santa Clara, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Kraig Chiles (San Diego, Calif.), Matt Clare (Brandon, Fla./Norfolk SharX), Jeff Hughes (Independence, Ky./Syracuse Silver Knights), Casey Macias (Irvine, Calif.), Angel Rivillo (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Wichita Wings), Alex Robles (Lynwood, Calif.), Lucas Stauffer (Faribault, Minn.), Matthew Stewart (Chicago, Ill./Milwaukee Wave)

FORWARDS (4): Byron Alvarez (Kansas City, Mo./Missouri Comets), Machel Millwood (Laurel, Md./Baltimore Blast), Nicolas Perera (San Marcos, Calif./Milwaukee Wave), Bato Radoncic (Chicago, Ill./Missouri Comets)

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League Board of Governors has voted to increase each team’s number of regular season games from 24 to 26, beginning with the 2012-13 season. Each MISL club will host 13 home games, with the 2012-13 season set to start on Friday, November 2, 2012 and conclude on Sunday, March 3, 2013.

The change adds two games for each team without increasing the length of the regular season, providing even more chances for fans to cheer on their teams in 2012-13.

A total of 336,000 fans attended MISL regular season games in 2011-12, an increase of nearly 140,000 from the previous season, while another 31,000 attended the six games in the MISL Playoffs. Those numbers will only increase in 2012-13 as the MISL gains momentum and expands to new markets.

“The Governors felt an extra home date for each team would add to the competition for playoff spots and help build the league’s fan base,” MISL Senior Director Chris Economides said. “Fewer teams will have to endure long breaks between games, which definitely helps keep fans engaged.”

The Milwaukee Wave captured the 2012 MISL Championship with a 2-0 series win against the Baltimore Blast. The championship was the Wave’s second in a row and sixth overall in the club’s history, with Marcio Leite earning the series’ Most Valuable Player award after scoring five goals in the two games. More than 11,000 people attended the MISL Championship Series’ games in Baltimore and Milwaukee, a number the league intends to build upon in upcoming seasons.

The 2012-13 MISL schedule and playoff format will be announced at a later date.
 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – Joe Hammes scored off a restart 46 seconds into overtime to give the Milwaukee Wave a 12-10 overtime victory and the 2012 MISL Championship with a 2-0 series victory against the Baltimore Blast on Sunday evening at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. The championship was the Wave’s second in a row, and sixth overall in the club’s history, with Marcio Leite earning the series’ Most Valuable Player award after scoring five goals in the two games.

The Wave’s opportunity came after Blast forward Machel Millwood played a ball over the boards while trying to clear from his own end. After taking timeout to set up a play, Marco Terminesi swooped in from the right side to play the ball to Hammes on the left, and his first time, right-footed shot curled into the right corner of the net, sending the crowd of 5,243 into celebration.

“Coming out of the timeout, Marco played me a great ball,” Hammes said. “I shot it hard when I saw the shot and it went in.”

The Wave had claimed victory against the Blast in last season’s championship game as well, taking a 16-7 victory in Baltimore. After winning Friday’s Game 1, 14-2 on the road at 1st Mariner Arena, Wave coach Keith Tozer was thrilled with the perseverance his players showed on Sunday to rally to force overtime and claim victory.

“Each one is different,” he said of the club’s six titles. “I am extremely proud of the organization, coaches and players. Winning back-to-back championships in this great league, when you know you are being hunted all season, is special.

“We had a tough run at the end of the season, but I am so proud of the players and how they persevered and played in the championship.”

For the Blast, falling at the final hurdle for the second consecutive season was tough, but after working through the turnover in his squad from last year’s side, Coach Danny Kelly was pleased with the season as a whole.

“Although we didn’t win, we had a good year,” Kelly said. “With new players it was a process in the beginning. Starting the season with three losses and ending up in the championship game makes me extremely proud of the players and the organization.”

The Blast had taken control early in Sunday’s game, earning a 4-0 lead within the first 2 minutes, 44 seconds as first Ptah Myers drilled a rebound off the end boards into the roof of the net and then Millwood stripped a defender and fired between Wave goalkeeper Marcel Feenstra’s legs from the right side. The game was a physical one, with Leite and Pat Healey being sent to the penalty box for coincidental minors after a coming-together in the Blast end, and before those penalties expired Baltimore’s Scott Buete was also sent to the box, giving the Wave a 4-on-3 power play.

The Wave weren’t able to capitalize there, but after Leite and Healey left the box Fabio Ribeiro did cash in on the 5-on-4 advantage, driving Giuliano Oliviero’s restart low into the left corner of the net with 4:02 to play in the quarter. The Wave were then set to get a second power play after Baltimore’s Stephen DeRoux was called for a trip, but after an ensuing scuffle Hammes joined him in the penalty box.

Having received a break from Hammes’ penalty, the Blast scored again early in the second quarter as Warren Ukah’s low cross from the left was met by Ricardinho for a 6-2 lead 1:10 in. Feenstra then made a big save to deny Shaun David to keep the Blast’s lead at four at the halftime break.

The overriding physicality was the theme for the first half, though, with DeRoux picking up his second penalty late in the second. The Wave weren’t able to capitalize on the advantage, which carried over into the third quarter, but they were able to strike soon after the penalty ended as Josh Rife scored from close range from Oliviero’s second assist 1:13 into the third. Oliviero then almost tied the game with just under seven minutes to play, his low shot coming back off the left post, but shortly after Leite made it 6-6 on a volley from close range off Terminesi’s restart.

For Leite, who missed substantial portions of the 2008-09 season and 2009-10 season through injury before returning last season to finish with 31 points in 15 games, taking MVP honors was the culmination of a long road of recovery.

“Missing two seasons due to my injuries makes this all the more special,” Leite said. “Having the opportunity to play for such a great organization with a fantastic group of guys that support each other is great.”

The Wave then took their first lead of the game with 31 seconds to play in the third through Ian Bennett, whose tight-angle shot into the roof of the net caught out Baltimore goalkeeper Sagu and put Milwaukee 15 minutes from the championship.

But the Blast would rally quickly to regain the lead early in the fourth quarter, Ricardinho scoring his second goal of the night and third goal of the series to tie the game. The Brazilian was then brought down by Milwaukee’s JP Rodrigues in the penalty area, allowing Millwood to score his second from the penalty spot to make it 10-8 with 12:15 to play.

Ricardinho then went from potential hero to villain, taking a penalty that allowed the Wave to tie the game on the ensuing power play with Leite’s fifth goal of the series. Baltimore had the best chance to win the game in regulation, but Adauto Neto’s shot was cleared off the Wave’s goal line with less than two minutes to play, sending the game to overtime, and Hammes’ heroics. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

BALTIMORE – Marcio Leite had a hat trick as the Milwaukee Wave defeated the Baltimore Blast 14-2 in Game 1 of the MISL Championship Series on Friday night at 1st Mariner Arena. Game 2 of the series is set to be held on Sunday at 3:10 p.m. CT at Milwaukee’s U.S. Cellular Arena, with the Wave having the opportunity to claim their second consecutive championship, and sixth in the club’s history.

Leite, who was a finalist for the MISL Most Valuable Player award, had a pair of goals in the second quarter before completing his hat trick midway through the third. He was backed by an outstanding defensive performance by the Wave, who finished with 22 blocked shots, while goalkeeper Marcel Feenstra had 11 saves. Joe Hammes led all players with five blocked shots, while Evan McNeley added four.

“We’re a team that can play a lot of different styles, depending on the opponent we play,” Wave coach Keith Tozer said. “Tonight we capitalized on our opportunities, whether it was pressing or dropping back. Gameplans change throughout the game, and we used a couple of different systems, so we’re going to go and look at the tape tonight and tomorrow and figure out another one for Sunday.”

The Blast held the majority of the possession to open the game, but the Wave were dangerous throughout on the counterattack, springing out of their tight defensive formation that left little room for the Blast to find a way through. Marco Terminesi almost gave the Wave the lead on one of those counters, breaking in behind the Blast defense before shooting wide, but Nicolas Perera broke the deadlock on a blistering shot from just beyond the right corner of the 3-point arc into the bottom left corner of the net.

Terminesi went close again early in the second quarter, hitting the crossbar on a well-worked move, and the Blast hit back as Ricardinho scored off a good pass from Machel Millwood to make it 3-2. But that would be the Blast’s only goal of the night, and the Wave restored their advantage on another counterattack as Leite scored his first from the right side with 4:51 to play in the half. Leite then added another off a restart with just less than two minutes to play in the half, giving the Wave a 7-2 advantage at the break.

The Wave, who blocked 10 of the Blast’s 17 first-half shots, continued to frustrate Baltimore offensively in the second half. And even when the Blast found a way through, Feenstra was on hand to save, denying Shaun David from close range with just over five minutes gone in the third quarter to maintain the five-point lead.

“I think you’ve got to throw yourself in front of shots,” Tozer said of his defense’s performance. “It’s no different to boxing out in basketball or defenders clearing guys out of the crease in hockey. It’s just comes down to, ‘pain is temporary, pride is forever,’ we talked about that.”

The Wave weren’t having the same struggles at the other end of the field, with Leite completing his hat trick, again on a low shot to the left corner, and Jonathan Greenfield adding a goal 37 seconds apart to make the score 11-2 at the end of the third quarter. The Wave then remained content to protect their lead throughout the fourth quarter, with Josh Rife capping the performance with 2:03 to play as he scored a 3-pointer into an empty net from his own half.

“If we finish our chances, it’s a different game, but you must maintain your focus and your discipline no matter what’s going on,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “I think as the game wore on we started playing the score instead of the game, and we started doing things we know we’re not supposed to do. Shooting when there are five guys behind the ball, not moving off the ball, we stopped doing the things that got us 20 wins this year.”

The Blast won the season series between the two teams 2-1, but now face a big challenge to take the series to a Game 3 mini-game with a victory in Game 2 at U.S. Cellular Arena, where the Wave suffered only two defeats all season. Game 2 of the MISL Championship Series can be seen on MISL Live (www.misllivesoccer.com) on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

The 2012 MISL Championship Series

Baltimore Blast vs. Milwaukee Wave

Game 1 - Friday, March 16, 1st Mariner Arena, 7:35 p.m. ET
Game 2 - Sunday, March 18, U.S. Cellular Arena, 3:10 p.m. CT

The Details:

Blast: 18-6, Eastern Division Regular Season Champions
Swept the Rochester Lancers to advance

Wave: 16-6, Central Division Regular Season Champions
Swept the Missouri Comets to advance

BALTIMORE -- The 2011-12 season marks the 20th anniversary of the rivalry between the Baltimore Blast and Milwaukee Wave, the most storied rivalry in the MISL, which dates back to the 1992-93 season. The teams have squared off 76 times in the regular season and 14 times in the postseason and the rivalry has intensified with every game, every goal and every victory. From the start of the 2011-12 season, both teams have been gearing up for the chance to meet in the MISL Championship Series. For both teams, it is a continuation of their rivalry, and for the Blast, a chance to avenge last season's Championship Game loss to the Wave.

The Wave lead the all-time regular-season series 46-30 and the Blast hold the postseason edge, 9-4. Since the 2002-03 season, the road to the Championship has gone through the Blast and Wave five times and the teams have combined to win 10 of the last 14 league championships (each team has five titles in that time period). 2012 is be Baltimore’s fifth consecutive postseason appearance and the club's 16th trip to the playoffs in 20 years.

The Blast and Wave, similar in their winning ways, led the MISL in goals for and goals against during the regular season with the Wave scoring the most goals (169) and the Blast allowing the fewest (108). The Blast was second with 165 goals and the Wave allowed the second-fewest goals throughout the season (123).

Max Ferdinand, a First-Team All-MISL selection and the MISL Assists award winner, led the Blast with 72 points. Machel Millwood, a Second-Team All-MISL selection, followed with 71 points as did Adauto Neto (49) and Carlos Garcia (48). In goal, Sagu went 15-5 in the regular season and 2-0 in the Eastern Division Finals victory against the Rochester Lancers en route to his second consecutive MISL Goalkeeper of the Year honor.

The Blast also featured eight new players, five of whom were new to the indoor game. Veterans Ricardinho (five goals, five assists), Ptah Myers (four goals, three assists) and Shaun David (10 goals, seven assists) joined the Blast this season after spending previous years with a variety of other squads. Rookies Stephen DeRoux (an All-Rookie selection with 10 goals and one assist), J.T. Noone (14 goals, three assists), and Mike Deasel (14 points, five blocks) all made their way into the lineup and made an immediate impact on the team.

The Wave, like the Blast, went 18-6 overall in the regular season (8-4 on the road), finishing the regular season atop the Central Division. The team was led by veteran Greg Howes who recorded 61 regular season points and tied to rank seventh in the MISL in scoring. Marcio Leite and Ian Bennett followed with 55 points and 54 points, respectively. Goalkeepers Marcel Feenstra and Nick Vorberg split time manning the Wave net, with Feenstra earning an 11-2 record and Vorberg going 7-3.

Marco Terminesi led the Wave with eight points (four per game) in their Central Division Finals victory against the Missouri Comets, and Giuliano Oliviero, Hewerton Moreira and Even McNeley each recorded six points. Feenstra earned the win in goal for both games but Howes missed the series with a back injury.

If the Blast and Wave each win a game in the series, they will play a 15-minute mini game to decide the 2012 MISL Champion.

Broadcast Information

Both games of the MISL Championship Series will be available via live webcast at www.MISLlivesoccer.com. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. -- The Milwaukee Wave and Baltimore Blast have been on a collision course for a rematch of last season’s title bout throughout the 2011-12 MISL season. Now the teams that tied for the top regular season record at 18-6 now will battle again for the MISL Championship.

The Blast will have only one thing on their minds and that is revenge. Last season the Wave took down the Blast in Baltimore to claim the 2011 MISL Championship. The Wave jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in that contest, only to have Baltimore tie it up in a minute and a half. But then Giuliano Oliviero drilled a 3-pointer before halftime, giving Milwaukee a lead it wouldn’t relinquish and igniting a 10-0 run that all but clinched the crown. Baltimore now has a chance to pay back the Wave for the championship it celebrated on the Blast's home field.

The teams share a long history, dating back to the 1992-93 season when the teams played each other for the first time with the Wave leading the all-time regular season series. The teams have combined to win 10 of the last 14 league championships with both teams having claimed five championships.

Baltimore took down Rochester in two games in the MISL Eastern Division Finals, outscoring the Lancers 22-10. Max Ferdinand leads the Blast in scoring in the postseason, notching 10 points on four goals and two assists, while Pat Healey has poured in six points as well. More impressive than the offensive numbers has been the staunch defense. Goalkeeper Sagu has held opponents to only five points per game in the postseason and boasts a .821 save percentage.

Milwaukee defeated Missouri in two games in the MISL Central Division Finals, blowing out the Comets in the opening game and holding on for dear life in the second for a 36-17 cumulative score. No one player has reached double-digit tallies yet for the Wave this postseason, but 12 players have recorded at least one point. That has been Milwaukee’s calling card throughout the season, scoring in bunches behind a balanced attack. Marco Terminesi leads the Wave in the postseason with eight points with three others scoring six. Defensively Milwaukee has been stout in front of Marcel Feenstra. Last year’s playoff MVP has a .758 save percentage in the playoffs and is only allowing 8.5 points per game. He will be backed-up by Ante Cop, an emergency addition to the Wave's roster after Nick Vorberg was placed on Injured Reserve after an injury suffered in training this week.

The first game of the series will take place Friday night at 7:35 p.m. ET in Baltimore with the return leg coming on Sunday at 3:10 p.m. CT in Milwaukee. Should the two teams split those matches a 15 minute mini-game would be played after Game 2 on Sunday evening. The lights are on and the stage is set for what should be another historic chapter in the rivalry between these two clubs.

Tickets are available for Sunday’s Game 2 by calling (414) 224-9283.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League honored its top performers of the season today, announcing the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2011-12 season. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony in Baltimore Maryland, site of tomorrow’s first leg of the 2012 MISL Championship Series featuring the Baltimore Blast and the Milwaukee Wave.

Voting for the awards was conducted by league coaches and managers.

Most Valuable Player – Geison, Missouri Comets
Geison had a career year for the Comets, leading the league with 90 points and 38 goals. He also recorded at least a point in 22 consecutive games to close out the MISL regular season.

Rookie of the Year – Slavisa Ubiparapovic, Syracuse Silver Knights
After bursting onto the scene with a 10-point game in just his second indoor contest, Ubiparipovic remained a focal point for the Silver Knights in their inaugural season. The 24-year-old led all rookies with 61 points, tied for seventh in the league.

Coach of the Year – Keith Tozer, Milwaukee Wave
Keith Tozer and the Milwaukee Wave went from strength to strength this season, earning the legendary coach his 700th career victory. Tozer’s side was strong at both ends of the field, leading the MISL with 169 goals and finishing second with only 123 goals against.

Defender of the Year – Mike Lookingland, Baltimore Blast
Lookingland was the anchor of the stingiest defense in the league, which conceded only 108 goals. Blocking 30 shots and being sent to the penalty box only once all season, Lookingland’s leadership was vital to the Blast’s success.

Goalkeeper of the Year – Sagu, Baltimore Blast
Sagu earned his fourth Goalkeeper of the Year award, and second consecutive, after another remarkable season that saw him lead the league in points-against average and wins and finish second in save percentage.

MISL award winners were selected through a vote by MISL team management and select media members.

Baltimore and Milwaukee will face off in the best-of-three 2012 MISL Championship Series starting this Friday night at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore (7:35 p.m. ET, MISLLive.com), with the second leg set for 4:10 p.m. ET Sunday at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee (MISLLive.com). A deciding mini-game will be played immediately following Game 2 if needed.  

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League honored the top performers from a highly successful 2011-12 regular season today, naming the All-MISL First and Second Teams as well as the All-Rookie Team.

Each of the MISL clubs is represented in the teams, with the Baltimore Blast leading the way with five selections, including three members of the All-MISL First Team. The Milwaukee Wave and Missouri Comets accounted for five of the six All-MISL Second Team slots, while five teams are represented on the All-Rookie Team.

The All-MISL and All-Rookie teams are selected through a vote by MISL team management and select media members.

Baltimore and Milwaukee will face off in the best-of-three 2012 MISL Championship Series starting this Friday night at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore (7:35 p.m. ET, MISLLive.com), with the second leg set for 4:10 p.m. ET Sunday at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee (MISLLive.com). A deciding mini-game will be played immediately following Game 2 if needed.
 

2011-12 All-MISL First Team

GK - Sagu, Baltimore Blast
D - Mike Lookingland, Baltimore Blast
D - Nelson Santana, Syracuse Silver Knights
MF - Max Ferdinand, Baltimore Blast
MF - Geison, Missouri Comets
F - Mauricio Salles, Rochester Lancers

2011-12 All-MISL Second Team

GK - Danny Waltman, Missouri Comets
D - Leo Gibson, Missouri Comets
D - Joe Hammes, Milwaukee Wave
MF - Marcio Leite, Milwaukee Wave
F - Byron Alvarez, Missouri Comets
F - Machel Millwood, Baltimore Blast

2011-12 MISL All-Rookie Team

GK - Eric Reed, Syracuse Silver Knights
D - Stephen DeRoux, Baltimore Blast
D - Gerson Dos Santos, Norfolk SharX
MF - Kevin Ten Eyck, Wichita Wings
F - Slavisa Ubiparapovic, Syracuse Silver Knights
F - Nicolas Perera, Milwaukee Wave
 

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League announced the finalists for its 2011-12 awards honoring the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year from the 2011-12 season.

The winners will be announced at the MISL Championship media luncheon/awards ceremony in Baltimore on Thursday prior to the first leg of the 2011-12 MISL Championship Series. The 2011-12 All-MISL First and Second teams and the MISL All-Rookie Team will be announced on Wednesday.

The Milwaukee Wave, who will face the Baltimore Blast in the MISL Championship Series starting Friday at 7:35 p.m. at 1st Mariner Arena (MISLLive.com), lead the way with a finalist in each of the five categories. The Missouri Comets are next with four nominees, followed by the Blast with three. Votes for the MISL honors are submitted by MISL team management and select media members.

2011-12 MISL Award Finalists

Most Valuable Player
Geison, Missouri Comets
Marcio Leite, Milwaukee Wave
Mauricio Salles, Rochester Lancers

Rookie of the Year
Cory Elenio, Syracuse Silver Knights
Nicolas Perera, Milwaukee Wave
Kevin Ten Eyck, Wichita Wings
Slavisa Ubiparapovic, Syracuse Silver Knights

Goalkeeper of the Year
Marcel Feenstra, Milwaukee Wave
Sagu, Baltimore Blast
Danny Waltman, Missouri Comets

Defender of the Year
Leo Gibson, Missouri Comets
Joe Hammes, Milwaukee Wave
Mike Lookingland, Baltimore Blast
Nelson Santana, Syracuse Silver Knights

Coach of the Year
Danny Kelly, Baltimore Blast
Kim Roentved, Missouri Comets
Keith Tozer, Milwaukee Wave
 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Baltimore Blast advanced to the MISL Championship Series for the second consecutive season, taking a 14-8 victory against the Rochester Lancers in Game 2 of the MISL Eastern Division Finals. Max Ferdinand, Adriano Dos Santos and Pat Healey each finished with five points for the Blast, while the Lancers were led offensively by Andrew Hoxie with four points and Doug Miller with three points.

The Blast would take the lead less than a minute into the game, striking quickly on a counter-attack goal as Dos Santos found Ferdinand in behind the Lancers defense to finish after just 33 seconds. A little over six minutes later the Blast would double their lead when Mike Lookingland found Machel Millwood just off the top of the Lancers' penalty area and Millwood turned and finished.

The Lancers would get on the board less than three minutes later when Doug Miller found a streaking Andrew Hoxie who ripped a shot high past the Baltimore goalkeeper Sagu to make it 4-2 Baltimore after one quarter of play.

Both teams had good chances in the second quarter, but neither team was able to score. The Lancers' best chance game on their first power play when Rey Martinez headed a pass to Lubo, only for Blast goalkeeper Sagu to tip the header onto the post and out, keeping his side ahead 4-2 at the halftime break.

As in the first half, the Blast got a goal from Ferdinand with Dos Santos earning the assist within the first minute of the second. This time it was a scramble in front of the Lancers goal that saw Ferdinand finish, extending the Blast's lead to 6-2. Less than two minutes later Baltimore would score again when Dos Santos had his shot rebound off the end boards with Healey on hand to finish into a wide open Lancers goal to give the Blast a six-point lead.

But the Lancers would rally, Hoxie passing off the end boards to Jeremy Ortiz, who was able to beat Sagu to cut the lead to four. A couple of minutes later, the Lancers would score against. With Garcia in the penalty box Carlos Farias took the restart and fed Doug Miller, who powered it into the top of the goal to cut the Blast's lead to 8-6.

After weathering more Lancers pressure, the Blast grabbed back momentum with less than two minutes left in the third-quarter. Warren Ukah found Healey in the Lancers' penalty area and his diving shot eluded Lancers goalkeeper Patrick Hannigan to give the Blast a 10-6 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

The Blast then extended their lead with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Ferdinand finding Millwood on the back post for an easy tap-in goal off a restart. The Lancers pulled Hannigan in favor of the sixth attacker from there and Dos Santos would score on a breakaway off a nice assist from Healey. The Lancers would answer 13 seconds later when Hoxie found John Ball for an easy tap-in, but that would be the closes the Lancers would get as the Blast advanced.

The Blast will face the Milwaukee Wave in the MISL Championshp Series, with Game 1 scheduled for Friday, March 16 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena. Game 2 will take place on Sunday, March 18 at 4:10 p.m. ET at Milwaukee's U.S. Cellular Arena, with a 15-minute mini-game set to be played following that contest if neccessary.

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – The Milwaukee Wave clinched victory in the MISL Central Division Finals with a 9-7 win against the Missouri Comets on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Arena, bringing them one step closer to their goal of a second consecutive MISL Championship. Marco Terminesi scored twice, giving him four goals for the series, including the game-winning goal in Game 2, his header with 17 seconds to play in the third quarter being made to stand up by the Wave's defense in the final 15 minutes.

After a tight opening to the game, Terminesi opened the scoring with 2:43 to play in the first quarter, netting a goal from the center from an assist by Jonatan Santos. But the Comets’ Cristiano evened the game with a goal off a restart, with 16 seconds to play in the quarter to leave the game tied after 15 minutes.

Joe Hammes gave the Wave the lead once again on a 3-point goal from the top of the arc with 5:55 to play in the second quarter, only to have the Comets’ Byron Alvarez blast a 3-point goal of his own before the end of the half, leaving the game tied 5-5 at the break.

The Comets then took their first lead of the game 18 seconds into the second half, again taking advantage of a restart as Leo Gibson volleyed home to make it 7-5. But the the Wave’s Ian Bennett tied the game midway through the quarter and the Wave didn’t look back. Terminesi scored his second goal of the game by heading in a rebound giving the Wave a 9-7 lead. 

After not making a save in the first half, his teammates blocking nine shots before the break, Wave goalkeeper Marcel Feenstra came up big in the fourth quarter. Aided by 20 blocked shots, Feenstra finished with 10 saves on the night to lead his side back to the MISL Championship Series.

The Wave will have to wait until Monday evening to find out who they will be playing in the MISL Championship Series as the Baltimore Blast and Rochester Lancers play on Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. Baltimore holds the advantage in the series, taking Game 1 by a score of 8-2 on Saturday night.

Tickets for the Wave's game of the MISL Championship Series will be available on Tuesday morning by calling the Wave office at (414) 224-9283.

BALTIMORE -- Led by two goals from leading scorer Max Ferdinand, the Baltimore Blast earned an 8-2 win against the Rochester Lancers in Game 1 of the MISL Eastern Division Finals on Saturday night at 1st Mariner Arena. The Lancers struck first for a 2-0 lead but Sagu and the Blast defense held Rochester scoreless for the rest of the game. When the teams meet again Monday night in Rochester the Lancers will be without their leading scorer Mauricio Salles who was ejected late in the game.

Andrew Hoxie scored at 7:55 of the first quarter for the Lancers' early 2-0 lead that held until Ferdinand's first goal tied the game late in the second quarter.

Blast defender Mike Lookingland broke the tie late in the third quarter for a 4-2 Blast lead and rookie J.T. Noone added a fourth-quarter goal to put the Blast on top 6-2. Ferdinand converted a shootout goal at 6:43 of the final quarter to extend Baltimore's lead to 8-2 following a handball penalty on Lancers goalkeeper Pat Hannigan.

Then with less than three minutes remaining in the game, and Carlos Farias acting as the sixth attacker, Salles was given a blue card for a hard tackle against Pat Healey. Salles went to the penalty box but was subsequently ejected from the game before play resumed.

The Blast took the field without Adauto Neto (hamstring) and Stephen DeRoux (knee) who were injured this week in practice and are questionable for Monday's Game Two. Scott Buete (ankle) was also missing from the lineup due to an injury from the last regular season game in Syracuse.

The Blast ended the 2011-12 MISL regular season with an 18-6 record and a firm hold on the Eastern Division regular season title en route to the upcoming Eastern Division Finals against the Rochester Lancers. The 2012 postseason is the Blast’s fifth-consecutive trip to the playoffs and the 16th trip to the postseason in 20 years.

The Blast and Lancers met four times in the regular season with Baltimore earning four wins, two at home and two on the road, and outscoring Rochester, 49-25. Twelve Blast players scored against the Lancers, including Neto who led the way with five goals and three assists (13 points).

Neto, who recorded a hat trick in Baltimore’s 23-9 win on November 26, was one of four Blast players to record at least one point in all four games against the Lancers ( Ferdinand, Machel Millwood and Lookingland were the others). Hoxie led the Lancers with three goals and one assist (seven points) against Baltimore while Doug Miller and Jeremy Ortiz each recorded four points in the series.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Milwaukee Wave took a 27-10 victory against the Missouri Comets in Game 1 of the MISL Central Division Finals on Friday night at the Independence Events Center, scoring seven unanswered goals after the halftime break to take a commanding victory. After leading 8-7 at the half, the Comets were outscored 20-2 by the Wave in the third and fourth quarters.

“We collapsed. Totally collapsed,” Comets coach Kim Roentved said. “Unfortunately we played probably our worst half of the year. At the end of the day the score didn’t matter much, but I hate that we embarrassed ourselves in front of our home crowd.”

The Comets jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter on two goals by Leo Gibson. Milwaukee answered with back-to-back goals from Marco Terminesi and Joe Hammes early in the second quarter, but the Comets needed just four seconds of a power play to regain the lead on a Bato Radoncic goal with 7:10 to play in the half. Milwaukee grabbed their only lead of the first half on an Evan McNeley 3-pointer but the Comets answered 40 seconds later off a penalty kick goal from Byron Alvarez.

Comets forward John Sosa was whistled for a penalty late in the first half but Milwaukee was unable to score on the power play. The Comets seemed to gain momentum with the penalty kill, going into the halftime locker room with an 8-7 lead.

However, Milwaukee dominated the third quarter, shutting out the Comets while scoring six consecutive goals. Marco Terminesi started the run with a power play goal that rattled around the cage and was initially waved off but counted after an official’s conference, giving the Wave a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Milwaukee extended its run to eight straight goals early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Comets scored late on Radoncic’s second goal of the night, but the Wave got the last word with a JP Rodrigues 3-pointer. McNeley ended the night with two 3-point goals, while Terminesi and Hewerton Moreira each had five points on two goals and an assist.

Game 2 of the MISL Central Division Finals is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. A Comets win would force a 15-minute mini-game that would immediately follow Game 2 to decide the representative in the MISL Championship Series. Comets fans are encouraged to come to the Brewtop Pub and Patio in Lee’s Summit for the official watch party.

For more information about the Comets, Season Tickets or Group Outings please call Nick McCabe at 855.522.7362 or email at nmccabe@kcarenasports.com.

Friday, March 9, 2012

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Blast ended the 2011-12 MISL regular season with an 18-6 record and a firm hold on the Eastern Division regular season title en route to the upcoming Eastern Division Finals against the Rochester Lancers. The 2012 postseason will be the Blast’s fifth-consecutive trip to the playoffs and the 16th trip to the postseason in 20 years.

The Blast and Lancers met four times in the regular season with Baltimore earning four wins, two at home and two on the road, and outscoring Rochester, 49-25. Twelve Blast players scored against the Lancers, including Adauto Neto who led the way with five goals and three assists (13 points). Neto, who recorded a hat trick in Baltimore’s 23-9 win on November 26, was one of four Blast players to record at least one point in all four games against the Lancers; Max Ferdinand, Machel Millwood and Mike Lookingland were the others. Andrew Hoxie led the Lancers with three goals and one assist (seven points) against Baltimore while Doug Miller and Jeremy Ortiz each recorded four points in the series.

Max Ferdinand, who earned the MISL Assists award for leading the league with 25 assists, led the Blast in the regular season with 72 points, followed by Machel Millwood (70 points), Adauto Neto (49) and Carlos Garcia (48). In goal, Sagu went 15-5 on the season and earned the MISL’s points-against average title for his league-leading 9.61 PAA while Akira Fitzgerald went 3-1. The team featured eight new players this year, five of whom were new to the indoor game. Veterans Ricardinho (five goals, five assists), Ptah Myers (four goals, three assists) and Shaun David (10 goals, seven assists) joined the Blast after spending previous years with a variety of other squads.

Rookies J.T. Noone (14 goals, three assists), Stephen DeRoux (10 goals, one assist) and Mike Deasel (14 points, five blocks) all made their way into the lineup and made an immediate impact on the team. Like in seasons past, the Blast had success on both ends of the field, recording the second-most goals of any team (165) and allowing just 108 goals, the fewest allowed by any team this season.

The Lancers went 11-13 overall and 5-7 on the road, finishing the regular season seven games behind the Blast. The team was led by the MISL’s second-leading scorer Mauricio Salles who recorded 81 points. Veteran Doug Miller was second on the team with 66 points, followed by Lubo Kocic’s 49 regular-season points. Rochester's roster was bolstered late in the season by the addition of John Ball who started his indoor career in 1996-97 with the Cleveland Crunch. Ball recorded five points and five blocks in five games. In goal, Patrick Hannigan went 10-10 on the season, allowing 122 goals and a 13.12 points against average. Hannigan was in goal for each of the four regular-season games against the Blast.

Friday, March 9, 2012

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – It’s been two weeks since the Rochester Lancers clinched a playoff spot in their overtime win against the Wichita Wings. The wait for postseason play is almost over as the Lancers face the Baltimore Blast in the MISL’s Eastern Division Finals starting Saturday at 7:35 p.m. in Baltimore and concluding on Monday at 7 p.m. in Rochester.

The Blast took the regular season series over the expansion Lancers, winning all four games between the two teams. But the Blast’s margin of victory decreased with each game played as the Lancers gained experience as the season wore on. Baltimore defeated the Lancers 26-9 on November 26th and then 10-4 on December 3rd in the two regular season games in Rochester. After the calendar turned to 2012, the games between the two teams tightened up. The Blast took an 8-5 victory at home against the Lancers on January 7th and they held on late for an 8-7 home win in the regular season finale between the two teams on January 28th.

The Lancers will be led offensively by the MISL’s second-leading scorer Mauricio Salles, who finished the regular season with 30 total goals and 81 points. He will be aided by team captain and MVP Doug Miller, who finished sixth in league scoring with 25 total goals and 66 points. Goalkeeper Patrick Hannigan, who finished second in the MISL in saves per game, will be counted on to slow down the Blast’s attack. The Lancers will also lean on veterans such as mid-season acquisitions Carlos “Chile” Farias and John Ball as the Lancers prepare for the first playoff action in team history.

The Blast will be led by a pair of players that received MISL regular season honors as Max Ferdinand led the MISL with 25 assists and Sagu led the MISL with a 9.61 points-allowed average. Like the Lancers, the Blast have two players in the top six in league scoring with Ferdinand finishing the season fourth in MISL scoring with 23 total goals and 72 points and Machel Millwood just behind him in fifth place with 26 total goals and 71 points. The Blast also have picked up offense from their defensive corps with captain Mike Lookingland leading the Blast defenders with 12 total goals and 34 points on the season.

The first game of the series will be in Baltimore at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, March 10th. The Lancers will host the second leg at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 12th. If the series is even at 1-1 after the two games, a 15-minute mini-game will be played at the conclusion of Game 2 in Rochester.

Individual game tickets are still available and start at $10 for adults, and children age 12 and under receive free entry for every regular season home game. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Blue Cross Arena box office, at most area Ticketmaster locations including the House of Guitars, the Auditorium Theatre and many Walmart stores, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000 to charge by phone.

Discounted ticket vouchers are available at all area Wegmans locations. Active military members receive a free ticket compliments of SmugtownBeacon.com (Gameday only with valid military ID).

Thursday, March 8, 2012

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Preparations for the 2011-12 Major Indoor Soccer League season began months ago with an eventual title always the goal, but the quest for a ring truly begins on Friday night for the Missouri Comets with the first game of the Central Division Finals at the Independence Events Center. The opponent in the series is none other than last year’s MISL champion the Milwaukee Wave. The winner will advance to play either Baltimore or Rochester in the MISL Championship Series.

This year’s MISL Central Division Finals will begin in Independence with a 7:35 p.m. CT game at the IEC on Friday night. The series moves to Milwaukee for Game 2 on Sunday at 3 p.m. If each team wins one game, a mini-game will immediately follow Game 2 to determine the representative in the MISL Championship Series.

The Comets will try to continue the surge of momentum that saw them claim six victories in their last seven regular season contests. The team posted a 4-1 mark in February as Danny Waltman was named MISL Goalkeeper of the Month.

The only thing separating the Comets from a seven-game winning streak is a one-point loss to Milwaukee in the penultimate game of the regular season. However, the Comets beat the Wave twice down the stretch, a three-point win in Milwaukee and a 21-6 rout in Independence to head into the playoffs. Milwaukee won the first three meetings of the year by narrow margins and took the regular season series four games to two.  

The Wave, in search of the franchise’s sixth championship, are looking to recapture their early season form. After starting the year 16-2, Milwaukee dropped four of six in the final weeks of the season. Defense was an obvious culprit as the Wave went from allowing 9.4 points per game in the first 18 contests of the year to 15.8 points per game in the final six, including a season-high 21 to the Comets in the finale.

The Comets were led offensively this season by midfielder Geison, the MISL’s regular-season Scoring Champion and Goal Scoring Champion. His 90 points and 37 goals were tops in the league by significant margins. He scored at least one point in all but one game this season and finished the year strong with six points in each of the final two games against Milwaukee. Forward Byron Alvarez surged to a third-place finish in the scoring race with a monstrous game to close the regular season, netting six goals and 13 total points. He finished with 78 points on the year.

Milwaukee, which finished with an MISL-high 356 points, excels offensively with tremendous balance.  Led by Greg Howes, who finished with 61 points, 10 Wave players scored at least 30 points this season. 

The biggest area of concern for the Comets heading into the postseason would have to be injuries. The team was without three regulars last time out as forward Tiguinho, midfielder Vahid Assadpour and defender Ryan Junge were all unavailable due to injury. Tiguinho has since been diagnosed with a torn ACL and is out for the remainder of the season. Assadpour (neck) and Junge (ankle) have both improved but are still questionable for the series against Milwaukee. For the Wave, Howes and defender Joe Hammes each missed games at the close of the regular season but both are expected to be available for the playoff series.

The Comets and Wave also met to open last year’s MISL playoffs. The Comets won Game 1 11-5 in Independence. Milwaukee was in control of Game 2 before the Comets rallied for 11 straight points to take a late lead, but Howes hit a game-winning 3-pointer in the final minutes to claim a 20-18 Wave victory and force the mini-game. The Wave won the mini-game 5-2, advancing to play Baltimore and eventually win the MISL Championship.

Attendance in the MISL topped 336,000 during the regular season and good crowds are expected for both Central Division Finals games. Comets fans have the opportunity to get a free playoff ticket with the purchase of a 2012-13 season ticket. Orders must be placed by noon on Friday, March 9 to take advantage of the offer.

For more information about the Comets, Season Tickets or Group Outings please call Nick McCabe (nmccabe@kcarenasports.com) or Jeff Husted (jhusted@cometsindoorsoccer.com).

Thursday, March 8, 2012

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. -- The Milwaukee Wave will begin the playoff hunt for their sixth MISL Championship banner on Friday night as it repeats last year’s journey by traveling to Missouri to take on the Comets.

Last season, the Wave dropped the away leg of the playoff series 11-5 to the Comets. Missouri jumped out to an 8-0 lead as Milwaukee was held scoreless for the first three quarters and ultimately fell 11-5. In the return leg of the series, the Wave lost a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, allowing Missouri to score 11 unanswered points in the final stanza before being rescued by a Greg Howes 3-pointer with three minutes left in the game to force a playoff mini-game.

Should the teams split the home-and-home series, as they did last year, a 15-minute playoff mini-game will be played at the conclusion of the second game to decide who will represent the Central Division in the MISL Championship Series. Josh Rife and Howes took care of the scoring in the mini-game playoff last season, downing Missouri 5-2 and advancing to the title game.

The Wave and Comets are very evenly matched, and are quite familiar with each other. Milwaukee won four of six regular season meetings this year, going 2-1 both at home and on the road, but the Comets have momentum going into the playoffs having won two of the past three meetings.

Missouri boasts the third-most potent offense in the league, led by the MISL’s leading scorer Geison. His 90 points were nine more than runner-up Mauricio Salles of the Rochester Lancers and a testament to his consistency. Geison scored in all but one game this season, scored at least two points in 22 games and recorded a goal in 20 games. He ran rampant over the Wave defense in the most recent tilts, scoring six points in each game for a total of 25 points in the six games between the two teams.

Milwaukee opened the season 16-2 before dropping four of its last six games. The Wave's defense has been the difference of late, with Milwaukee conceding at least 14 points five times after only giving up that amount twice in the first 18 games. If the Wave want to repeat as MISL Champions, they will have to shore up the back line and let their balanced offense go to work. Seven Wave players recorded at least 40 points while 10 players broke the 30-point barrier. With Greg Howes and Joe Hammes set to return after sitting out the previous two matches due to minor injuries, the Wave should be much more stable.

WAVE MILESTONE WATCH 

Greg Howes: 7th on Wave’s Playoff Games Played List (36, needs 1 more)
Greg Howes: 2nd on Wave’s Playoff Goals Scored List (37, needs 1 more)
Greg Howes: 4th on Wave’s Playoff Assists List (18, needs 1 more)
Greg Howes: 5th on Wave’s Playoff 2-Point Goals List (16, needs 1 more)

UPCOMING WAVE SCHEDULE

Central Division Playoff – Friday, March 9th @ Missouri, 7:35 p.m.
Central Division Finals - Sunday, March 11th vs Missouri, 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League Playoffs open this weekend as the road to the MISL Championship Series begins with the Eastern and Central Division Finals. After a remarkable regular season that saw more than 336,000 fans fill arenas, four teams remain standing in their quest for the MISL Championship.

The Eastern Division Finals brings a contrast as the storied Baltimore Blast, now in their 32nd season, face the upstart Rochester Lancers, who reached the postseason in their first year. The Blast, who on Wednesday saw goalkeeper Sagu be named Points-Against Average Champion and Max Ferdinand be named Assist Champion for the regular season, will try to continue their regular-season for against the Lancers, where they swept all four games.

The Lancers, though, ran the Blast close in each of their last two meetings. On January 7, the Blast eked out an 8-5 victory at 1st Mariner Arena before taking an 8-7 victory on January 29 in their final meeting of the regular season. The Lancers’ attacking style, which saw it finish the season with a league-high 23 3-point goals, going up against the Blast’s tight defense, which conceded the fewest points in the MISL, should lead to a classic series.

The Central Division Finals offer a rematch from the 2011 MISL Playoffs, with the Missouri Comets facing the Milwaukee Wave for the second consecutive year. Last year the Comets came close to upsetting the Wave before Milwaukee claimed its fifth championship against Baltimore, with their semifinal series being decided by a 15-minute mini-game after the series finished tied 1-1.

This season the rivalry has only increased, with the Wave taking the season series 4-2, but the Comets winning two of the last three meetings including a 21-6 victory in both team’s final game of the regular season. The Comets, and MISL Scoring Champion Geison, will try to gain revenge for last year’s playoff exit and reach the Championship Series in just the second year since their return to the MISL, but the Wave and legendary coach Keith Tozer will be certain to put up a strong fight in defense of their title.

All four of this weekend’s games can be viewed on MISL Live (www.misllivesoccer.com), the MISL’s free online video player. The Eastern Division Finals open with Game 1 on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. ET, with Game 2 scheduled for Monday night at 7 p.m. ET. The Central Division Finals begin with Game 1 on Friday night at 8:35 p.m. ET, with Game 2 set for Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET.
 

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – Division Finalists Baltimore and Missouri enjoyed a clean sweep as the Major Indoor Soccer League announced its 2011-12 regular season honors. Comets forward Geison took home two of the four categories, earning the title of Scoring Champion and Goal Scoring Champion after tallying 90 total points and hitting the net 37 times in 24 games. Geison, the MISL’s January Offensive Player of the Month, bested Mauricio Salles of the Rochester Lancers by nine points for the scoring title, and Salles was second best in goal scoring as well with 30 total goals.

Baltimore Blast midfielder Max Ferdinand captured the Assist Champion crown, setting up his teammates 25 times in 24 games to help the Blast capture the Eastern Division crown at 18-6. Ferdinand, the 2009-10 MISL Rookie of the Year, finished fourth in scoring with 72 points and captured the assists title with a five-assist game against Wichita in the Blast’s penultimate game of the season.

Rounding out the regular season standouts is Baltimore goalkeeper Sagu, who captured the Points-Against Average Champion honors by allowing an average of 9.61 points in 20 games. The Goalkeeper of the Year two of the past three seasons and a two-time MISL Goalkeeper of the Month this season, Sagu finished ahead of Milwaukee’s Nick Vorberg, who finished second with a 10.36 points-against average.

Ferdinand and Sagu will lead the Blast into the Eastern Division Finals this Saturday when they host the Rochester Lancers in Game 1 at 1st Mariner Arena (7:35 p.m. ET, MISL Live). Game 2 is set for Monday, March 12 at Blue Cross Arena (7 p.m. ET, MISL Live).

Geison and the Comets face the defending-champion Milwaukee Wave in the Central Division Finals, with Game 1 set for Friday at the Independence Events Center (8:35 ET, MISL Live). Game 2 is set for 4 p.m. ET Sunday at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee (MISL Live).

The 2011-12 MISL Award Winners, including MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, the All-Rookie Team and All-MISL Teams will be announced prior to the 2011-12 MISL Championship.

MISL 2011-12 Regular Season Honors

Scoring Champion
Geison, Missouri Comets

Goal Scoring Champion
Geison, Missouri Comets

Assist Champion
Max Ferdinand, Baltimore Blast

PAA Champion
Sagu, Baltimore Blast

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League announced on Tuesday that Wichita Wings forward Kevin Ten Eyck had been named the league’s Player of the Week for the final week of the 2011-12 regular season. Ten Eyck had 10 points in two games, including a hat trick in the Wings’ final game of the season.

Ten Eyck helped the Wings close out their season on a high note against Norfolk this past Sunday. With Wichita trailing the SharX 11-4 late in the third quarter, the 25-year-old fired in a 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining before the intermission to pull his side within two goals. He added a second three minutes into the fourth quarter, and then after Chris Lemons tied the game for the Wings, Ten Eyck struck 28 seconds into overtime to clinch the victory for the Wings.

Ten Eyck finished third on the Wings this season with 44 points, but had been on a strong run of form to close out the season. He scored in each of the Wings’ final six matches, including a 10-point outing against the Rochester Lancers in a narrow 20-17 victory late in February. Overall, the rookie had 25 points in his final six games.

Other players considered for the award included the Baltimore Blast’s Max Ferdinand, who had a pair of good games as the Blast took a pair of victories. Ferdinand recorded five assists in the Blast’s victory against Wichita on Friday night, moving into first place in the MISL in assists as a result. Norfolk’s Matt Delicate also had a strong final contest of the season, recording a hat trick and seven-point game for the SharX against Wichita

The MISL Playoffs open this weekend with the Eastern and Central Division Finals, with both games of each series available on MISL Live (www.misllivesoccer.com), the league’s free online video service.

The Rochester Lancers and Baltimore Blast meet in the Eastern Division Finals, the Blast hosting Game 1 on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. ET with the Lancers hosting Game 2 on Monday night at 7 p.m. ET. The Blast enter the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, and took the season series against the Lancers 4-0. Rochester came close to victory twice in their last two meetings, though, falling by a combined four points.

The Missouri Comets and Milwaukee Wave meet in the Central Division Finals, the Comets hosting Game 1 on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. CT and the Wave hosting Game 2 on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT. The Wave took the season series 4-2, but the Comets won two of the teams’ last three meetings of the season. 

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Baltimore Blast's Max Ferdinand scored 56 seconds into overtime to give his side a 15-13 victory against the Syracuse Silver Knights in front of an electric crowd of 2,871 at the Oncenter War Memorial on Sunday afternoon. Nelson Santana, who had earlier been named the Silver Knights' Most Valuable Player, Andriy Budnyy and Enrique Tovar all finished with three points for Syracuse, while Baltimore's Adriano Dos Santos had a pair of goals.

The Blast scored quickly to open the game with Dos Santos scoring just nine seconds into the game. Liverpool native J.D. Gruenewald provided a quick turnaround for the Knights with a goal just under two minutes later to tie the game up, and that was followed by Tovar's goal for a 4-2 lead 5:25 into the first quarter. Baltimore responded with a pair of goals before the quarter ended, though, Shaun David and Dos Santos' second giving them a 6-4 lead.

Baltimore struck early again in the second quarter, Ricardinho making it 8-4 49 seconds into in period. But the Blast made it a two-point game at the break as Santana scored off a restart. It was his 16th goal of the season, and allowed Santana to finish as the league's top-scoring defender with 46 points this season.

Both teams emerged reenergized in the second half. Syracuse' Andriy Budnyy rifled home a 3-pointer on a volley from just outside the arc brto put the Knights on top 9-8, and Ryan Pierce solidified the lead 14 seconds later with a goal of his own. But with goals on each side of the third quarter intermission, the Blast retook the lead. Stephen DeRoux making it 11-10 from close range and Mike Deasel striking from 3-point range six minutes into the fourth quarter.

The Silver Knights sent the final game of their inaugural season to overtime with just under five minutes left in regulation, Richard Shaw provided the equalizer to tie the game 13-13. Despite a flurry of activity at both ends, neither team found a game-winner, sending the game into overtime where Ferdinand ended the Silver Knights' 2011-12 MISL regular season to clinch the win for playoff-bound Baltimore.

The Silver Knights would like to thank their sponsors, players, staff, and especially their awesome fans for a successful and wonderful first season. Fans can keep up with the Silver Knights during the offseason through Facebook (Facebook.com/SilverKnights), Twitter (@CuseKnightsMISL), and their website (SyracuseSilverKnights.com).

NORFOLK, Va. – Kevin Ten Eyck completed his hat trick 28 seconds into overtime to give the Wichita Wings a 13-11 victory against the Norfolk SharX in the final game of both team's inaugural season. The SharX had held an 11-4 lead in the third quarter, Matt Delicate recording a hat trick, but the Wings rallied, tying the game with 2:01 to play through Chris Lemons to send the game to overtime in front of 2,395 fans at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

The SharX opened the scoring six minutes in on a blistering 3-point goal from Miguel Ferrer off an assist from Matt Clare. Ferrer received the ball outside the top of the arc and let a low shot go that screamed by Wings’ goalkeeper Nic Martinez into the lower right corner of the net. The rest of the quarter was a defensive battle, with the SharX maintaining their lead.

Delicate took over the second quarter, scoring twice and adding an assist for the SharX. His first goal came just 36 seconds into the period, with the ball in front of the Wings goal, Gary Brooks attempted a bicycle kick that ricocheted off the wall to Gerson Dos Santos. Dos Santos flicked the ball backwards and almost beat Martinez but his shot bounced off the crossbar and the rebound fell to Delicate who made it 5-0.

Wichita’s Bryan Perez scored two minutes later to close the gap to 5-2, but Delicate struck again with an assist from goalkeeper Jamie Lieberman. Lieberman sent a long pass off the wall next the Wings’ goal and Delicate won possession, tapping in the deflection to make it 7-2. Dos Santos added another for Norfolk when Delicate collected a deflection and put it at Dos Santos’ feet, and he neatly tucked it into the net to take the SharX up 9-2 with 33 seconds to play in the half.

The Wings came out in the second half with greater purpose and opened the scoring on a goal by Jamar Beasley to make it 9-4. Delicate answered Beasley’s goal with his third of the game to take the SharX up seven at 11-4 but Ten Eyck then brought the Wings within four with a 3-point strike with 14 seconds left in the quarter, cuttin the SharX's lead to 11-7 with 15 minutes to play.

The Wings maintained the momentum from Ten Eyck's 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, scoring twice to tie the game as the SharX's offense stalled. Ten Eyck scored his second of the match to make it 11-9 three minuted into the fourth quarter before Cushing tied it up with less than three minutes remaining to take the match into overtime, where Ten Eyck scored off Beasley's second assist to give his side victory.  

For more information about the Norfolk SharX, Norfolk’s newest professional sports team, including sponsorships, tickets, internships or to volunteer, please call 757-419-3317 or visit www.norfolksharx.com.

Saturday, March 3, 2012 

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk SharX will close out their inaugural MISL season on Sunday afternoon when they meet the Wichita Wings at 2 p.m. at the Norfolk Scope Arena. The two teams have met three times this season – Wichita won the first two meetings but the SharX have fared better on the field than the Wings towards the end of the season. Norfolk is 2-1 in their last three; Wichita is 0-3. Neither team has made the postseason playoffs.

Miguel Ferrer’s 48 points lead the SharX (5-18), followed by Matt Clare’s 47. Ferrer and Clare are ranked 15th and 17th in the league respectively. Jamar Beasley leads the Wings (7-16) in scoring with 55 points, good for 10th in the league, followed by Bryan Perez with 45 points, good for 21st.

The SharX’s final game of the season will be dedicated to increasing awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and the Alzheimer’s Association. The team will be wearing special purple jerseys that can be bid on throughout the match via silent auction. The proceeds of the auction will benefit the Association.

The special Purple Jersey Silent Auction will take place throughout the match. Tables will be set up on the concourse for fans to place bids on their favorite players’ jerseys. Plus, goalkeeper Jamie Lieberman has generously donated two pairs of goalkeeper gloves that will be auctioned off as well. Winners of each jersey will be announced after the game. The fans winning each jersey will be awarded their prizes by the player himself. Minimum bid for jerseys and gloves is $20.

Fans at Sunday’s match will also receive an official Norfolk SharX Team Poster. These posters will be given out on the field after the match and team members, our Mermaids and Chum will be available to sign them.

Tickets are available now and the SharX encourage you to use code FIN12 at the Scope Box Office or through Ticketmaster so that $2 of each ticket sold will go directly to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Season tickets for the 2012-13 are available now by emailing info@norfolksharx.com. Existing season ticket holders will get a 20% discount and new season ticket holders will get next year’s tickets at this year’s prices. There will be no ticket price increase for 2012-13.

For more information about the 2011-12 or 2012-13 Norfolk SharX, Norfolk’s newest professional sports team, including sponsorships, tickets, internships or to volunteer, please call 757-419-3317 or visit www.norfolksharx.com.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Silver Knights will host Eastern Division regular season champion the Baltimore Blast in their regular season finale on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Oncenter War Memorial. The Silver Knights hope to treat their fans and end on a high note as they close out their inaugural season.

The Silver Knights are coming off an exciting overtime victory against the Wichita Wings on Saturday night. On a free kick just over a minute into overtime, Danny Stevens tapped the ball to Andriy Budnyy, and with the crowd on its feet cheering on the Knights, he slotted it between the defenders and into the side netting for a 3-pointer for a 9-6 victory.

The Knights and Blast have met four times already this season, splitting the season series 2-2. Syracuse has won two of three matchups at 1st Mariner Arena, while Baltimore won the lone game at the War Memorial. The Blast have outscored the Knights by a combined score of 55-46.

The game will feature three of the league’s Top 10 scorers. Baltimore’s Machel Millwood is fourth with 71 total points with 26 goals and 16 assists, and his teammate Max Ferdinand sits one point behind him in fifth place with 22 goals and 25 assists. Syracuse’s Slavisa Ubiparipovic (22 goals, 14 assists) is seventh in the league with 61 points.

The Silver Knights will wear special pink jerseys for Sunday’s finale. The jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. In addition, $5 dollars per adult ticket and $2 per youth ticket will be donated to the Fund when ordering through the Silver Knights ticket office and mentioning “Baldwin pink jersey”. Tickets can be purchased by calling (315) 303-7261.