KiXX Blast Baltimore 17-10

Saturday, November 2, 2002

By David Deal
Philadelphia KiXX Correspondent

The 2001-02 Major Indoor Soccer League Champions, Philadelphia KiXX (5-2), defeated the Baltimore Blast (2-5) 17-10 in front of 3,249 fans at the First Union Spectrum. KiXX defender Pat Morris scored the game-winning goal at 8:40 of the second quarter on an assist from goalkeeper Peter Pappas. Pappas (4-2) earned the victory and recorded 15 saves, while Brett Phillips (0-1) took the loss for Baltimore, stopping 13 shots on goal.

Philadelphia's Joe Scigliano converted on a pass from Chris Handsor to open the scoring just 1:16 into the opening quarter. The Blast responded with three unanswered goals separated by less then two minutes as P.J. Wakefield, Dewan Bader and Gino DiFlorio each tallied for Baltimore.

In the second, Scigliano tallied his second goal of the game just 19 seconds into the quarter to pull the KiXX to within two, 6-4. Following a goal by Joel Shanker three minutes later to tie the game at six, Handsor converted on a pass from Pat Morris to put Philadelphia ahead by three, 9-6. Morris then added two goals of his own to give the KiXX a 13-6 lead at halftime.

The KiXX scored the only goal of the third quarter as Handsor received a pass from Edgar Bartolomeu at 2:29 of the quarter to put Philadelphia up by nine, 15-6.

In the fourth quarter, both Wakefield and Shanker added goals for their respective teams and Baltimore's Denison Cabral scored with just two seconds remaining in the game for the 17-10 Philadelphia victory.

"Once we get going we have a lot of energy and a lot of weapons," said KiXX Interim Head Coach/Player Don D'Ambra. "We're still in transition. We're not at the top of our game. We've seen flashes of what we can be, but we need to be more consistent."

Notes: Philadelphia extended their home unbeaten streak to five with the win over Baltimore. The KiXX are playing in back-to-back games for the second time this season, with the contest tomorrow at Harrisburg. Philadelphia is 1-1 in the first game of back-to-back games, and 1-0 in the second game of the set.

The KiXX are back in action tomorrow, November 3, 2002 against the Harrisburg Heat at the Farm Show Arena, in the beginning contest of a three-game road trip. The KiXX return to the First Union Spectrum Saturday, November 16, 2002 to meet the Cleveland Force. The contest is set to kick-off at 7:05 pm.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, contact the KiXX office at 1-888-888-KIXX or visit us at www.kixxonline.com.