KiXX Snap Three-Game Skid With 7-3 Victory Over St. Louis

Sunday, March 21, 2004

By David Deal
Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communitions

The Philadelphia KiXX (19-13) snapped their three-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory tonight over the St. Louis Steamers (13-18) in front of 5,347 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. KiXX newcomer David DiPlacido registered the game winner at 3:28 of the second quarter, marking his first professional indoor score. Peter Pappas (16-9) earned the victory between the posts for Philadelphia, turning away 11 of the 14 shots he faced, while Nando Hernandez (0-4) took the loss for the Steamers with 10 saves on 14 chances.

Philadelphia bolted out of the gates, registering the only three scores of the opening quarter to assume a 3-0 lead entering the second. Player/Coach Don D’Ambra sparked the attack, collecting his own rebound and depositing a shot into the net at 3:36 of the stanza. A mere seven seconds later (3:43), midfielder Ze Roberto stripped the ball from Phillips and recorded his second goal in as many nights to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead. KiXX midfielder Kevin Sloan closed out the first-period scoring with an unassisted notch at 9:11.

The KiXX continued to roll in the second, as midfielder David DiPlacido extended the Philadelphia advantage to four, 4-0, with the first tally of the season and his professional indoor career. Teammate Tony McPeak recorded the assist on the play at 3:28 of the quarter. Sloan then added his second unassisted tally of the contest to provide the club with a five-point cushion, 5-0, at 11:27. Jake Bleyenberg finally broke the Steamers’ scoring drought on a pass from player/coach Daryl Doran with just 14 seconds (14:46) remaining in the half. The 5-1 Philadelphia advantage held after two full quarters of play.

After the break, Philadelphia continued their assault on the Steamers as Lumberton, NJ native Byron Carmichael headed in a Pat Morris rebound to record the first professional indoor goal of his career and extend the KiXX lead to 6-1. St. Louis’s Fernando Errecalde concluded the third period with a power-play goal from Doran at 11:57 to cut into the deficit, 6-2; the Steamers received the one-man advantage after defender Jeremy Aldrich was called for a two-minute holding infraction.

McPeak converted a pass from Sloan and launched a shot into the top corner of the net at 1:17 to put Philadelphia ahead by five, 7-2. Doran closed the gap to four, 7-3, as he connected with goalkeeper Nando Hernandez at 3:52, but the KiXX held on to earn a 7-3 victory.

Notes: St. Joseph’s University Alumni Don D’Ambra played in his 300th game with the KiXX…Both David DiPlacido and Byron Carmichael registered the first goals of their career in tonight’s game.

Boxscore:
Attendance: 5,347

Philadelphia: 3-2-1-1=7 Shots: 28

Goalkeepers: Pappas (W, 11 saves).
Scorers: Sloan (two goals, assist), McPeak (goal, assist), Carmichael (goal), D’Ambra (goal), DiPlacido (goal), Morris (assist), Roberto (goal).

St. Louis: 0-1-1-1=3 Shots: 28

Goalkeepers: Phillips (--, three saves), Hernandez (L, 10 saves)
Scorers: Doran (goal, two assists), Bleyenberg (goal), Errecalde (goal), Hernandez (assist).

The team remains home for their ninth set of back-to-back games this season, kicking-off with a visit from the defending MISL Champion Baltimore Blast on Saturday, March 27. The night, dubbed “Girl Scout Night,” offers special discounts and promotions to area Girl Scout packs. The contest at the Wachovia Spectrum is scheduled for a 7:05 pm ET start time. The KiXX conclude the series with a battle versus the Dallas Sidekicks on Sunday, March 28. The game will kick-off at 1:05 pm ET, and will be aired on CN8 via tape delay beginning at 2:00 pm ET. For more information or to purchase tickets for any remaining KiXX home contest, contact the club’s Executive Office at 1-888-888-KiXX (5499) or log onto the team’s official website, www.kixxonline.com.