Former KiXX Forward Chris Hansor Gives Baltimore Late 4-3 Win

Saturday, March 27, 2004

By David Deal
Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communitions

The Philadelphia KiXX (19-14) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Baltimore Blast (24-10) tonight in front of 6,214 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. The loss seals the regular-season Eastern Division title for the Blast and locks Philadelphia in the top wild card spot (fourth overall) in the 2004 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Playoffs. Former KiXX forward Chris Handsor registered the game winner at 10:15 of the fourth quarter. Peter Pappas (23-9) took the loss between the posts for Philadelphia, stopping 14 of the 17 shots he faced, while Scott Hileman improved to XX-XX with five saves on eight chances for the Blast.

After over 10 minutes of scoreless action, Baltimore forward Denison Cabral finished a rebounded shot off the boards from teammate Ibrahim Kante at 10:17 of the opening period. KiXX newcomer David DiPlacido quickly knotted the game back even, 1-1, with his second goal in as many games, on a pass from forward Goran Vasic at 10:31. The 1-1 tie held after the first quarter of play.

The Blast regained the lead, 2-1, as Guiliano Celenza knocked-in a shot off the boards from Lee Tschantret at 6:03 of the second stanza. For the second time of the night, DiPlacido quickly responded, this time a mere 41 seconds later (6:44), to tie the game, 2-2, with his first two-goal outing of his career. Defender Tony McPeak recorded the assist on the play at 6:44. Celenza recorded his second tally of the evening, a power-play goal on a dish from Baltimore defender Danny Kelly at 9:56 of the period; the Blast received the one-man advantage after Pappas was called for a two-minute hand ball (out of the box) infraction at 9:43. The 3-2 Blast advantage held entering the half.

Philadelphia’s Ze Roberto notched the only score of the third quarter, connecting on a feed from Mauricio Vincello at 1:17 to knot the game at 4-4 entering the final period of action.

Former KiXX forward Chris Handsor connected with Hileman at 10:15 of the fourth quarter to give the Blast a 4-3 lead with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Handsor’s tally proved to be the final score of the night as Baltimore earned a 4-3 victory.

Notes: Philadelphia native and KiXX defender Pat Morris did not dress tonight due to illness. The absence snaps his games-played streak at 97, dating back to the 2001-02 season. Both Joel Shanker and Matt Brooks returned to action tonight after missing the club’s previous six contests due to injury; Shanker was sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Brooks was forced out because of an abdominal tear. KiXX midfielder David DiPlacido registered a pair of goals tonight to mark his first multi-goal game of his young career.

Boxscore:
Attendance: 6,214

Philadelphia: 1-1-1-0=3 Shots: 32
Goalkeepers: Pappas (L, 14 saves), Dobson (--, zero saves).
Scorers: DiPlacido (two goals), McPeak (assist), Roberto (goal), Vasic (assist), Vincello (assist).

Baltimore: 1-2-0-1=4 Shots: 14
Goalkeepers: Hileman (W, five saves)
Scorers: Celenza (two goals), Cabral (goal), Kante (assist), Kelly (assist), Tschantret (assist).

The KiXX conclude the back-to-back series with a battle versus the Dallas Sidekicks on Sunday, March 28. KiXX mascot SocceRoo will team-up with local mascots to provide an entertaining halftime show with a mascot soccer game for all fans in attendance. 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.