KiXX Snap Three-Game Skid with 5-3 Victory Over Cleveland

Saturday, April 3, 2004

By David Deal
Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communitions

The Philadelphia KiXX (20-16) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Force in front of 4,876 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum tonight. KiXX captain Kevin Sloan registered the game winner at 12:11 of the third quarter. Peter Pappas (24-11) earned the victory between the posts for Philadelphia, stopping 19 of the 22 shots he faced, while Otto Orf fell to 2-8 with eight saves on 13 chances for the Force.

KiXX forward Shawn Boney, who returned after a 19-game absence due to injury, made his presence known almost immediately as he set up teammate Mauricio Vincello for a restart goal at 2:29 of the opening quarter. Cleveland tied the game at 1-1 when midfielder Justin Evans tapped in a pass from Force player/coach Omid Namazi on the restart at 11:16, but KiXX defender Drew Kopp quickly responded with a score from Pappas at 12:33 of the period. The team held the 2-1 advantage after one full quarter of play.

Boney extended the club’s lead to two, 3-1, with a shot he flicked behind him past Orf and into the open net at 9:55 of the second period. Pappas added the assist, his second of the game. The 3-1 KiXX lead held entering the half.

Cleveland’s Chris Dore cut the Force deficit to one, 3-2, with a notch from teammate Joel Bailey at 10:13 of the third stanza, but KiXX captain Kevin Sloan quickly regained the team’s two-point advantage, 4-2, at 12:11. Hector Marinaro, the sport’s all-time leader in points, concluded the third quarter on a dish from Namazi to again pull Cleveland within one, 4-3, at 13:45.

Forward Matt Brooks found defender Jeremy Aldrich all alone in front of the net, who then deposited the ball into the top corner of the net to give Philadelphia a two-point cushion, 5-3, at 11:03 of the final period of action. The KiXX defense tightened and went on to earn a 5-3 victory.

Notes: KiXX forward Shawn Boney returned to action after missing 19 consecutive contests due to injury; the native of Trinidad fractured his fifth metatarsal versus the Dallas Sidekicks on January 11. Philadelphia player/coach Don D’Ambra, midfielder Les Lunsford and defender Drew Kopp all appeared in each of the team’s 36 contests this season. Forward Goran Vasic did not dress tonight, snapping his 36-games played streak, dating back to the final outing of last season. Stuart Dobson stepped in replacement of Peter Pappas, while the netminder was serving a two-minute hand-ball penalty, to mark the 150th game played of his career; Dobson saved all four shots he faced.

Boxscore:
Attendance: 4,876

Philadelphia: 2-1-1-1=5 Shots: 18
Goalkeepers: Pappas (W, 19 saves).
Scorers: Boney (goal, assist), Pappas (two assists), Aldrich (goal), Brooks (assist), Kopp (goal), Vincello (goal).

Cleveland: 1-0-2-0=3 Shots: 38
Goalkeepers: Orf (L, eight saves)
Scorers: Namazi (two assists), Bailey (assist), Dore (goal), Evans (goal), Marinaro (goal).

Philadelphia returns next Saturday, April 10, to host a one-game quarterfinal in the opening round of the 2004 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Playoffs. Game-time at the Wachovia Spectrum is slated for 7:05 pm ET, with the doors opening at 6:00 pm ET. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the club’s Executive Office at 1-888-888-KiXX (5499) or log onto the team’s official website, www.kixxonline.com.