Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Ring in the New Year with a 7-5 Victory in Kansas City Club returns to Philadelphia for a rematch with the Comets on January 8 Saturday, January 1, 2005 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communitions The Philadelphia KiXX (9-6) kicked-off the New Year with a 7-5 victory over the Kansas City Comets in front of 3,428 fans at the Kemper Arena tonight. KiXX forward Goran Vasic registered the game-winning goal at 14:10 of the fourth quarter. Peter Pappas (7-5) earned the victory in net for Philadelphia, turning away 18 of the 23 shots he faced, while Chris D’Amico (4-3) took the loss for Kansas City with 12 saves on 16 chances. Kansas City’s Vlatko Andonovski opened the scoring with a strike at 7:39 of the first quarter, and then added an assist with a pass to teammate Miodrag Djersilo at 9:50 to give the Comets an early 2-0 advantage. Just over a minute later (11:02), Philadelphia native Pat Morris found the far post for a restart goal on a dish from Vasic to cut the club’s deficit to one, 2-1. KiXX newcomer John Barry Nusum connected on a feed from Ze Roberto (13:13) to close out the opening period with the score tied, 2-2. After D’Amico was sent to the penalty box for a charging infraction, Roberto provided Philadelphia their first lead of the night, 3-2, with a power-play goal from Nusum at 2:22 of the second stanza. The Comets’ Casey Stevens quickly responded to again knot the score, 3-3, on a dish from Dino Delevski at 3:23. Nusum then rang the bell for the second time of the evening, this one on an assist from Vasic at 8:35, to provide the KiXX with a 4-3 advantage. Delevski tied the score, 4-4, with a penalty-kick goal at 10:05 of the period, courtesy of a two-minute holding penalty called on Philadelphia defender Ptah Myers. The clubs entered the half tied, 4-4. KiXX player/coach Don D’Ambra, in his first action in six games, registered the only score of the third period, just 18 seconds into the quarter to give Philadelphia a 5-4 lead entering the final stanza of play. Comets midfielder Jonny Steele knotted the score at 5-5, connecting on a pass from teammate Stefan Stovich at 5:09 of the fourth quarter. Vasic emerged from a scramble at the top of the box and blasted a goal to regain the KiXX advantage, 6-5, at 14:10 of the period. Midfielder Edgar Bartolomeu sealed Philadelphia’s victory, 7-5, with a tally from Pappas at 14:38. Notes: KiXX player/coach Don D’Ambra returned to action tonight after missing the club’s previous five contests with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Edgar Bartolomeu also returned after missing previous four games with a knee injury. Forwards Goran Vasic and John Barry Nusum and defender Pat Morris all extended their point streaks to six games; Vasic and Nusum each tallied three points in the contest, while Morris chipped in with the opening goal. Boxscore: Attendance: 3,428 Philadelphia: 2-2-1-2=7 Shots: 29 Goalkeepers: Pappas (W, 18 saves). Scorers: Nusum (two goals, assist), Vasic (goal, two assists), Roberto (goal, assist), Bartolomeu (goal), D’Ambra (goal), Morris (goal), Pappas (assist). Kansas City: 2-2-0-1=5 Shots: 33 Goalkeepers: D’Amico (L, 12 saves), Sanaldo (- two saves). Scorers: Andonovski (goal, assist), Delevski (goal, assist), Djersilo (goal), Steele (goal), Stevens (goal), Stovich (assist). Philadelphia finally returns to the City of Brotherly Love for a rematch versus the Comets on Saturday, January 8. The first 2,500 fans to enter the gates on January 8 will receive a complimentary 2004-05 Philadelphia KiXX Rally Towel. Game-time at the Wachovia Spectrum is slated for 7:05 pm ET, with doors opening at 6:00 pm ET. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please contact the club’s Executive Office at 1-888-888-KiXX (5499) or visit www.kixxonline.com.