Soccer Spotlight: Pat Morris Named MISL Defensive Player of the Week Philadelphia Native Bags Team's First Weekly Honor of 2004-05 Monday, October 25, 2004 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communitions The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced today that Philadelphia KiXX defender Pat Morris has been named the League’s Defensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending October 24. The honor marks the first such accolade for a member of the Philadelphia KiXX in the 2004-05 season. Morris stabilized the KiXX backline with three blocks, while leading all scorers with four points (three goals, one assist) in the team’s 11-8 victory at the Cleveland Force in the 2004-05 season opener on October 23. The Philadelphia native, in his first game-action since March 20, notched an unassisted score in the second quarter, then followed suit with a pair of tallies in the third period. Morris then registered an assist after setting up teammate Edgar Bartolomeu for a header that knotted the score at 8-8 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter; the team then recorded three unanswered goals to earn the victory. The three-time all-star was forced out of action in the team’s final four regular season contests as well as the lone playoff game last season due to an unknown illness. The absence snapped a franchise-best of 97 consecutive games played and marked the first time in his five-year career he missed back-to-back games. The Philadelphia University graduate was named to the All-Rookie team in 1999-00 and to an All-League team each of the past three seasons (2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04). Morris, an alumnus of Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia, PA, finished his collegiate career fourth all-time in school history with 49 goals and 120 points. Morris also received the League’s weekly honors for the seven-day periods ending December 28, 2003, January 11, 2004, and February 8, 2004 and player-of-the-month accolades for both January and February in 2004. Morris and the rest of the KiXX are back in action on Friday, November 5 for the opening game of a back-to-back set that kicks-off versus the two-time defending MISL Champion Baltimore Blast at the 1st Mariner Arena. Game-time is slated for 7:35 pm ET. The club then returns to the Wachovia Spectrum to conclude the series by entertaining the Blast in the team’s 2004-05 home opener on Saturday, November 6. The first 5,000 fans to enter the gates will receive a 2004-05 Philadelphia KiXX Magnetic Schedule, courtesy of Jake’s Dog House. Game-time is scheduled for 7:05 pm, with doors opening at 6:00 pm ET.