Soccer Spotlight: Philadelphia Defeats Sockers, 4-2 Club Remains Unbeaten, 4-0, in 2004-05; Team's Best Start Since 2001-02 Campaign Saturday, November 13, 2004 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communitions The Philadelphia KiXX (4-0) remains unbeaten in the 2004-05 season with a 4-2 victory versus the San Diego Sockers (2-4) at the Wachovia Spectrum tonight. Defender Edgar Bartolomeu registered the game winner with a restart goal from teammate Goran Vasic at 6:45 of the third quarter. Peter Pappas earned the victory in net for the KiXX tonight, turning away six of the eight shots he faced, while Justin Neerhoff suffered the loss for San Diego with 12 saves on 15 chances. San Diego’s Mark Ughy, who notched four goals in two meetings versus the KiXX last season, opened the scoring with a restart goal at 5:30 of the first quarter. Defender Nevio Pizzolitto recorded the assist on the play. Midfielder Ze Roberto then tied the score, 1-1 (11:30), with his fourth goal of the season on a hard pass off the boards from teammate Edgar Bartolomeu. The 1-1 tie held after one full period of play. KiXX rookie Damien Pottinger notched his first career indoor goal with a header on a missed shot from fellow newcomer Jeff Moore at 9:20 of the second period; the connection marked each player’s first professional indoor point. Philadelphia held the 2-1 advantage at the half after holding their opponent scoreless for the second consecutive contest. Bartolomeu extended the club’s lead to two, 3-1, with a restart goal from forward Goran Vasic at the 6:45 mark of the third stanza. The third quarter closed with the KiXX holding the two-goal, 3-1, advantage. The Sockers pulled within one, 3-2, with a score from defender Matt Johnson on a dish from Paul Wright at 5:53 of the final quarter, but Philadelphia native Pat Morris connected with a goal from Bartolomeu at 14:42 to seal the KiXX victory, 4-3. Philadelphia improves to 4-0 with tonight’s victory marking the club’s best start to a season since 2001-02 when the team began 5-0; the KiXX concluded 2001-02 with a 30-14 record, tops in the Eastern Division. Notes: KiXX rookies Damien Pottinger and Jeff Moore connected to register their first professional indoor points tonight; Pottinger knocked in a header on missed shot from Moore. Philadelphia held their opponent scoreless in the second quarter for the second consecutive contest. Edgar Bartolomeu has registered four goals this season and scored at least one goal in three of the club’s four contests this season. Boxscore: Attendance: 3,975 Philadelphia: 1-1-1-1=4 Shots: 25 Goalkeepers: Pappas (W, six saves). Scorers: Bartolomeu (goal, two assists), Moore (assist), Morris (goal), Pottinger (goal), Roberto (goal), Vasic (assist). San Diego: 1-0-0-1=2 Shots: 15 Goalkeepers: Neerhoff (L, 12 saves) Scorers: Johnson (goal), Pizzolitto (assist), Ughy (goal), Wright (assist). Philadelphia concludes the back-to-back set with a meeting versus MISL newcomer, the Chicago Storm on Sunday, November 14. The match-up is the first between the clubs in franchise history and features a Mascot Game, in which SocceRoo welcomes all area mascots to participate in a friendly contest at halftime. The game also kicks-off a six-game television package with CN8, The Comcast Network. Game-time is scheduled for 1:05 pm ET, and the broadcast will air via tape delay at 2:00 pm ET. For ticket information, fans can call the club’s Executive Office at 1-888-888-KiXX (5499) or log onto the team’s official website, www.kixxonline.com.