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Soccer Spotlight:
Monday, December 20, 2004
By David Deal The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced today that Philadelphia KiXX defender Pat Morris and goalkeeper Peter Pappas have been honored with Players of the Week accolades for the seven-day period ending December 19. Morris was named the League’s Defensive Player-of-the-Week, his second consecutive and fourth overall this season, while Pappas received the Goalkeeper of the Week honor for the second time in 2004-05. Morris, who was also honored as the League’s Defensive Player-of-the-Week for the seven-day periods ending October 24, November 7 and December 13, registered a pair of points and one block in each of the club’s contests this weekend. The three-time all-star first tallied one goal and one assist versus the Storm in Chicago on December 17, and then added a pair of goals in the team’s 6-3 victory versus the Milwaukee Wave on December 18. Morris also blocked one shot versus the Wave, marking the 300th block of his six-year career. The 27-year-old defender is currently tied for 11th in the MISL, third on the team, with 15 points (10 goals, five assists) and fourth in the League with 18 blocks. The product of Northeast Catholic 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 finished his collegiate career fourth all-time in school history with 49 goals and 120 points. In addition to this season’s four accolades, Morris has now received the League’s weekly honor seven times in his six-year career; he also was named the MISL Defensive Player-of-the-Week for the seven-day periods ending December 28, 2003, January 11, 2004, and February 8, 2004. Morris received player-of-the-month accolades for both January and February in 2004. Pappas earned a pair of victories between the posts for Philadelphia this past weekend, improving his record to 6-4 overall this season. The native of Toronto, Ontario earned a 9-4 win in Chicago (12/17) with 15 saves on 19 shots faced, and then registered a 6-3 victory with 18 saves on 21 chances versus the Wave (12/18). The seven-time all-star is now ranked second in the MISL in saves (133) and minutes played (600), tied for second in wins (six), ranks third in save percentage (.743), and fourth in goals against average (4.59). Pappas was also named the League’s Goalkeeper of the Week for the seven-day period ending November 22. The nine-year veteran has been named to seven all-star squads, five of which he was selected to start, and six all-league teams during his career. Pappas was named the MISL’s Goalkeeper of the Year for 2003-04 campaign, after finishing the regular season with a 17-12 record, a 5.44 goals against average and a League-best .765 save percentage. The Philadelphia University also received Player-of-the-Week honors five times (seven-day periods ending October 5 and 12, January 18 and February 1 and 8) and Player-of-the-Month honors for his play in October and January last season. Overall in his career, Pappas has received Player-of-the Week honors 18 times, as well as eight Player-of-the-Month honors. Morris, Pappas and the rest of the KiXX conclude 2004 with a battle versus the two-time defending MISL Champion Baltimore Blast on Sunday, December 26. Game-time at the 1st Mariner Arena is scheduled for 6:05 pm ET. The club then brings in the New Year with a trip to the Kemper Arena to square-off versus the Kansas City Comets on Saturday, January 1 with an 8:35 pm ET start time. The KiXX finally return to the City of Brotherly Love for a rematch versus the Comets on Saturday, January 8. Game-time at the Wachovia Spectrum is slated for 7:05 pm ET, with all the action televised live on CN8, the Comcast Network. 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. |
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