Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Blasted in Baltimore, 8-2 Club closes out 2005 with a 3-4 overall record Friday, December 30, 2005 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communications BALTIMORE, MD - The Philadelphia KiXX (3-4) closed out 2005 with a 8-2 loss to the Baltimore Blast (5-3) in front of 5,412 fans at the 1st Mariner Arena. Baltimore’s Adauto Neto registered the game winner, unassisted, at 8:22 of the second quarter. Peter Pappas (3-4) took the loss for Philadelphia with 10 saves on 18 chances, while Sanaldo improved to 2-0 with the Blast, turning away nine of the 11 shots he faced. The hosting Blast recorded five shots on goal and Philadelphia managed three, but neither team could muster a goal as the first quarter of action closed with a scoreless tie. Giuliano Celenza finally ended the scoring drought, connecting on a notch from current Major Indoor Soccer League’s (MISL) points-leader Adauto Neto at 2:10 of the second period. KiXX forward John Barry Nusum, the League’s Rookie of the Year last season, knotted the game back even, 1-1, knocking-in the rebound off a shot from teammate Drew Kopp at 4:38; the native of Devonshire, Bermuda has now tallied at least one point in each of the team’s seven games this season. Defender Rich Daughtridge put the host club back on top, 2-1, blasting home a pass from Joel Bailey at 6:22. Two minutes later (8:22), Neto continued Baltimore’s scoring binge, 3-1, with an unassisted notch. After seven minutes of play in the third stanza (7:03), Celenza extended the Blast advantage to three, 4-1, with an unassisted score. With KiXX defender Drew Kopp serving a two-minute tripping penalty, Celenza completed his hat trick with a nice header past Pappas at 12:34. Defender Danny Kelly recorded the assist on the play. Despite being shorthanded, the Blast further extended their lead, 6-1, as Neto found the back of the net for second time of the evening at 5:15 of the fourth quarter; Philadelphia received the man-advantage courtesy of a two-minute tripping infraction called on P.J. Wakefield. Midfielder Jonathan Steele then lengthened Baltimore’s advantage, 7-1, with an unassisted goal at 7:33 of the period. KiXX midfielder Andy Guastaferro added the club’s second score of the contest on an assist from Philadelphia native David Castellanos at 14:15, but Neto sealed the Blast victory with his third tally just eight seconds later at 14:23. *Notes:* Philadelphia recorded 13 shots on goal tonight, their lowest production of the season since also tallying 13 at St. Louis on November 26. Forward John Barry Nusum and Goran Vasic have now recorded at least one point in each of the team’s seven contests this season. Vasic, however, failed to score a point for the first time this season, snapping his point and assist streak at six. Attendance: 5,412 Philadelphia: 0-1-0-1=2 Shots: 13 Goalkeepers: Pappas (L, 10 saves). Scorers: Castellanos (assist), Guastaferro (goal), Kopp (assist), Nusum (goal). Baltimore: 0-3-2-3=8 Shots: 25 Goalkeepers: Sanaldo (W, 11 saves). Scorers: Neto (three goals, assist), Celenza (three goals), Bailey (assist), Daughtridge (goal), Kelly (assist), Sanaldo (assist), Steele (goal).