Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Drop Opening Game in Home-and-Home Series versus Milwaukee, 10-5 Friday, January 20, 2006 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communications Milwaukee, WI – The Philadelphia KiXX (4-6) dropped the opening game in a home-and-home series versus the Milwaukee Wave (10-3), 10-5 at the U.S. Cellular Arena tonight. Forward Greg Howes recorded the game winner on his second penalty-kick goal of the game at 14:13 of the third quarter. Peter Pappas (4-6) took the loss for Philadelphia with 21 saves on 31 chances (both season highs), while Brian Rowland (2-2) earned the victory with the Wave, turning away eight of the 13 shots he faced. The Wave opened the scoring with a pair of goals, 2-0, after one full period of action. Reigning Spalding Scoring Champion Greg Howes found teammate Eduardo Sebrango with a centering pass for the hosting club’s first tally at 12:10, followed by an unassisted notch from midfielder Alen Osmanovic at 13:36 of the stanza. Forward Todd Dusosky extended Milwaukee’s advantage with consecutive scores, 4-0, an unassisted goal at 4:49 and a left-footed blast past Pappas on feed from Howes at 11:44 of the second quarter. Drew Kopp finally struck for the KiXX, 4-1, redirecting a shot from forward Shawn Boney at 12:53. Pittsburgh, PA native Gary DePalma pulled the KiXX within two, 4-2, after forcing a turnover in Milwaukee’s back end and knocking the shot past Rowland just 40 seconds into the third stanza. Kopp then registered his second score of the contest to cut the Wave’s lead down to one, 4-3, on a dish from player/coach Don D’Ambra at 3:45. Kopp continued Philadelphia’s scoring assault, 4-4, completing the hat trick and knotting the teams, 4-4, at 10:02; the three-goal performance marked a career-high for the six-year veteran. Howes snapped the KiXX scoring streak with a penalty-kick goal to regain Milwaukee’s one goal lead, 5-4, at 11:10 of the period; the Wave received the penalty-kick opportunity after defender Ptah Myers was called for a two-minute holding infraction inside the penalty box. After Philadelphia’s Chris Fehrle received a two-minute tripping infraction in the box, Howes connected on his second penalty-kick goal to push the Wave’s advantage back to two, 6-4, at 14:13. A mere 12 seconds into the final period of play, Howes increased Milwaukee lead to three, 7-4, completing his hat trick. Forward Giuliano Oliviero connected with teammate Troy Dusosky to push the Wave ahead four, 8-4, at the three-minute mark. The Wave opened the game, 9-4, as Sebrango found the back of the net for the second occasion of the contest on an assist from Marcelo Fontana at 5:07 of the quarter. KiXX newcomer Josh Rife recorded the first goal of his professional indoor career to cut the team’s deficit to four, 9-5, at 6:33. Todd Dusosky joined Kopp and teammate Greg Howes with hat tricks, notching the game’s final score, 10-5, on the power play at 12:09, courtesy of a two-minute pushing penalty on Boney. *Notes: * Philadelphia was held scoreless in the opening quarter for the fifth time this season; the club now posts a 1-4 record in those contests. Defender Drew Kopp recorded the first hat trick (three goals) of his six-year career; the three-point performance also matched his career high. Rookie defender Josh Rife registered the first goal of his professional indoor career tonight. The KiXX allowed a season-high 10 goals, while the 15 total scores matched the season best. Forward John Barry Nusum failed to record a point, snapping his point streak at eight games. Philadelphia: 0-1-3-1=5 Shots: 21 Goalkeepers: Pappas (L, 21 saves). Scorers: Kopp (three goals), Boney (assist), D’Ambra (assist), DePalma (goal), Rife (goal). Milwaukee: 2-2-2-4=10 Shots: 36 Goalkeepers: Rowland (W, eight saves). Scorers: Howes (three goals, two assists), Todd Dusosky (three goals), Sebrango (two goals), Troy Dusosky (assist), Fontana (assist), Oliviero (goal), Osmanovic (goal).