Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Defeat Baltimore, 7-5, in Second Game of Back-to-Back Clubs Split Home-and-Home Series with each Team Earning Win in Front of Home Crowd Saturday, March 4, 2006 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communications Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia KiXX (6-15) defeated the Baltimore Blast (15-8) in front of 6,284 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. With the victory, the clubs split the home-and-home series this weekend. KiXX defender Ptah Myers recorded the game-winning goal on a pass from Philadelphia native David Castellanos at 7:49 of the fourth quarter. Peter Pappas (6-13) earned the victory in net for the KiXX with 21 saves on 26 shots, while Sagu took the loss for the Blast with 19 saves on 25 shots. KiXX rookie defender Joshua Rife finished off a restart pass from Vlatko Andonovski to give the home team an early 1-0 lead at 7:01 of the opening quarter of action. 30 seconds later (7:31), the KiXX stretched their lead to 2-0 when David Schofield drilled home an unassisted tally for his first goal of his professional indoor career. David Bascome put the visiting Blast on the board, 2-1, by sending a score past Pappas just over 30 seconds into the second stanza. A mere 12 seconds later (:45), Northeast Catholic product Pat Morris extended the club’s advantage, 3-1, connecting on his own rebound off a shoot-out opportunity courtesy of a two-minute holding infraction accessed on Baltimore’s Wendell Regis. The Blast climbed within one goal, 3-2, following a solo strike by defender Rich Daughtridge at 11:38 of the second frame. KiXX player/coach Don D’Ambra opened the second-half scoring at 2:29 of the third quarter, 4-2, by blasting an unassisted bomb past Sagu. At 7:52 of the period, Castellanos stole possession and dribbled untouched to the goal line to provide Philadelphia with a three-goal advantage, 5-2. Bascome netted his second unassisted goal of the evening just 24 seconds in the fourth stanza to cut the KiXX lead to two, 5-3. Robbie Aristodemo pulled the visiting Blast within one score, 5-4, when he finished off a delivery from Adauto Neto at 2:44 of the frame. Giuliano Celenza evened the score, 5-5, by scoring off a Aristodemo pass. The lead was short lived, as Ptah Myers drilled a header past Sagu only eight seconds later, regaining the lead for the hometown KiXX, 6-5. Castellanos recorded the assist on the play. Gary DePalma sealed a 7-5 victory for Philadelphia with an unassisted notch at 13:56. *Notes:* The club’s one-goal margin at halftime marked the first time since January 29 that the KiXX held a lead at the midway point. Rookie forward David Schofield recorded the first goal of his professional indoor career at 7:30 of the opening period. Attendance: 6,284 Philadelphia: 2-1-2-2=7 Shots: 30 Goalkeepers: Pappas (W, 21 saves). Scorers: Castellanos (goal, assist), Andonovski (assist), D’Ambra (goal), DePalma (goal), Morris (goal), Myers (goal), Rife (goal), Schofield (goal). Baltimore: 0-2-0-3=5 Shots: 41 Goalkeepers: Sagu (L, 19 saves). Scorers: Aristodemo (goal, assist), Bascome (two goals), Celenza (goal), Daughtridge (goal), Neto (assist). The club heads west to battle former player/coach Omid Namazi and the first-placed St. Louis Steamers on Saturday, March 11. The contest is scheduled to kick-off at 2:05 pm ET. The KiXX then return to the City of Brotherly Love to entertain St. Louis on Saturday, March 18. Game-time at the Wachovia Spectrum is slated for 7:05 pm ET with the action televised live on CN8, The Comcast Network. There will also be a live auction of the team’s game-worn jerseys following the conclusion of the contest with all proceeds benefiting Children’s Miracle Network at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.