Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Fall Just Short, 7-6, to Chicago in Season Finale Clubs Finishes 2005-2006 Campaign with 10-20 Overall Mark Sunday, April 9, 2006 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX VP Internal Operations Chicago, IL - The Philadelphia KiXX (10-20) fell just short, 7-6, in the club’s 2005-2006 season finale versus the Chicago Storm at UIC Pavilion; the loss snapped the team’s season-best three-game winning streak. Reigning Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Rookie of the Year John Barry Nusum netted the game-winning goal at 1:10 of the second quarter. Storm captain Novi Marojevic netted the game winner, a restart power-play goal, at13:59 of the second quarter. Peter Pappas (10-18) took the loss in net for Philadelphia with seven saves on 14 chances, while Jeff Richey and Danny Waltman combined for 19 saves on 25 chances and the win for the Storm. The hosting Storm took an early 1-0 advantage as Gus Kartes found the back of the net with a right footer from teammate Jorge Valle at 3:37 of the opening quarter of play. Ptah Myers knotted the action, 1-1, sliding a pass from all-star defender Vlatko Andonovski past Richey at 7:46. Valle notched a goal of his own on a dish from Matt Stewart at 10:54 of the frame, but player/coach Don D’Ambra quickly responded on Andonovski’s second assist of the contest at 12:06. With less than a minute remaining (14:08), Awadalla Morad rounded out the period’s scoring with a score from Stewart at 14:07. Just 48 seconds into the second stanza, forward Mark Ughy extended Chicago’s advantage to two, 4-2, connecting on a pass from Morad. The Storm’s offensive assault continued with a pair of unanswered goals to take a four-goal, 6-2. Semir Mesanovic registered off a rebound from Morad, his second dime of the evening, at 3:38 of the quarter, followed by a score from Tamas Weiz on an assist from Andy Rosenband at 5:11. Defender Drew Kopp ended Philadelphia’s scoring drought with a notch from teammate Dino Delevski at 11:50; the connection extended Kopp’s point to four and Delevski’s to five. With midfielder David Castellanos serving a two-minute penalty, Marojevic recorded the power-play goal on a restart pass from Mesanovic at 13:59. After 11 minutes of scoreless action in the third period (11:15), rookie defender Josh Rife drilled home a dish from fellow newcomer David Castellanos to cut the KiXX deficit to three, 7-4. Morris pulled Philadelphia within two, 7-5, finding the back of the net off a rebound just 12 seconds into the fourth and final quarter of action. Midfielder Gary DePalma connected with Myers to chip further into the Storm advantage at 13:27, but Chicago held on to earn a 7-6 victory. Notes: Defender Drew Kopp connected on a pass from teammate Dino Delevski to extend his point streak to four, while Delevski’s extended his own streak to five. A two-time League MVP, Delevski has recorded 15 points on nine goals and six assists in only nine appearances with Philadelphia this season. * * Attendance: 1,441 Philadelphia: 2-1-1-2=6 Shots: 33 Goalkeeper: Pappas (L, seven saves). Scorers: Andonovski (two assists), Delevski (two assists), Myers (goal, assist), Castellanos (assist), D’Ambra (goal), DePalma (goal), Kopp (goal), Morris (goal), Rife (goal). Chicago: 3-4-0-0=7 Shots: 18 Goalkeeper: Richey (W, seven saves), Waltman (-, 12 saves). Scorers: Morad (goal, two assists), Mesanovic (goal, assist), Stewart (two assists), Valle (goal, assist), Kartes (goal), Marojevic (goal), Rosenband (assist), Ughy (goal), Weisz (goal).