Soccer Spotlight:
Sunday, January 14, 2007
By Tom Hushen Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia KiXX (8-4) defeated the Baltimore Blast (5-7) tonight in the first of six meetings this season between the two clubs. 6,075 fans were treated to the KiXX Annual Mascot Game, featuring SocceRoo and area mascots facing off during half time. The game was the second of four straight home games through January 27 for the first place KiXX, who hold a half-game lead over the expansion Detroit Ignition. Three-time Defender-of-the-Year Genoni Martinez began the scoring for Philadelphia with his third three-pointer on the season, unassisted. Martinez took less than four minutes to extend his point streak to six games. At 7:02 of the first, Andy Guastaferro buried his seventh goal of the season to put the KiXX ahead 5-0. The fourth-year midfielder ranks third on the team in goals. The KiXX barrage continued less than two minutes later when rookie Tony Donatelli scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season, extending his point streak to six games. The rebound goal came after a shot from Sandre Naumoski, his third assist of the season in his 100th career game. Baltimore got on the board with a goal from Machel Millwood, his team-leading 11th. John Barry Nusum extended his current point and goal streak to five games with his seventh goal on the season, unassisted with 1:51 remaining in the first quarter. Martinez tallied his second three-pointer of the game less than a minute later to put the KiXX ahead 12-2. Philadelphia is now 5-0 on the season when leading after one. With just over a minute remaining in the second quarter, Baltimore's Denison Cabral scored the only goal of the period for either team, closing the KiXX lead to 12-4. Cabral's strike was his tenth on the season. Philadelphia out shot Baltimore 18-4 in the first half. Rey Martinez tallied his fifth goal of the year four minutes into the second half to cut the KiXX lead in half, 12-6. Philadelphia began the fourth quarter on the power play after a Carlos Garcia holding call. Player/coach Don D'Ambra took advantage with his 13th goal of the year on a Martinez assist. D'Ambra's goal extends his point streak to 10 games. Just over one minute later, Dino Delevski gave the KiXX a 10-point lead, 16-6, on a restart goal set up by Martinez, his eighth point on the night. With 5:45 remaining, Carlos Garcia's ninth goal on the season brought Baltimore to within eight points. *Game Notes:*
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