Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Pull To Within One Half-Game of First Place Philly wins fifth game of the season vs. California, 24-11 Sunday, March 4, 2007 By Tom Hushen Philadelphia KiXX Marketing Manager Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia KiXX (14-9) defeated the California Cougars (6-19) in front of 6,829 at the Wachovia Spectrum. Pat Morris recorded a three-point goal and two assists in a 24-11 KiXX win on Pat Morris Bobble Head Night. With just seven games remaining in the season, the KiXX pulled to within one half-game of the expansion Detroit Ignition, and into a tie for second in the MISL Standings with the Baltimore Blast. David Castellanos began scoring less than four minutes into the action with his sixth two-pointer of the season from Edgar Bartolomeu. After the KiXX were awarded a shootout opportunity on a Vincente Figueroa tripping call, Genoni Martinez buried his 14th of the season, putting Philadelphia up 4-0 and extending his current point streak to eight games. 14 seconds later, Evan McNeley scored his first three-pointer of the season to bring the Cougars to within one-point, 4-3. California committed a bench minor for having too many men on the field; 25 seconds later, KiXX player/coach Don D’Ambra capitalized on the power-play set up by Pat Morris. D’Ambra has haunted the Cougars this season, with 20 points in five-games, including four goals in the KiXX come from behind win against California on February 17, in which Philly scored four goals in the final two minutes before winning in overtime. Ato Leone’s second of the season in his third game brought California to within one-point, 6-5. With six minutes remaining in the first half, Martinez scored his second of the night to put Philadelphia up 8-5. Dino Delevski set up the restart goal, which was the 650^th point of Martinez’s illustrious 12-year career. Shawn Boney’s eighth of the season from Dino Delevski put the KiXX up five points just two minutes into the second half. Keeper Bayard Elfvin played the ball with his hand outside of the crease, leaving the Cougars shorthanded for two minutes. Dino Delevski capitalized on the power-play opportunity, assisted by Martinez. Less than two minutes later, Sandre Naumoski scored his fifth of the season on a feed from Andy Guastaferro. Delevski set up yet another KiXX goal put home by Ptah Myers, his ninth of the season. Philly took advantage of another California penalty when D’Ambra scored his second of the night from Morris. KiXX rookie keeper Pat Hannigan entered for the final stanza up 18-5, when Aaron Susi scored his 14^th of the season to bring California to within 11. With the 6th attacker out for the Cougars, Pat Morris tallied an empty net goal, his 10th from Bartolomeu. Cougars forward Figueroa would tally two more goals to give the Cougars 11 points for the game. Ptah Myers finished all scoring with an empty net goal, his second of the match. Notes: Three-time Defender-of-the-Year Genoni Martinez was credited with the 650th point of his career on his second goal of the night in the second quarter. Martinez was awarded KiXX Player-of-the-Month for February before the game, after recording 25 points in six games during the month. John Barry Nusum did not dress for the KiXX for the second straight game with a sore quad muscle. Cougars coach Bernie Lilavois falls to 0-5 since retiring to take on full time coaching duties midway through the season. Philadelphia finished 3-4 on the powerplay. Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 4 Total California 3 2 0 6 11 Philadelphia 6 2 10 6 24 First Quarter - Scoring: PHI 2, Castellanos (Bartolomeu) 11:05. PHI 4, Martinez (Shootout) 4:18. CAL 3, McNeley (Unassisted) 4:04. PHI 6, D’Ambra (Morris) 2:18. Penalties: PHI Barton, Holding (2 min.) 10:44. PHI, Bartolomeu, Charging (2 min.) 5:08. CAL, Figueroa, Tripping, Misconduct (2 min., 5 min.) 4:19. CAL Bench, Too Many Men (2:43). Second Quarter - Scoring: CAL 5, Leone (Unassisted) 14:17. PHI 8, Martinez (Delevski) 6:00. Penalties: None Third Quarter – Scoring: PHI 10, Boney (Delevski) 13:21. PHI 12, Delevski (Martinez) 10:06. PHI 14, Naumoski (Guastaferro) 8:39. PHI 16, Myers (Delevski) 6:01. PHI 18, D’Ambra (Morris) 4:38. Penalties: CAL Elfvin, Handball (2 min.) 10:08. CAL Tovar, Charging, Handball (2 min., 5 min.) 5:14. Fourth Quarter – Scoring: CAL 7, Susi (Unassisted) 6:29. PHI 21, Morris (Bartolomeu) 4:06. CAL 9, Figueroa (McNeley) 3:51. CAL 11, Figueroa (Unassisted) 1:02. PHI 24, Myers (Unassisted) :05. Penalties: None