Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Close Out 2004-2005 with 8-2 Win in Kansas City Club Enters 2005 MISL Playoffs with Number Three Seed Saturday, April 23, 2005 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communications The Philadelphia KiXX (22-17) concluded the 2004-2005 season with an 8-2 victory versus the Kansas City Comets (18-21) at the Kemper Arena tonight. Despite the victory, Philadelphia retains the number three seed for the 2005 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Playoffs after the second-seeded Cleveland Force defeated the League-leading Milwaukee Wave tonight. KiXX rookie forward John Barry Nusum recorded the game-winning goal at 5:37 of the second quarter. Peter Pappas (19-15) earned the victory in net for Philadelphia, turning away 10 of the 12 shots he faced, while Sanaldo (10-10) took the loss for the Comets with 14 saves on 22 chances. After a scoreless first period, the KiXX rattled off six unanswered goals in the opening seven minutes of the second quarter. Philadelphia player/assistant coach Kevin Sloan sparked the offensive assault with the team’s first two goals, the first an unassisted restart goal just 12 seconds into the stanza followed by a notch from player/coach Don D’Ambra at 4:25. A mere 26 seconds later (4:51) , veteran forward Joel Shanker continued the scoring spree with his 12th tally of the season on D’Ambra’s second feed of the contest. Nusum, forward Shawn Boney and fellow newcomer Damien Pottinger concluded the club’s offensive output in the second. Nusum connected on a score after forcing a turnover in front of the net at 5:37, while Boney registered a restart goal from MISL-assists leader Goran Vasic at 5:41. Pottinger struck on a dish from Gary Brooks at 6:15. Kansas City finally ended their scoring drought, as midfielder Casey Stevens found the back of the net on a feed from Jamar Beasley at 10:22 of the period. Comets forward Dino Delevski cut the lead to four, 6-2, with a tally from Craig Scheer at 6”07 of the third quarter. D’Ambra responded with a pair of tallies to close out the period with Philadelphia holding an 8-2 advantage. The Philadelphia native first registered a power-play score from Sloan at 13:55, courtesy of a two-minute tripping infraction called on Oswaldo Medina, before connecting on a dish from all-star defender Pat Morris at 14:39. Neither team registered a score in the final period, as Philadelphia held on to earn an 8-2 victory. Notes: Philadelphia’s six-goal outburst in the second quarter marked the team’s highest production in a single quarter this season. KiXX forward Shawn Boney recorded his first goal since December 12, 2004; the native of Trinidad had missed 23 consecutive contests after breaking a bone his foot in late December. Attendance: 4,826 Philadelphia: 0-6-2-0=8 Shots: 29 Goalkeepers: Pappas (W, 10 saves) Scorers: D’Ambra (two goals, two assists), Sloan (two goals, assist), Boney (goal), Brooks (assist), Nusum (goal), Pottinger (goal), Shanker (goal), Vasic (assist). Kansas City: 0-1-1-0=2 Shots: 18 Goalkeepers: Sanaldo (L, 14 saves) Scorers: Beasley (assist), Delevski (goal), Scheer (assist), Stevens (goal). The club next opens the 2005 MISL Playoffs with a two-game series beginning next weekend. With the number three seed, the team squares-off versus the League’s number two seed. The dates and opponent will be announced shortly after the conclusion of the 2004-05 regular season. For additional information including the team’s playoff scenario and to purchase tickets, please contact the club’s Executive Office at 1-888-888-KiXX (5499) or visit www.kixxonline.com.