Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Edge Expansion California Cougars, 7-6 in Overtime Club Opens 2005-2006 Season in Front of 7,311 Fans at the Wachovia Spectrum Sunday, November 13, 2005 By David Deal Philadelphia KiXX Director of Communications The Philadelphia KiXX (1-0) won their regular-season home opener, 7-6, in overtime to the California Cougars in front of 7,311 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. Forward Ptah Myers registered the game-winning goal on a dish from newcomer Tim O’Neill at 3:26 of the extra stanza. Peter Pappas (1-0) recorded the win in net for Philadelphia, turning away 11 of the 17 shots he faced, while Brian Rowland (0-2) took the loss for the Cougars with 17 saves on 24 chances. Philadelphia opened the scoring, 1-0, as player/coach Don D’Ambra connected on the team's first goal of the 2005-06 season on a pass from forward Goran Vasic at 7:08 of the opening period. Less than 20 seconds later (7:26), forward Shawn Boney drilled a left-footer from the yellow line to extend the KiXX advantage to two, 2-0. With only six seconds remaining in the first quarter (14:54), Philadelphia native Pat Morris sliced the California defense with a centering pass to second-year veteran Damien Pottinger, who easily found the back of the net found to cushion the team’s margin to three, 3-0. Midfielder Andy Guastaferro netted a feed from Boney to lengthen the club’s advantage to four, 4-0, at the 12-minute mark of the second stanza. The quarter closed with Philadelphia holding the four-goal advantage. The KiXX added a pair of goals to further extend the team’s advantage, 6-0 early in the third period. Rookie of the Year recipient John Barry Nusum registered an unassisted tally at 2:56, followed by a restart goal from Morris at 7:53. Boney recorded the assist on the score by Morris. With Nusum in the penalty box serving a two-minute tripping, California finally struck onto the board with a power-play score from defender Vlatko Andonovski on a dish from teammate Ronnie Ekelund at 12:26. Bill Segewick pulled the Cougars within four, 6-2, with the team’s second goal of the evening at 13:20. California further cut into the KiXX advantage, 6-3, as Ekelund found the back of the net for a goal of his own on a dish from Caution at 3:25 of the final quarter of play. Midfielder Vicente Figueroa followed with an unassisted power-play goal to pull the Cougars within two, 6-4; the expansion team had the one-man advantage courtesy of two-minute charging infraction called on forward Gary Brooks. Less than two minutes later, forward Antonio Sutton registered California’s third unanswered goal to cut the KiXX lead to one, 6-5, at 9:05 of the stanza. California, with Andonovski serving as a sixth attacker, completed the comeback, 6-6, as Bernie Lilavois (13:59) connected on a dish from Ricardinho to force the game into overtime. Defender Ptah Myers secured the victory in Philadelphia’s season opener with a big right-footer at 3:26 of the extra stanza. Newcomer Tim O’Neill recorded the assist on the play, the first point of his professional indoor career. *Notes: *The Philadelphia KiXX are now 7-3 all-time in season openers and 5-1 in those that have occurred at home. Midfielder Tim O’Neill recorded the first point of his professional indoor career with an assist in overtime. Attendance: 7,311 Philadelphia: 3-1-2-0-1=7 Shots: 36 Goalkeepers: Pappas (W, 11 saves), Morris (-, 0 saves). Scorers: Boney (goal, two assists), Morris (goal), D’Ambra (goal), Fehrle (assist), Guastaferro (goal), Myers (goal), O’Neill (assist), Pottinger (goal), Sloan (assist), Vasic (assist). California: 0-0-2-4-0=6 Shots: 26 Goalkeepers: Rowland (L, 17 saves), Andonovski (-, 0 saves). Scorers: Ekelund (goal, assist), Ricardinho (two assists), Andonovski (goal), Caution (assist), Figueroa (goal), Lilavois (goal), Segewick (goal), Sutton (goal).