Detroit, Philadelphia clash for MISL title
April 20th, 2007
Plymouth Hills, MI (Sports Network) - The Detroit Ignition host the Philadelphia KiXX in the Major Indoor Soccer League championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET at Compuware Sports Arena.
The Ignition and KiXX advanced to the one-game league championship with "Golden Goal" victories in game three of their semifinal series. Detroit defeated four-time champion Milwaukee and Philadelphia defeated Chicago.
Detroit is the first expansion team to finish first in the regular season in its inaugural season. However, the Ignition's roster is full of players from last year's league runner-up, the St. Louis Steamers, which folded after last season.
Former Steamers, 2007 MISL MVP Jamar Beasley - who is the older brother of U.S. National Team player DeMarcus Beasley - and Chile Farias have combined for 59 goals for 127 points for Detroit this year. Jamar Beasley led the league with 40 goals and added 22 assists to finish with 107 points.
Beasley was the Ignition's only first-team All-MISL honoree, but goalie Sanaldo and forward/midfielder Jonathan Greenfield were named to the second team. Detroit's Mark Pulisic was named Coach of the Year.
Philadelphia was atop the regular season standings for more than two months and finished third. The KiXX are playing in their first final since 2002, when they defeated the Milwaukee Wave for their only title.
Philadelphia dominated the All-MISL first team, with goalie Peter Pappas, defenders Genoni Martinez and Pat Morris, and forward/midfielder Don D'Ambra honored. Pappas was also named the Goalkeeper of the year and Martinez was named Defender of the Year. D'Ambra finished third in the league with 85 points and Martinez had a league-high eight three-point goals.
The teams split six meetings this season, with Detroit winning the first game before Philadelphia won three straight. The Ignition captured the last two meetings, including an impressive 22-10 win on Feb. 25. The other five games in the season series were decided by two points or less, including two one-goal margins.
Although the Ignition are in their first season, Detroit fielded an MISL champion in 1992 when the Detroit Rockers defeated the Canton Rockers in the championship series.
Baltimore defeated St. Louis in last year's championship, its third title in four seasons.