RAMPAGE HOST KIXX
Rockford trying to halt 3-game losing streak
ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Rockford Rampage are looking to rebound from a Saturday loss when they host the Philadelphia KiXX at 5:05 p.m. Sunday in Major Indoor Soccer League action at the MetroCentre.
The Rampage are coming off a 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Wave on Saturday, dropping their third straight match and dropping their record to 6-7. Sunday’s game marks the start of a three-game homestand for Rockford, and it is an important stretch because the Rampage close out the regular season with four road matches in March.
The KiXX hold a 3-6 record this season and all three wins have come against the Rampage. But Rockford ended a three-game skid against the KiXX on Jan. 23, posting a season-high 22 points en route to a dominant 22-12 victory at the Liacouras Center.
KiXX head coach Don D’Ambra makes his return to the field as a player. D’Ambra started the season focused exclusively on the head coaching side. But with approximately half of the 2009-2010 MISL season in the books and his team sitting in last place, D’Ambra hopes his decade and a half of indoor experience can rejuvenate his KiXX squad. Rampage head coach Jeff Kraft returns to the bench on Sunday. He was forced to miss Saturday’s game against the Wave because of a red card he received the previous week against La RaZa de Monterrey.
Rockford needs to find an offensive spark that has been missing for most of this season. The Rampage are averaging a league-low 9.4 points per game. And yet, Rockford leads the league with 272 shots on goal, 13 more than Wave who have played in one more match than the Rampage.
The KiXX head into the MetroCentre with the league’s worst road record (2-5), while the Rampage are the only MISL team with a losing home record at 3-4. Philadelphia originally was to play the Baltimore Blast on Friday, but poor weather and driving conditions forced the Blast to postpone the match to March 13.
Notes:
• Making their points: Rampage midfielder Semir Mesanovic took over the team lead with 28 points, following his two-goal effort against Milwaukee on Saturday. He has 10 goals and six assists. ... The KiXX’s Adauto Neto has 28 points on nine goals and nine assists. Neto had his best performance of the season against the Rampage when he tallied four straight second-half goals and nine points during a 23-20 KiXX victory on Jan. 9.
• Familiar faces: Rockford midfielder Gary Brooks began his indoor career with the KiXX in 2004-2005. That season he posted a career-high seven assists and 18 blocks. ... Philadelphia goalkeeper Sanaldo joined the KiXX this season to replace goalkeeper Peter Pappas, who retired before the 2009-2010 season. Sanaldo played for the Rampage last season as he helped Rockford en route to a runner-up finish during the 2008-2009 NISL season.
• Milestone watch: Rampage midfielder Matthew Stewart is five points away from 300 for his career. He currently is second on the team with 27 points this season.
