MISL News Release
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – The Major Indoor Soccer League announced on Tuesday that Missouri Comets midfielder Vahid Assadpour had been named the league’s Player of the Week for the 1st week of the 2012-13 season. Assadpour led the Comets to a pair of victories against the Wichita Wings in their home-and-home series to take the honor.
Assadpour played creator in the opening game of the Comets’ season on Friday night, recording five assists as his side rallied from a 13-0 deficit midway through the second quarter to take an 18-15 victory. He then scored twice on Sunday afternoon as the Comets rallied again from an early deficit to defeat the Wings 19-10.
Joining Assadpour on the MISL Team of the Week is the Baltimore’s Tony Donatelli, who had a standout return to the league as he recorded a hat trick in the Blast’s 23-13 victory against the Chicago Soul. Donatelli, who played in two previous MISL seasons, finished with seven points in his first indoor game since 2008.
The Syracuse duo of goalkeeper Bryan O’Quinn and Nelson Santana both earned recognition for their performances, with Santana maintaining the form that saw him named to the MISL All-League Team a season ago with eight points in two games, including a pair of crucial goals in his side’s victory against Rochester on Saturday. O’Quinn, meanwhile, put in two solid performances, recording 28 saves across both games.
Completing the team are Chicago’s Carlos Muñoz and Wichita’s Andrew Hoxie. Muñoz played a pivotal role as the Soul claimed victory in the opening game of the franchise’s history, scoring two goals and adding an assist. Hoxie, while on the losing end twice with the Wings against the Comets, made an immediate impact for his club, recording hat tricks in each game and accumulating 14 points.
The 2012-13 MISL season continues on Friday night as the Chicago Soul visit the Baltimore Blast at 7:35 p.m. ET at 1st Mariner Arena. The two-time defending champion Milwaukee Wave take to the field for the first time later than night, visiting the Wichita Wings at Hartman Arena at 8:35 p.m. ET, before they return to U.S. Cellular Arena on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET for their home opener against the Missouri Comets.
Saturday night sees another pair of contests, with the Soul visiting Rochester at 7 p.m. ET for the Lancers’ home opener at Blue Cross Arena, while the Silver Knights visit the Blast at 7:35 p.m. ET for their first meeting of the season. All of this weekend’s action can be seen on MISLNation.com, with in-game updates available on Twitter (@MISLSoccer) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/MajorIndoorSoccerLeague).
MISL Team of the Week
| Pos. | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Bryan O’Quinn | Syracuse | Recorded 28 saves in two games as Silver Knights went 1-1 |
| D | Nelson Santana | Syracuse | Scored two crucial goals as Silver Knights rallied past Rochester |
| M | Tony Donatelli | Baltimore | Had a hat trick in his return to the MISL, leading the Blast to win |
| M | Vahid Assadpour | Missouri | 11 points in two contests as Comets swept Wichita |
| M | Carlos Muñoz | Chicago | Led Soul to victory against Silver Knights in opening contest |
| F | Andrew Hoxie | Wichita | Had pair of hat tricks, and recorded 14 points, in losing efforts |
Honorable Mention – Baltimore: Stephen DeRoux, Machel Millwood; Chicago: Carlos Farias, Matt Stewart; Missouri: Byron Alvarez, Brian Harris; Rochester: Mauricio Salles, Doug Miller; Syracuse: Matt Clare; Wichita: Geison.