MISL News Release
Thursday, November 3, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – The 2011-12 Major Indoor Soccer League season begins tonight as the Missouri Comets and Wichita Wings take to Hartman Arena to restore one of the league’s historic rivalries to open the pursuit of the MISL Championship.
Seven teams will compete in the MISL this season, with the defending champion Milwaukee Wave and perennial power Baltimore Blast being joined by the Comets, now in their second season back, and expansion franchises the Wings, the Norfolk SharX, Rochester Lancers and Syracuse Silver Knights. The competition in the league’s arenas could be as competitive as the league has seen in recent seasons with proven players from USL PRO coming inside to play in the indoor game for the first time.
The theme for the season, though, is rivalries. With the restoration of one of the league’s most storied names in the Wichita Wings, as the Comets did last season upon their return to the league, there should be some extra bite in the meetings between three sets of regional rivals.
That might be found most keenly in upstate New York, where Syracuse and Rochester will be vying not just for a place in the playoffs but also local bragging rights. With Silver Knights coach Tommy Tanner and Lancers coach Billy Andracki having played with one another for the Rochester Rhinos in the 1990s, and USL Hall of Famer Doug Miller taking to the field for the Lancers, their opening contest on Friday night is likely to be a must-see on the league’s online video service, MISLLiveSoccer.com.
“I think it’s going to be a great rivalry,” Tanner said. “A lot of the players know each other, played against each other. Me playing with Billy for all those years, playing with Doug Miller for all those years, it should be a great rivalry.”
The top two teams advance to the playoffs from the Eastern and Central Divisions, and while Baltimore is acknowledged as the favorite to win the Eastern Division, the Blast believe they have some gaps to fill after the departure of top defender Pat Morris. Certainly, Baltimore coach Danny Kelly is expecting strong competition from the division’s three expansion teams, including regional foe Norfolk.
“We've lost some key experienced players and we need to fill those holes,” Kelly said. “That is easier said than done. We have some important questions that will need to be answered sooner rather than later.”
The Western Division could be a battle all the way to the final weekend of the regular season, with Milwaukee’s home-and-home series with Missouri rounding out both team’s schedules. After gaining experience last season, the Comets made a strong run to make the playoffs and pushed eventual champion Milwaukee to a mini-game after the two teams had split their playoff series, the Wave coming out on top 5-2.
For Wave coach Keith Tozer, the key for his side will be to not rest on its laurels.
“Since we won the championship last year we will be hunted and it is very difficult to repeat,” Tozer said. “[Our focus] will be our biggest challenge as many players in other sports do not commit as they did in the year they won. We will have to do more this year than last to contend.”
Now, though, it’s time for the team to get down to business. With returning stars like reigning MVP Byron Alvarez in Missouri, Carlos Farias in Wichita and Pat Healey in Baltimore and potential breakout performers like Norfolk’s Matt Delicâte, Syracuse’s Andriy Budnyy and Rochester’s Nelson Becerra, the MISL is poised for one of the finest seasons in its history.
You can follow all the action on MISLLiveSoccer.com this season, with live games and features from around the league, while the league’s website, Facebook page and Twitter feed will provide game updates, recaps, schedules, standings and statistics throughout the season until the championship series in March.