Around the League: Week 14

by Joseph Reina

**The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoints or positions of the Major Arena Soccer League.**

@josephreina21

Milwaukee Turns The Tide

With four losses in five games, it's fair to say February was not kind to the Wave. Their disastrous month put them squarely behind the eight-ball in the hunt for a good playoff seed, but rivalry games have a funny way of existing outside of form.


On Sunday afternoon, Milwaukee hosted the high-flying Comets and beat the brakes off their rivals, ending Kansas City’s eight-game win streak in the process. The 10-goal margin of victory is the largest of any game between the two sides during the MASL era. Such was the Wave’s advantage that all but three out-field players finished the game with a point. 


In his first game for the Wave, MASL all-time top-scorer Franck Tayou found the net four times and added an assist for good measure, while Ian Bennett joined his newest teammate as the only other member of the 500-point club, with a trademark goal in the second quarter. Ricardo Carvalho, Max Ferdinand, and Alex Steinwascher also enjoyed multi-point performances of their own.


While Milwaukee’s advantage grew, the Comets failed to find their footing. Rian Marques’s absence was felt heavily as Kansas City’s forwards struggled to maintain possession in attack. Zach Reget, who bagged three goals and an assist against Utica the night before, was held pointless on the night and accumulated six fouls, which saw him sent off late in the third quarter. 


The team as a whole just couldn’t get going and looked a step behind their opponents in every phase of the game. They played a taxing one-score game fewer than 24 hours prior and then traveled to face their well-rested rivals. This loss, despite the lopsided scoreline, is not an indictment of the Comets. With that said, they’ll need to regroup before their next game on Friday in Chihuahua. They beat the bicampeónes in Kansas City, but they’ll need to do it in Mexico if they want to avoid a two-game skid at this stage of the season. Kickoff from Corner Sport Arena is scheduled for Friday, Mar. 7, at 9:00 PM EST.


With just seven games left before the playoffs, the Wave needs to use this result as a catalyst to carry positive momentum into the playoffs. They have a tough run of games left, but I’m circling their three-game stretch that includes trips to St. Louis and Kansas City before Baltimore comes to town. Those three games will provide a better idea of how good this team really is and what they’re capable of doing in San Diego. Next, they’ll face the Outlaws at Mesquite Arena on Thursday, Mar. 6, at 8:05 PM EST.

 

New Look Ambush

From one blowout to another, the Ambush boat raced the visiting Sidekicks on Sunday, capping off a six-point weekend. As they continue to chase Tacoma for the eighth and final playoff spot, weekends like this will remind their rivals that there is no longer wiggle room. Winning is imperative.


This week felt like a turning point for St. Louis, who won just four of their first 15 games. With all the trade dealings, this roster looks completely different, and during our first glimpse of the new team, they showed up and showed out. James Thomas scored five goals this weekend, while new signing Riley Uries bagged four points of his own. 


At various points against Utica on Friday night, head coach Jeff Locker employed his goalkeeping tandem of Paulo Nascimento and Eduardo "Pollo" Cortes as a sixth attacker. This decision, inspired, at least in part, by Empire’s daring new trait, yielded moderate success on the night, and we’ll see if it is something they employ more regularly down the stretch.


While it didn’t feel as much like a game with major playoff implications, St. Louis and Dallas entered their contest this weekend level on 15 points and chasing Tacoma for the final playoff position. The rout played a major role in that feeling as the Ambush jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The gulf on display was clear to see as St. Louis scored five goals in the first quarter and seven in the first half. 


The Ambush currently trails Tacoma by just two points but crucially does have one game in hand, meaning theoretically, St. Louis controls their own destiny. Now, it's more likely that both teams will experience some ups and downs over the next few weeks, but the team that weathers the storm will be rewarded with a trip to the playoffs and a chance to compete for the Ron Newman Cup.


Tacoma will close out their month-long homestand with a critical game against the Strykers on Friday, Mar. 7, at 10:05 PM EST, but they’ll keep an eye on the game in St. Louis as San Diego visits the Family Arena for the second time this season. Kickoff between the Sockers and Ambush is scheduled for Friday, Mar. 7, at 8:05 PM EST.


Trade Grades

The league’s trade deadline passed last week, and some major moves were announced. From the league leaders down, nearly every team made some adjustments with the hope of qualifying for the playoffs and winning the Ron Newman Cup. At this point in the season, many teams have improved dramatically from last year to today, and roster moves are a major factor in that progression. Here’s a chart showing every team’s points total after 16 games compared with their haul at the same point last season. 


Some teams, namely Kansas City, Baltimore, Empire, and Dallas, have taken major steps forward, and with silverware on the line, everyone knows how important new faces can be to a team’s success. So, with that in mind, I’ve assessed every team’s trade deadline activity and assigned them a grade.


Baltimore Blast

            No Trades

I’ll keep this brief. Baltimore was the only team to make zero roster changes around the trade deadline. Normally, inaction can be a form of action, but for the Blast, who lost four straight games going into the deadline, this was an opportunity to make a statement and prepare for a playoff run.

Grade: D


Dallas Sidekicks

            In -       Felipe De Sousa

                        Joaquin Rivas

                        Flavio Guzman

                       

            Out -    Yahir Romero

                        Colin O'Keefe

                        Kristian Quintana

Just a day before the trade deadline, the Sidekicks fell to their cross-town rivals in a high-scoring contest. This loss, their 12th of the season and second to Texas, put them in an uncomfortable place on their quest for playoff qualification. In response, Dallas deemed three of their best players surplus to requirement and traded them away for cash considerations.

In their place, Dallas signed Felipe De Sousa, Flavio Guzman, and Joaquin Rivas, two of whom have extensive histories with the Sidekicks. They still have an outside chance of beating St. Louis and Tacoma to that eighth playoff spot, but they aren’t doing themselves any favors by bolstering their rivals at this crucial moment, especially after this weekend.

Grade: D-


Empire Strykers

            In -       Issak Somow

This year’s off-season winners have little to change in-season as they ride a four-game win streak that has all but guaranteed them a spot in the playoffs. While teams around them poked and prodded their lineups, head coach Onua Obasi managed to hang on to his entire squad and sign Isaac Somow from Utica City FC. While a bigger name would likely have helped them make a jump closer to the leading pack, this team is in a good place, and I can’t fault them for not shaking things up.

Grade: B


Harrisburg Heat

            In -       Jereme Raley

            Out -    Riley Urie

The Heat sits at the bottom of the MASL standings with 14 losses in 17 games, but they managed to pick up former Blast defender Jereme Raley in a trade with St. Louis. They sent Riley Urie in the other direction, losing one of their top-five points scorers. The playoffs are likely a bit out of reach, and this trade won’t have much bearing on their end-of-season record, but this is very average work in the player market.

Grade: C-


Kansas City Comets

            In -       Stefan Mijatovic

            Out -    Eduardo “Lalo” Alonso Alejo

Francisco Lopez Jr


The league’s best defense just got stronger with the addition of Stefan Mijatovic. The former Tacoma man is a physical presence with a penchant for a screamer. Comets Managing Partner Brian Budzinski said in the team’s press release, “As an organization, this is a calculated move, and we are aware of the risks. We hope that over time Stefan shows our community that those risks are worth the rewards.”

The Comets have dropped just 10 points this season, the lowest in the league, and are in the conversation to win not just the MASL Shield but the Ron Newman Cup as well. Kansas City’s defense is dangerous on both sides of the ball, but Mijatovic will add the ability to score from distance, forcing their opponents to step out and adapt. If everything goes smoothly, this trade could be the final piece to a puzzle they’ve been working on for years.

Grade: A-


Milwaukee Wave

            In -       Franck Tayou

            Out -    Robert Williamson


Based on his first appearance for Milwaukee, Franck Tayou brings fire-power to a team that desperately needed it. He’s an accomplished goal-scorer, and his large physical presence will help his teammates find space. On offense, he’s a weapon, full stop. But how does his addition affect them defensively?

In their last eight games before this weekend, the Wave’s defense conceded 30.9 shots per game, on par with Tacoma and Harrisburg, and they allowed seven goals per game. Losing Robert Williamson will be a blow, especially when they face a team with a large, strong presence at target.

Grade: B+


San Diego Sockers

            In -       Kristian Quintana

            Out -    Flavio Guzman


When it comes to championship-caliber defenders, there aren’t many better than Kristian Quintana. He’s a rugged and grizzled competitor who isn’t afraid of a good foul. Ball or man, but never both. As the playoffs approach, this master of the dark arts will be key for San Diego and their championship hopes.


This move is especially savvy when compared to their league-leading rivals in Chihuahua and Kansas City. Quintana brings with him a championship pedigree, having won the Ron Newman Cup with the Savage last season. While Gonzalez and Mijatovic are, without a doubt, major signings in their own right, Quintana’s presence and consistency down the stretch will be invaluable, which is why the Sockers are my trade deadline winners.

Grade: A+


St. Louis Ambush

            In -       Robert Williamson

                        Riley Urie

                        Amer Rados

                        Colin O'Keefe


            Out -    Franck Tayou

                        Uzi Tayou

                        Jereme Raley

                        Wil Nyamsi


By far the most active team in the past few weeks, the Ambush moved on from several of their biggest names via trades. It’s fair to say that the Tayou experiment did not go to plan in St. Louis, but despite that, they still have a chance of sneaking into the playoffs. In the hopes of seizing that opportunity, St. Louis picked up four new players who they feel will help them achieve that goal.

Robert Williamson is an immense presence at the back and will be helpful when facing some of the league’s toughest forwards. Midfielders Riley Urie and Colin O’Keefe both opened their Ambush accounts this weekend as they earned six points against Utica and Dallas. These acquisitions are a real statement of intent to the rest of the league, and hopefully for St. Louis, they’ll keep the momentum going.

Grade: A-


Tacoma Stars

            In -       Yahir Romero

            Out -    Moises Gonzalez

                        Stefan Mijatovic


From the jump, it will be difficult to replace the output of both Mijatovic and Gonzalez. The pair both averaged 1.2 points per game, but 22-year-old Yahir Romero represents a raw, youthful energy that can be good for galvanizing the spirit of a team. With that being said, last season, Tacoma managed to pick up two crucial pieces that proved immensely fruitful as they embarked on a 10-game win streak that ended in the playoffs against the eventual champions, Chihuahua. This is good business, but we’ve seen better, and it’ll take better for them to be successful again.

Grade: B-


Texas Outlaws

            Out -    Damian Rosales


There isn’t much to be said about Texas and its trade deadline activity. The Outlaws are playing for pride at this point in the season, and a big part of the development process for this group of young players is consistency. Adding in a new player can change strategies to suit their skillsets, so rather than gamble for the sake of gambling, Texas is focused on the future with their current squad.

Grade: C


Utica City FC

            In -       Brian Wilkin

                        Wil Nyamsi

            Out -    Issak Somow


With Kelvin Oliveira missing the remainder of the regular season at least, Utica will need to pick up as many points as possible without him for the playoffs. They struggled without him earlier this season but showed some signs of life during their second game against Chihuahua. Key to that massive result was the addition of Brian Wilkin, who made several key saves, but it’s unclear how much he'll feature during the remainder of the season. Wil Nyamsi will add some much-needed depth in defense, but ultimately, this team will struggle without some more high-level talent.

Grade: C-