FLORIDA TROPICS LEFT PADDLING IN MILWAUKEE WAVE’S HIGH TIDE SATURDAY NIGHT

It was truly a team effort tonight at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena as the seven-time champion Milwaukee Wave took on the Florida Tropics. Sporting their Milwaukee Milkmen pinstripe jerseys, the players displayed their acrobatic and calculated plays. Seeing bicycle attempts from # 99, Andre Hayne, and the impressive efforts of Oliveira dribbling through not one, not two, but four front-end players of the Tropics.

The Milwaukee Wave started out on top with majority possession. Marcio Leite, #77, started the scoreboard on Saturday night. After an official review, it was determined the ball passed the line before it hit the Tropics keeper’s hands. As if watching it replay again, Ian Bennett scored in a similar fashion. The quarter ended 2-0, Wave. The Tropics had enough at that point and scored back-to-back goals at the top of the second quarter. Ending the half, the teams stayed 2-2, tied.

In the third quarter, Shawn Azcueta, #6, lasered a goal in the far post after faking out a defender. Mario Alvarez, #10, took advantage of a Wave Power Play and shot just over the Tropic’s keeper, ending the quarter 5-2, Wave. The Wave continued to play confidently in their lead. Qudus Lawal, #3, also scored a Power Play goal, sliding into the wall to get a final touch. The Tropics showed the Wave they were not backing down as they tossed in a total of three goals in the final quarter. This put the two teams in an uncomfortable position, 5-5, tied. Andre Hayne, #99, cause another official review as he scored from behind the keeper. There were a lot of blunders in the box, but the goal stood valid, 6-5, Wave. In true Bennett fashion, he scored last-minute into an unmanned goal. The game concluded with a solidified 7-5, Wave.

“I love the adrenaline and the energy… we settled in and got comfortable. Said Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero “We’ve played through [games like this] many times and today was no different. “.  

Ian Bennett was named Player of the Game because of his two goals that put the Wave on top. “I’m so emotional right now. I didn’t think I’d be able to come out and help my team, but the team believed in me.” The Wave is looking at the top of the Eastern Division. “Step by step we’ll get it done,” says Bennett.

Tomorrow, Sunday, March 5th at 4:05 pm CT, the Wave will face St. Louis Ambush at The Family Arena in Missouri. You can watch the game live and for free on Twitch.

Next Sunday, March 12^th, the Kansas City Comets will trek to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena for their final match-up in the regular season. The Wave and Comets rivalry is hotter than ever as each team has won their home games and stand with KC at three wins and the Wave at two.

Tickets are available atMilwaukeeWave.comor the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Box Office before kick-off for future home games.