FORMER CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMMATES PUT THEIR TEAMS UP AGAINST EACH OTHER IN EASTERN SEMI-FINAL THURSDAY

After wrapping the regular season over a week ago, the 7-time champion Milwaukee Wave had to wait to see would they would play in the opening round of the Major Arena Soccer League Ron Newman Cup Playoffs; they got that answer Monday night as Utica City FC forced overtime and defeated the Kansas City Comets 6-5.
 
“That was an exciting game last night,” said Milwaukee Wave Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero. “Utica has been, outside of San Diego, the hottest team in the MASL the second half the season.”
 
Milwaukee and Utica met three times during the regular season with the Wave winning the season series 2-1.
 
    Away vs. Home                  Score                  Date
Milwaukee vs Utica                  5 - 7                  Feb 19
Utica vs Milwaukee                  3 - 5                  Feb 5
Utica vs Milwaukee                  7 - 9                  Dec 31
 
Milwaukee’s Ian Bennett led the Wave during the regular season with 45 points, 35 points and 10 assists. Utica’s Gordy Gurson led City FC during the regular season with 41 points, 22 goals, 19 assists.
 
“You look at us and Utica and there are some similarities amongst the teams,” added Oliviero. “And then there’s Head Coach Hewerton.”
 
Former Milwaukee Wave champion and now Utica City FC Head Coach Hewerton Moreira won three championships during his seven seasons with the Wave. He also won numerous individual awards and was a three-time all-star.
 
“Hewerton has done a great job getting Utica into the postseason and now he’s coming home,” stated Oliviero. “This is where he spent most of his career and he always wants to do well in Milwaukee whether it be a postseason, regular season, pre-season game; that part of it I don’t think matters. He relishes the opportunity to play and try to beat the Wave.”