MKE WAVE OPEN SEASON WITH EXCITING OVERTIME WIN AGAINST TACOMA STARS!
The Milwaukee Wave opened the Major Arena Soccer League regular season Friday night with an exciting overtime win against the Tacoma Stars at accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, WA.
"For a fan, that was a really fantastic way to start the 17-18 season," said Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero. "For a coach, not so much, but we'll take the win any way we can get it."
The Tacoma Stars came out of the gates swinging on Friday night with 3 unanswered goals (Michael Arguello, Ramone Palmer and Joey Gjertsen) in the first half before #9 Robert Renaud connected with #14 Daniel Mattos at 11:02 in the second quarter for the Wave's first goal of the regular season. Both Tacoma (Derek Johnson) and Milwaukee (Marcio Leite) would add another goal before the end of the first half.
"We had chances in the first half that we didn't finish," said Oliviero. "I thought Tacoma took our game plan and played it perfectly. They had the better of the possession in the first half, the energy of the home crowd and in indoor soccer you just have to realize that you are never out of it. But we stayed calm, stayed the course and wore down Tacoma which was great."
In the second half, the Milwaukee Wave came out ready to battle and scored three unanswered goals in the third quarter from #26 Ian Bennett (Max Ferdinand), #9 Robert Renaud (Marcio Leite), and #10 Ricardinho Sobreira (unassisted) leaving the Wave at a 5 - 4 advantage going in to the 4th quarter.
The 4th quarter brought lots of exciting defensive play from both teams and a beautiful bicycle kick from former Wave player now Tacoma forward Alex Megson to tie the game at 5 - 5 with only four seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime.
"I thought we played really well defensively in the second half," said Oliviero. "You've got to tip your hat to Alex Megson with that unbelievable goal in the final seconds of regulation, really a highlight goal."
The stellar defensive play from both teams continued into overtime until #24 Max Ferdinand took matters into his own hands and found the back of the net at 8:17 to give the Milwaukee Wave their first victory of the 2017 - 2018 season.
"Winning the first game of the season in another teams building on their opening night is very difficult to do especially with the energy they have behind them," said Oliviero. "To be going home 1-0 is great. We'll carry that momentum into our home opener November 4th and we are really looking forward to playing in front of the best fans in the league."