WAVE FINISH OUT REGULAR SEASON WITH BIG WIN AGAINST DALLAS

by Van McNeil/Wave

It was an electric night at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena as the 7-time champion Milwaukee Wave clinched their return to the MASL playoffs in search of their next Major Arena Soccer League title.

“Making the post season for us usually comes easy,” said Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero after the game. “This year we really had to give everything we had to even get to this point. I’m really proud of how we persevered and to do it in front of such a great crowd tonight was amazing.”

For all of the intensity in the building from both the Wave and the Dallas Sidekicks it was the Wave who jumped out from the beginning to calm the nerves of the Wave nation with a four goal first half and a stout defensive performance.

Alex Bradley got the Wave off the mark 45 seconds into the match and was followed by Gordy Gurson in first half goals. Andre Hayne and Mario Alvarez notched two more goals in the second period, but it was the Wave’s ability to limit the Sidekicks attack which allowed them the ease to flow through the rest of the game.

Wave goaltender Joey Kapinos put forth a complete performance in the net and gave the Wave a steady last line of defense. MASL leading goal scorer Ian Bennett notched a second half hat trick fir his 50th goal of the season and Luan Oliveira finished the Wave’s scoring in the evening.

“We are heading in the right direction” added Oliviero. ‘At this point the best thing is to have our best legs on the game field Thursday. We’re going to prepare properly and we’re not going to over do it so we are fully ready for whoever we play.”

Depending on how things play out Sunday, the Wave will face either San Diego (Sockers) or Florida (Tropics) in Round 1, Game 1 of the MASL Ron Newman Cup Playoffs set for Thursday, April 7 from UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

First kick will be at 6:35pm and tickets go on sale Monday at MilwaukeeWave.com or at the arena Box Office prior to the game.