MILWAUKEE WAVE TAKE ON UTICA CITY FC; A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON.

By Henry Amini.

MILWAUKEE, WI - The 7-Time  Champion Milwaukee Wave travel to Utica, New York to play Utica City FC on Sunday. 

The first 12 games of the regular season are behind the Milwaukee Wave, which offers some time for reflection. The Wave currently sit at second in the standings by three points with two games in hand against the Kansas City Comets, who are currently in first. The second best points per game average—the number of points a team holds in the standings against the amount of games they’ve played—belongs to the Wave. This team has had a relatively good season, one of the best in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL), but the team’s expectations are to be the best; consistency is a focus for head coach Marcio Leite. 

 “We're happy, at the same time, we know that we also dropped some points,” Leite said. The Milwaukee Wave look to correct their previous performance at Adirondack Bank Center against Utica City FC, which saw the team lose in overtime at the back half of the fabled Baltimore-Utica road trip. The Wave travel to Utica on Sunday under significantly better conditions. They will have had a full week of recovery and training and the first-year coaching staff will have had an opportunity to see Utica City FC both on film and from the first-hand experience that came from their game against them in December. 

“I give the coaches before me on the Wave a lot of credit,” Leite said, referring to his time as both an assistant coach and a player. Having played for the Wave under Kieth Tozer and Giuliano Oliviero, Leite comes from a highly successful coaching tree. He acknowledges the challenges that come with being the head coach of a professional team with as much history as the Milwaukee Wave, and the foundation built by his predecessors is certainly not lost in his mindset. 

“I was having a conversation with Jonathan Greenfield today… in this 2nd part of the season our goal is to actually pull away from the crowd,” Leite said. The Milwaukee Wave employ a powerhouse coaching staff with significant indoor soccer experience. The staff owns a combined 11 championships; most of which were in a Milwaukee Wave uniform. Greenfield’s point about finding separation in the table is going to be a focus for the Wave who have their sights set on the first seed in the updated playoff format. 

“We're going to have to show a lot of consistency with our play,” Leite said, sharing the importance of playing throughout the entire game in a league with as much pace and parity as the MASL. Looking ahead to their matchup with Utica City, the Wave will see an opportunity to grab three points in a single-game weekend and hopes of their first win against Hewerton’s side, who have had some troubles finding their footing in the condensed league. They currently sit at the bottom of the league table and Utica City FC will certainly be hungry and playing to win each time they take the field.

The Milwaukee Wave have some true star-power on their roster, including the goal scoring leader and assist leader in Alex Sanchez and Mario Alvarez, and they have made a claim throughout the first 12 games as serious title contenders. 

The first half of the season saw the emergence of young stars in the likes of rookies Oscar Flores and Gerrardo “Jerry” Perez who have made an immediate impact on the Milwaukee Wave’s season. Perez has scored two goals and played in significant close-out moments, notably in their overtime win against the St. Louis Ambush at home. Perez brings offensive composure and spacing with the security of being a technically gifted goalkeeper. Flores’ 11 points have provided a boost to the Wave who have scored 79 goals so far this season. A number of players on the Wave’s roster have emerged into the early peak of their career with the brothers Javier and Alex Steinwasher having standout seasons alongside Max Ludwig, the trio have combined for 32 points. 

Veteran presence is equally essential to the balance of Leite’s squad. All-Star goalkeeper, William Banahene, has proven again to be a menacing force between the posts, making 111 saves to help the Wave see their positive goal differential. Despite missing Ian Bennett for a significant portion of the regular season to injury recovery, the tenured presences of Max Ferdinand and Tony Walls provide the team with astounding knowledge and experience. 

“We are definitely in a spot where, especially talking as a team, with the coaching staff being on board as well, we all have it clear that we have what it takes to make it to that championship game, to even win a championship,” Alex Sanchez said, outlining the high expectations that the storied Milwaukee Wave franchise holds. 

“I believe they're bought in, 100 percent... With training, the way we want to do things. The response from the players has been fantastic,” Leite said. The Milwaukee Wave will play at home on their legendary black turf for seven of their remaining 12 games. In the updated playoff format, holding a spot in the top two seeds holds serious implications and the entire organization is looking forward to the opportunity.

The Milwaukee Wave face Utica City FC at Adirondack Bank Center on Sunday, February 1 at 2:00pm CST.