WAVE ROUT COMETS 16-4, BACK INTO FIRST PLACE

MILWAUKEE (Jan. 18, 2014) – Twenty-four hours after the most lopsided defeat in their 30-year history, the Milwaukee Wave flew back home and snuffed out the Missouri Comets 16-4 on Saturday night.

Milwaukee (9-2) jumped back into first place in the Major Indoor Soccer League by a half-game over Baltimore, who plays Sunday at Syracuse. Missouri fell to 8-5.

Missouri beat the Wave 22-4 on Friday, and Saturday's game presentd practically a flipped script. The Wave led 7-0 at half, gave up a pair of goals early in the third quarter and then pulled away, Ian Bennett dropping in an empty-net 3-pointer against the Comets' sixth-attacker unit to close things out.

“We got the lead, and in all three games we played them we never had the lead,” said Wave coach Keith Tozer. “We got the lead, so we could dictate.”

Guiliano Oliviero and Jonathan Greenfield led Milwaukee with two goals and five points each and Ian Bennett also had two goals. Oliviero was involved in a key sequence in the fourth period with Milwaukee on top 11-4. Missouri goalkeeper Danny Waltman pushed far into the offensive end, and when Milwaukee won possession, Waltman stuck up his hand to knock down a pass while scrambling in retreat, earning a blue card and shootout for the Wave.

Oliviero took the shootout, faking to his right and then being upended by Waltman, who drew another blue card and a penalty kick opportunity. He buried that to make it 13-4 with 6:49 remaining, and then Milwaukee spent two minutes on a 5-on-4 power play from the first penalty, bleeding time down.

Bennett broke away and slotted home a 3-pointer with 2:42 remaining, his eighth goal in four games against the Comets this year.

Robert Palmer and Stefan St. Louis score for Missouri. MISL leading scorers Vahid Assadpour and Leo Gibson were held without a point.

Marcel Feenstra was credited with 11 saves and Fabinho made four blocks to lead the defense.

The Wave return to action next Saturday at 6 p.m., hosting the St. Louis Ambush at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The annual Mascot/Celebrity game is played at halftime, and Eggers Imprints will give away T-shirts. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com or call the Wave office at 414-224-9283.