WAVE'S IAN BENNETT WINS MISL GOLDEN BOOT

MILWAUKEE (March 3) —Ian Bennett of the Milwaukee Wave captured the Major Indoor Soccer League Golden Boot award for 2014, the league announced on Monday. The Golden Boot honors the player who scored the most goals during the season.

Bennett tallied four 3-point goals and 23 2-point goals for 27 total on his way to 64 points during the 20-game regular season. It is the highest total of Bennett's career, eclipsing the 62 he scored a season ago in 26 games.

“I'm very honored, very happy,” Bennett said. “I couldn't do it without all my teammates. And playing with Marcio Leite, the best player in the league, that takes a lot of pressure off me. I'm really happy for us as a team.”

The native of Hamilton, Ontario started the season off in style with a five-goal outburst at Missouri. Bennett scored Milwaukee's last two goals in a frantic six-point, fourth-quarter comeback, then netted the game-winner in overtime for a 23-21 win.

He also scored four against Rochester on Feb. 9, three against Syracuse on Dec. 31 and three against St. Louis on Jan. 25. Bennett's production has grown steadily over his last three seasons in Milwaukee, from 54 points in 24 games two years ago to 62 in 26 last year and now, 55 in just 15 appearances.

Bennett played in Chicago for two seasons, beginning in 2007-08, before coming to Milwaukee in 2009-10. He has won a pair of championships with Milwaukee.

Other MISL season award winners were Missouri's Leo Gibson (scoring champion, 76 points; most assists, 25) and Baltimore goalkeeper William Vanzela (fewest points allowed, 5.30).

Milwaukee begins the MISL semifinals at 3:10 p.m. Sunday at Missouri. Game 2 is in Milwaukee at 7 p.m. Monday, March 10, and if the teams split, a 15-minute “mini-game” will be played immediately after Game 2. Tickets for “Monday Night Futbol” are half-price, with tickets as low $7. Join #TitleWave7 and get your seats by visiting Ticketmaster.com or calling 414-224-9283.