MISL ALL-STAR ROSTERS ANNOUNCED
League showcase highlighted by three-day celebration and WISL selctions

Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Commissioner Steve Ryan has announced the rosters for the 2002 MISL All-Star Game, the League's midseason showcase, scheduled for Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, February 17.

The 2002 MISL All-Star Game, which will be the marquee event of the League's three-day All-Star Weekend, will feature an East Squad comprised of players from the Baltimore Blast, Harrisburg Heat, Philadelphia Kixx, Dallas Sidekicks, and St. Louis Steamers, as well as a West Squad consisting of players from the Cleveland Crunch, Kansas City Comets, Milwaukee Wave, and San Diego Sockers.

Reigning Goalkeeper of the Year Peter Pappas of the Philadelphia Kixx headlines the East Squad. He will be joined on the starting defense by two-time Defender of the Year Sean Bowers of the Baltimore Blast and all-star newcomer Pat Morris of the Philadelphia Kixx. Three-time all-star David Bascome of the Harrisburg Heat as well as the MISL's fourth leading scorer, Denison Cabral of the Baltimore Blast (64 points), will start at midfielder/forward. This duo will be joined by Blast midfielder Paul Wright, who is fifth in League scoring with 62 points and second in assists with 23.

Baltimore's Scott Hileman will join Pappas in goal for the East Squad. Hileman will be making his second straight all-star appearance, having earned the win in goal during the 2001 contest.

Harrisburg's Nick Corneli and Chris Morman, who have combined for 44 blocks this season, and Baltimore's nine-year veteran Lance Johnson, who is making his fourth all-star appearance, have also been selected as defenders.

Philadelphia's Chris Handsor, who is sixth in League scoring with 58 points and ranks fifth in goals with 23, will make his third all-star appearance as a midfielder/forward for the East Squad. He will be joined by Kixx teammates, Gary DePalma and Joel Shanker, who will be making their inaugural all-star trip.

Six-time Most Valuable Player Hector Marinaro of the Cleveland Crunch returns for his ninth all-star game. Marinaro is the sport's all-time leading scorer with 2,147 points and will be joined by six-time Goalkeeper of the Year Victor Nogueira. Nogueira currently leads the MISL in wins (14) and points against average (9.82) and will be making his eighth all-star appearance. Milwaukee's defensive duo of Lovelace Ackah and Troy Dusosky will start on defense for the West Squad. Ackah is a former All-Rookie selection and is tied for third in the MISL in blocks with 35. Dusosky has notched eight goals, 24 points, and 26 blocks on the season.

The Wave's Joe Reiniger, who is riding a 94-game scoring streak, and Kansas City Comets forward Dino Delevski, who is second in the League in scoring with 79 points, will join Marinaro at midfielder/forward for the West Squad.

Chris Damico (second in the MISL in saves with 251) will relieve Nogueira in goal while Milwaukee's 13-year veteran Glenn Carbonara, who has won six League championships, will be appearing along the West Squad's backline. He'll be joined by Cleveland newcomer Kiley Couch (second in the MISL in blocks with 40) and Kansas City's Kevin Koetters, who has registered 766 career points and 228 career blocks.

The 2001 All-Star Game MVP, Cleveland's John Ball, as well as Kansas City's Wes Wade (six-time all-star) have been selected to represent the West Squad as midfielders/forwards. Milwaukee Wave forward Michael King, who earlier this year became just the eighth player in League history to record 1,200 career points, will join this group.

Dallas Sidekicks forward and indoor soccer legend, Tatu, headlines the list of Commissioner's Selections from the former World Indoor Soccer League. The six-time Most Valuable Player has claimed MVP trophies in three different leagues with honors in the WISL (two), Continental Indoor Soccer League (four), and the original MISL (two). The native of Brazil has recorded 945 goals, 798 assists, and 1,743 points in 698 career games played. He is an 11-time scoring champion and a 15-time all-league selection.

Joining Tatu on the East Squad will be Dallas defender Mike Powers and St. Louis forward Mark Moser.

Powers has played 18 years of professional indoor soccer, including the past 15 seasons with the Sidekicks. During his time in Dallas, the Rockhurst University graduate has established himself as one of the game's best defenders, recording 67 goals, 74 assists, 147 points, and 1,058 blocks in 582 games played. He has been named an all-league performer in both the CISL (1993) and the original MISL (1989-90). He also played in both the 1989 and 1990 MISL All-Star Games.

Moser is a 12-year veteran who played nine seasons in the NPSL, with seven of those campaigns coming in a St. Louis Ambush uniform. Moser posted six consecutive 100-point seasons in St. Louis on his way to 464 goals, 160 assists, and 1,015 points in 284 career games. Moser was a five-time National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) All-Star and has spent the past two seasons with the Steamers where has posted 50 goals, 10 assists and 60 points in 40 games played.

Moser's St. Louis teammate, Daryl Doran, will headline the three Commissioner's Selections for the West Squad. He'll be joined by San Diego Sockers teammates Carlos Farias and David Beltran.

Doran is an 18-year professional indoor soccer veteran who has posted 351 goals, 462 assists, and 980 points in 706 career games. A native of St. Louis, Doran has been a part of five division titles, four conference championships, and has won one League title, guiding the Ambush to the 1995 NPSL Championship.

Farias began his professional indoor career with the Sockers in 1996 when he was named the CISL Rookie of the Year. The 25-year old forward returned to San Diego this season and posted 22 goals, 18 assists, and 40 points in 23 games played. Farias also spent time with the Harrisburg Heat during the 1997-98 season and has registered 63 goals, 44 assists, and 109 points in 71 career indoor games.

Beltran, 24, was recently named the 2001 WISL Rookie of the Year after recording six goals, five assists, 11 points, and 26 blocks in 23 games played. The Escondido, CA native made a successful transition to defender after starring at midfielder for four years at San Diego State University. He will return to the midfield for the MISL All-Star Game.

The head coaches for both teams will be announced via teleconference on Tuesday, January 29 and will be determined by the won-lost percentage of MISL teams through play on Saturday, January 26. Philadelphia's Omid Namazi (13-7) currently leads Baltimore's Kevin Healey (10-10) and Harrisburg's Richard Chinapoo (6-14) for the East Squad's coaching honors. Milwaukee Keith Tozer (16-5) leads Kansas City's Zoran Savic (11-10) and Cleveland's Mike Pilger (5-15) in the race for the right to coach the West Squad.

The MISL All-Star Weekend will feature three days of professional indoor soccer celebration, including an All-Star Press Conference and Luncheon, a Super Soccer Saturday All-Star Skills Competition, a Black Tie "Soccer Ball," and a Legends Game, which will showcase indoor soccer greats from an era gone by.

For more information on the 2002 MISL All-Star Weekend, including contact information for the teleconference on January 29, call 203-222-4900.

THE 2002 MISL ALL-STAR ROSTERS

East Squad

Player Pos. MISL Team

Scott Hileman GK Baltimore Blast
*Peter Pappas GK Philadelphia Kixx
*Sean Bowers D Baltimore Blast
Nick Corneli D Harrisburg Heat
Lance Johnson D Baltimore Blast
Chris Morman D Harrisburg Heat
*Pat Morris D Philadelphia Kixx
Mike Powers D Dallas Sidekicks
*David Bascome F Harrisburg Heat
*Denison Cabral F Baltimore Blast
Gary DePalma F Philadelphia Kixx
Chris Handsor F Philadelphia Kixx
Mark Moser F St. Louis Steamers
Joel Shanker F Philadelphia Kixx
*Paul Wright F Baltimore Blast
Tatu F Dallas Sidekicks

West Squad

Player Pos. MISL Team

Chris Damico GK Kansas City Comets
*Victor Nogueira GK Milwaukee Wave
*Lovelace Ackah D Milwaukee Wave
Glenn Carbonara D Milwaukee Wave
Kiley Couch D Cleveland Crunch
Daryl Doran D St. Louis Steamers
*Troy Dusosky D Milwaukee Wave
Kevin Koetters D Kansas City Comets
John Ball F Cleveland Crunch
David Beltran F San Diego Sockers
*Dino Delevski F Kansas City Comets
Carlos Farias F San Diego Sockers
Michael King F Milwaukee Wave
*Hector Marinaro F Cleveland Crunch
*Joe Reiniger F Milwaukee Wave
Wes Wade F Kansas City Comets

*Starter