2004-05 MISL All-Rookie Teams Announced
THREE CHICAGO STORM SELECTIONS
HEADLINE MISL’s 2004-05 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
WESTPORT, Conn. – The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced today its 2004-05 All-Rookie Team following a week-long balloting process that polled media and team personnel and concluded on Monday, April 25, one day after the conclusion of the MISL regular season. Selected to the team were three players from the Chicago Storm, two from the Philadelphia KiXX, and one from the Kansas City Comets. Voters were asked to select three forward/midfielders, two defenders, and one goalkeeper for this team.
Chicago, a first-year expansion club which finished 18-21 and was in the postseason chase until losing its final game to St. Louis on April 24, was rewarded for its fine inaugural season with goalkeeper Danny Waltman, defender Lazo Alavanja, and forward Byron Alvarez all gaining MISL All-Rookie Team recognition.
In his first year of professional indoor soccer, Waltman solidified himself as one of the MISL’s better goalkeepers. The 23-year-old, University of Washington graduate and Gig Harbor, Wa., native, started 36 of 39 games for the Storm, led MISL goalkeepers in minutes played (2145), had a record of 18-18, a goals against average of 5.23, and a .687 save percentage.
In Alavanja and Alvarez, Chicago had another pair of newcomers that gained early notoriety in the MISL. Both have had previous stints in Major League Soccer (MLS). In Alavanja, a native of Crown Point, Ind., the Storm have a versatile defender that totaled 11 goals, 13 assists, and 33 blocks in 37 games played. Alvarez, flourished as a Chicago forward, scoring 27 points (21 goals and six assists), despite playing in only 29 games.
Philadelphia’s contributions to the All-Rookie Team are talented target forward John Barry Nusum and defender Chris Fehrle. Nusum, who was raised in Bermuda, led all MISL rookies, and finished in the top-10 in the MISL with 45 points and 28 goals. He also added 17 assists. Fehrle, a Philadelphia native and Syracuse graduate, was another standout among the team’s rather large pool of rookies that helped lead Philadelphia to its ninth consecutive postseason appearance. A defender, Fehrle had three goals, four assists, and 28 blocks in 37 games.
Like Nusum and Alvarez, Kansas City’s James Koehler emerged as a top scorer in the League. Raised in Brazil, Koehler made his MISL debut at the age of 33 and produced for the Comets, averaging nearly one point per game. In 36 games, Kohler totaled 26 goals and eight assists (34 points), while attempting only 88 shots.
ABOUT THE MISL The Major Indoor Soccer League is a single-entity organization featuring a coast-to-coast presence with seven teams located across the United States. The MISL is the single major league of indoor soccer. In February of 2004, the League announced an expansion team in Stockton, CA, that will begin play in 2005-06. On May 4, 2004, the League announced plans for an expansion team in Newark, NJ, that will begin play in 2007-08. The 2005 MISL Championship Series Finals will feature the Milwaukee Wave and the Cleveland Force and is scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee (Game One) and Saturday, May 21 at Savvis Center in St. Louis (Game Two). The MISL Championship Series Finals will be telecast live in prime time on ESPN2. For more information on the MISL, visit the League’s website at www.MISL.net.