The Wave Are The MISL Champions - For The Fourth Time

ST. LOUIS (May 21, 2005)- The Milwaukee Wave defeated the Cleveland Force 10-9 in double overtime of Game Two of the Major Indoor Soccer League Championship Series Finals in front of 9,279 fans at Savvis Center. After 84 minutes of play, Todd Dusosky caught a Matt Schmidt deflection off the boards and knocked in the game-winner past Force goalkeeper Jim Larkin. In the ceremony immediately following the game, Todd Dusosky accepted the MISL Championship Series Finals MVP Award.

Giuliano Oliviero converted three goals and added two assists to help the Wave to its fourth League Championship in the team's 21-year history. Dusosky finished the night with two goals and three assists and led all scorers in the playoffs with five goals and 11 assists in four games.

The Milwaukee Wave got on the board quickly with a goal by Matt Schmidt off the cross pass from Todd Dusosky at 0:16. Cleveland tied things up at 1-1 with a rocket shot from Chris Handsor (2:38) to the top corner past Wave goalkeeper Nick Vorberg. Milwaukee's Angel Rivillo was sent to the box for a tripping penalty, and Cleveland capitalized on the man advantage just two seconds later off an unassisted goal by Genoni Martinez.

Wave rookie defender Chad Dombrowski collected the first goal of his professional career at 11:02 of the first quarter off a back heel pass from Todd Dusosky. The Wave regained the lead as Michael King was able to steal the ball away from Cleveland goalkeeper Jim Larkin and send the ball into the back of the net at 12:29. Milwaukee pushed its lead to two before the end of the quarter as Vorberg sent a long outlet pass to Giuliano Oliviero (14:40) who converted the goal from 45 yards out.

Cleveland got the first goal of the second period as Martinez sent in a low bouncer for the score at 2:13. Oliviero (3:32) tallied his second goal of the match when he sent the ball through the legs of Larkin.

The Wave and Force got things going quickly in the second half, tallying three goals in the opening 1:17 of the third quarter. Greg Howes converted the restart goal off a bullet shot at 0:59, and Cleveland responded with a restart goal of its own from Aaron Susi just eight seconds later. Oliviero recorded a hat trick when he was able to breakdown the Force defense for the unassisted goal at 1:17.

The offense continued as the Force tallied three consecutive goals to erase Milwaukee's lead and tie the game at 7-7 with goals by John Ball (4:24), Gary DePalma (4:39) and Allen Eller (6:50). Cleveland took the lead at 10:03 of the third period off an unassisted restart goal by Martinez.

Cleveland took a two-goal lead just six seconds into the final period as Eller sent a long pass to Martinez for the goal past Vorberg. Milwaukee cut Cleveland's lead down to one off a header goal from Ricardinho at 11:15. The Wave inserted Matt Schmidt as the sixth attacker and capitalized with as Oliviero found King in the middle of the box for the score at 13:14.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter:

MIL - Schmidt (0:16) - Todd Dusosky

CLE - Handsor (2:38) - Gilbert

CLE - Martinez (8:29) - UA (RSG, PPG)

MIL - Dombrowski (11:02) - Todd Dusosky

MIL - King (12:29) - UA

MIL - Oliviero (14:40) - Vorberg (PPG)

Second Quarter:

CLE - Martinez (2:13) - UA

MIL - Oliviero (3:32) - UA (RSG)

Third Quarter:

MIL - Howes (0:59) - UA (RSG)

CLE - Susi (1:07) - Neto (RSG)

MIL - Oliviero (1:17) - UA

CLE - Ball (4:24) - Rivas

CLE - DePalma (4:39) - Martinez

CLE - Eller (6:50) - Johnson

CLE - Martinez (10:03) - UA (RSG)

Fourth Quarter:

CLE - Martinez (0:06) - Eller

MIL - Ricardinho (11:15) - Oliviero

MIL - King (13:14) - Oliviero (SAG)

Second Overtime:

MIL - Dusosky (9:02) - Schmidt