Millwood Plays the Hero - Al Pawlowski's Take

Photo: Baltimore's Machel Millwood, the 2006 MISL Championship Series MVP, is interviewed by ESPN2's Holly Rowe following the decisive "Golden Goal" session played before 16,061 fans and a national television audience on Sunday, April 30, when Baltimore won its third MISL Championship in four seasons.

By Al Pawlowski

So it's over. Another MISL season in the books - another champion crowned in the Baltimore Blast with their third title in four seasons. Baltimore won both of their post-season series' with golden goal victories over Milwaukee and St. Louis, respectively.

Any player that's ever played in any sort of sudden-death period in indoor soccer will tell you how nerve-wrecking it is and how it's not made for the faint of heart. What's even more impressive is that it wasn't an Adauto Neto or Giuliano Celenza or even a long-time veteran like Lee Tschantret or Danny Kelly cashing in the game-winners. It was Machel Millwood - both times.

Now don't get me wrong, Millwood's a promising player with definite potential, but not necessarily the one you would think to be cast as the hero in the drama of the 2006 postseason. Here's a guy who lived in the scoring shadow of the Netos and Celenzas. But when the opportunity was presented, he capitalized - not once, but twice.

Against Milwaukee, another promising young player in Jonathan Steele created a turnover and got the ball to Millwood. He spun around and buried the 25-footer point blank against a helpless Nick Vorberg.

In the Championship Golden Goal, Giuliano Celenza refused to give up in a battle for the ball in the boards, somehow managed to get the ball over to a cutting Millwood, and he fired a b.b. into the postage stamp square that Brett Phillips' head and shoulder formed with the post and crossbar. On the replay we had on ESPN 2, you saw just how small of a target he had. Phillips had the angle, yet Millwood put it in the only place available. Savvy stuff for a player only in his third year.

I enjoyed being a part of the Championship Series once again, and being able to share it with all of you on ESPN2. Showcasing this sport on a vehicle like that is a true pleasure.

But what I'll remember most from this series is Machel Millwood. Ten years from now, maybe I'll look back and say that was the postseason that began it all for him. Maybe it will be Millwood's high-water mark.

Either way, Millwood's performance in the 2006 MISL Championship Series will be one to remember.