If the opening weekend of the new look MISL was an indicator of successes to come then we, as fans, are in for a promising season, as well as seasons in the future. Close to 13,000 people attended the three MISL games last weekend. The sellout we had at Hartman Arena for the Wings home and season opener was the largest total out of the games. Hartman was filled with 4,695 fans that had either been waiting ten years for their Wings to return, or new supporters enthralled at the idea of something new to Wichita. No matter a fan’s reason for attending the game the only disappointment they left the arena with was the final goal being scored by the Comets, robbing the Wings of a dream return as a professional soccer franchise. As Geison netted his fifth goal of the night four and half minutes in to the overtime period, Wichita was disappointed only for a moment. The end result was a loss but the overall feeling of the team’s sincere accomplishment left everyone with a positive sensation. The crowd did not know it yet, but the Wings were the only team to sell out their arena in the opening weekend and the Wings squad assembled was clearly capable of exciting. Thursday night’s game saw fifteen goals scored and a final tally of 16-14. The Wings were less potent on the offensive end the ensuing night when they played the Comets again in their building in Independence, MO. They only managed to score twice as they were beaten easily 14-4. Six of the points came during Omar Quiroz’s last four minutes as a sixth attacker, while Sanaldo watched from the bench.
Game 1: Home VS Missouri Comets
The fans were there and the players were clearly enthused by their support. The Wings did go down 2-0 due to Geison’s score. Though the first points of the MISL season did not light up the Wings side of the scoreboard, the equalizer made everything okay. Local hero and former Wing Larry Inlow struck a beautiful low, tucked in to the corner shot that left Comets keeper Danny Waltman helpless. I was broadcasting the game but when he scored it was like I blacked out. I couldn’t tell you what I said or what my first goal call ever was. The excitement that was relayed from Larry to the fans to me had me buzzing. I continued to describe the event even though I know the crowd noise made it difficult for our listeners to understand what had happened. After the celebrations ended and I had regained my composure was when I knew the Wings return was a true success. Directly after the restart I received numerous messages from listeners and my producer requesting I dial down the volume of my crowd mic. When I reached for the dial to lower the crowd sound, there was no room to turn it down. The crowd mic was completely off, the noise the fans created was coming solely through Cliff Brown (My color commentator) and I’s headsets. The release of anticipation from the crowd after Larry’s goal ensured us that the love and passion for this team was not lost, a decade absent of soccer in Wichita had just suppressed our adoration for the game.
For the remainder of the night we saw a Wings squad that had no trouble scoring as five different players tallied goals for Wichita. Their reaction to their goals is what troubled the team. It is an age old theory that you are most vulnerable to get scored on in the ensuing minutes after you have scored. This game proved that theory very true. No team lead by more than two points for the entire night and the Wings surrendered two fourth quarter leads, one within the final two and half minutes. Less than half of a minute later the Wing’s defense was unorganized and Bryan Harris found himself behind out of position Sanaldo as the ball rolled through Wichita’s D and all Harris had to do was slot home from a few feet. The Wing’s defensive lapses hurt them all night, and in to the overtime as Geison finished off a career night as he finished off a mishandled clearance with 10:29 left in the OT. It was Geison’s fifth goal of the night and it was the golden goal. The Comets leaped over their bench to join the others on the field in celebration. A disappointed gasp echoed in the arena as the almost prefect evening had been tainted by some unfortunately miscommunicated defensive efforts.
Game: Away VS Missouri Comets
The next night, the Wings had the opportunity to travel to the Independence Events Center in Independence, Missouri. The Comets crowd was decent but far less impressive than the Wing’s large and rambunctious opening night spectators. The crowd was less but the team is fortunate their performance on this night was away from home. As Jamie Harding said in his post-match interview with me, “Things just were not clicking tonight.” He said it correctly; the team lacked offensive potency and very rarely looked to be threat in front of goal. Our build up through the middle was decent but creativity and finishing in the final third was disappointing. Bryan Perez scored the second night in a row and Carlos ‘Chile’ Farias netted his first of the season. The 14-4 score line is a bit misleading due to the six points the comets scored while we were playing with six attackers. Before the final four minutes when Sanaldo exited and made way for Omar Quiroz to take on goalkeeping and attacking duties, the Comets had only mustered 8 total points. Sanaldo had had a very decent game just needed some work done for him on the other end.
Injury Report: Daniel Villegas had a decent first two outings during his first two games as a professional indoor soccer player. But due to a knee injury he is said to miss 4-6 weeks. Although if you follow him on Twitter his optimism about an early return makes his followers feel good.
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