Philadelphia KiXX

Philadelphia KiXX
Founded 1995
Dissolved 2010
Stadium Liacouras Center
Ground Capacity 10,206
President Jeffrey Rotwitt
League MISL

The Philadelphia KiXX were a professional indoor soccer team based in Philadelphia, USA. Founded in 1995 as an NPSL expansion franchise, they played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

The team colors were teal, red and black.[1] After the closing of the Spectrum following the 2008-09 season, the Philadelphia KiXX moved to the Liacouras Center, on the campus of Temple University, for 2009-10.

The team went on hiatus after the conclusion of the 2009-10 season.

History

The team's original owner was Ed Tepper, also president of Tepper Properties Inc, had been one of the co-founders of the original MISL. In 2001, the KiXX along with five other NPSL franchises founded the new Major Indoor Soccer League. The KiXX won the first MISL championship (2001–02 season) over the Milwaukee Wave 2 games to 1 (4 to 11, 11 to 4, 8 to 6) in the best of three game championship series. The KiXX also won the 2006–07 MISL championship defeating the Detroit Ignition 13 to 8 in a one-game championship. After the MISL folded in 2008, the KiXX announced that they had joined the National Indoor Soccer League for its inaugural season in 2008-09. The NISL took on the MISL moniker for its second season.

Peter Pappas retirement and legacy

On March 2, 2010, KiXX goalkeeper Peter Pappas retired after playing his final match against the Baltimore Blast at the Liacouras Center. In honor of his years of dedication and spotless record the KiXX decided to retire the #22 jersey. Pappas spent 13 seasons with the KiXX. During that time he played in 416 matches, recording 5,399 saves and 230 wins. He was named Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ four times and an All-League selection eight times.[2]

Don D'Ambra retirement

Fellow long-term KiXX member Don D'Ambra retired in 2010 as well. He served as head coach of the KiXX from 2002–10 and played 575 games as well, scoring 483 goals. In April 2010, D'Ambra was named the head coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's soccer team, which he continues to coach today.[3]

Roster

As of March 17, 2010

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
3 United States DF Kevin Coleman
4 Canada DF Joe Di Buono
5 Republic of Macedonia MF Sandre Naumoski
7 United States MF Ptah Meyers
8 Canada MF Semir Mesanovic
9 United States FW Jeremy Ortiz
11 United States FW Don D'Ambra
12 United States FW Anthony Maher
13 United States DF Clay Roberts
14 Nigeria MF Tijani Ayegbusi
15 Brazil FW Adauto Neto
No. Position Player
16 Venezuela MF Angel Rivillo
17 United States DF Pat Morris
23 Brazil MF Ricardinho
25 Brazil GK Sanaldo
29 United States GK Nick Hovaker
30 Jamaica MF Gary Brooks
33 United States DF Will Kletzien
35 Cuba DF Rey Martinez
44 United States FW Shawn Boney
57 United States DF Ryan Heins

Year-by-year

Year League Logo Reg. season Playoffs Avg. attendance
1996–97 NPSL II 3rd East, 17-23 Lost Conference Quarterfinals to Blast 8-15; 8-18 7,894
1997–98 NPSL II 1st East, 26-14 Won Conference Semifinals over Crunch 10-4; 29-27
Lost Conference Finals to Wave 9-7; 5-19; 3-12; 10-16
8,637
1998–99 NPSL II 1st East, 23-17 Won Conference Semifinals over Wave 9-11; 13-11; 14-5
Lost Conference Finals to Crunch 0-15; 15-30
8,974
1999-00 NPSL II 2nd East, 24-20 Lost Conference Semifinals to Blast 11-15; 12-25 8,081
2000–01 NPSL II 4th American, 22-18 Won Conference Semifinals over Heat 21-19; 19-14
Won Conference Finals over Blast 19-23; 12-8; 16-15
Lost Championship to Wave 12-16; 8-9; 8-10
5,224
2001-02 MISL II 2nd MISL, 30-14 Won Semifinals over Comets 18-13
Won Championship over Wave 4-11; 11-4; 8-6
5,328
2002-03 MISL II 1st Eastern, 24-12 Lost Semifinals to Blast 6-8 4,294
2003-04 MISL II 2nd Eastern, 20-16 Lost Quarterfinals to Comets 5-8 5,226
2004-05 MISL II 3rd MISL, 22-17 Lost Semifinals to Force 3-6; 6-10 5,361
2005-06 MISL II 5th MISL, 10-20 Failed to Qualify 6,990
2006-07 MISL II 3rd MISL, 17-13 Won Semifinals over Storm 8-11; 10-6; 2-0
Won Championship over Ignition 13-8
6,551
2007–08 MISL II 7th MISL, 12-18 Failed to Qualify 6,118
2008–09 NISL 4th NISL, 10-8 Failed to Qualify 6,444
2009–10 MISL III 4th MISL, 8-12 Failed to Qualify 4,725
Total 265-222
Win % = .544
15-20
Win % = .429
6,080

Head coaches

Name Years
United States Dave MacWilliams 1996–1999
United States Omid Namazi 1999–2002
United States Don D'Ambra 2002–2010

Arenas

  1. Between 1996–2009 the team has also played select games at the Wachovia Center, Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey.[5]

References

  1. http://www.funwhileitlasted.net/2014/03/22/1996-2010-philadelphia-kixx/
  2. http://www.philaurams.com/General_news/Men-s_Soccer
  3. "Don D'Ambra". Saint Joseph's University Hawks. Saint Joseph's University. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  4. National Indoor Soccer League Will Begin Play in November
  5. Sidekicks Opponents: Philadelphia Kixx
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