MILWAUKEE WAVE GAME PREVIEW – January 20th and 21st
Wave (11-1) vs. Wichita Wings (5-8), 7:35 p.m.
QUICK FACTS:
SERIES RECORD: 3-0 Wave lead
MILWAUKEE COACH: Keith Tozer (643-387/27 seasons)
WICHITA COACH: LeBaron Hollimon (5-8/1 season)
THE SKINNY:
The Milwaukee Wave and Wichita Wings are more than familiar with each other having played three times in Milwaukee already, but three games in Wichita in the next week against each other will add a whole new meaning to the term familiar.
The first two tests come Friday and Saturday with the Wave looking to build off their three-game win streak since falling to Baltimore on Dec. 31. The Wings are coming off a four game series, and 2-2 split, with Missouri and will be looking to jump in the standings in the hope of nabbing a playoff spot. Wichita is led by Jamar Beasley who’s tallied 15 goals and nine assists this season. He has struggled of late though, scoring only three points in the past four games. He will look to right the ship against a team scored nine points on.
In the first contest on Nov. 13, a back and forth struggle with four ties and four lead changes was finally decided in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter when captain Greg Howes worked his magic and put the ball in the back of the net to give the Wave a 15-13 victory. Four Milwaukee players scored three points in that match while 11 got on the board with at least one point in a trend that has continued through six games. All 17 field players who have seen playing time this season have scored a point. This balanced attack has proved effective and good enough for the third best offense in the league when it comes to goals per game.
In the second tilt against the Wings on Nov. 27, the Wave cruised to a 13-0 lead after three quarters and seemed to have the game locked up. Wichita had other thoughts in mind and stormed back with 10 unanswered fourth quarter points to cut Milwaukee’s lead to three with 1:33 left in the game. The Wave held tight though and came out on top 13-10 when the final buzzer sounded.
In the most recent match-up, Wichita jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead but the Wave responded with a 13-0 run spanning all four quarters. Six different Wave players tallied a goal and Milwaukee came out victorious for the third time against the Wings, winning 15-4.
WAVE MILESTONE WATCH:
Coach Keith Tozer: 700 wins (regular season and post season) as head coach (697)
Josh Rife: 100 career points (97)
Giuliano Oliviero: Wave 4th place for 2-point goals scored (1 to tie at 127)
Giuliano Oliviero: 100 blocks (99)
J.P. Rodrigues: 100 blocks (98)
Joe Hammes: 100 Games played (98)
UPCOMING WAVE SCHEDULE:
Saturday, January 21st at Wichita, 7:35 p.m.
Thursday, January 26th at Wichita, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, January 29th vs. Syracuse, 3 p.m.
