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Top scorers from Detroit, Chicago join Wave
GIS
MILWAUKEE – The top two scorers from last season’s Xtreme Soccer League champion Detroit Ignition have signed with the Milwaukee Wave, along with the league’s Defender of the Year and the leading scorer from the Chicago Storm.
Midfielder Ryan Mack (43 points) and veteran midfielder Kyt Selaidopoulos (33 points) led the Ignition to a 12-8 mark, and paired with XSL Defender of the Year Josh Rife (25 points, 31 shot blocks) to capture the league title.
Selaidopoulos played for the Wave in 2005-06, recording six goals and 10 assists. He developed a reputation as a “Wave killer” after joining the expansion Ignition in 2006-07, scoring a series of big goals in matchups with his former team. He was captain of the Ignition and also played on the Canadian national beach soccer team this summer.
Mack and Rife were teammates at Indiana University, one of the top college programs in the country. Mack was Big Ten Player of the Year in 2000; he blossomed in Detroit with 66 points in 28 games in 2007-08 and 43 in 19 games last year. Rife blocked 94 shots in three seasons with Detroit after coming from Philadelphia; last year he added scoring to his arsenal with nine goals and five assists. Rife was the United Soccer League Defensive Player of the Year 2005 with Charlotte.
“With the retirement of Lovelace Ackah, we needed to bring in another experienced defender,” said Keith Tozer, Wave head coach and vice president of soccer operations. “Josh Rife is a great addition to our back line. He’s got great shot-blocking ability, experience in championship games with Philly and Detroit and the ability to go forward.”
Ian Bennett, like Selaidopoulos a Canadian native, topped the Chicago Storm last year with two 3-pointers, 11 2-pointers and seven assists for 35 points in 20 appearances. His best performance last season was an eight-point effort in a 15-7 win at Detroit that snapped the Ignition’s 15-game home winning streak.
“In Bennett and Mack, we’ve added two proven goal scorers who have a ton of speed and great finishing qualities,” Tozer said. “Kyt is a very experienced player who has been a captain and showed great leadership in Detroit.”
This group joins a list of signed veterans that includes Brett Wiesner, Marcel Feenstra, Joe Hammes, Nathan Sabich, Tenzin Rampa, Giuliano Oliviero and J.P. Rodrigues. Additional signings will be announced in the coming days.
The Milwaukee Wave professional indoor soccer team is the longest-running soccer franchise in continuous operation in the United States. The team celebrated its Silver Anniversary last season, and operates the largest summer soccer camp program in Wisconsin. For more information, visit milwaukeewave.com.
