IGNITION WHIP COUGARS, 24-11, FOR A SHARE OF FIRST PLACE

 February 29, 2008

 Plymouth, MI. – The Detroit Ignition (15-7)  defeated the California Cougars (8-14) 24-11 tonight at Compuware Arena in the club’s third consecutive victory.  The game, which was nationally broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel, gives Detroit a share of first place in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

The first points of the match came from Ignition midfielder Ricardinho, a two-point score less than two minutes into the first quarter.  California midfielder Majell Aterado responded for the visitors at 5:42, notching two points off an assist from Semir Mesanovic.   With just 12 seconds remaining in the first, Detroit got two more points on the scoreboard off the head of Ignition rookie Vahid Assadpour.  Midfielder Ze Roberto was credited with the assist on the goal.

The second quarter belonged to Detroit, as Worteh Sampson, Ricardinho and Jamar Beasley each scored two-point goals to put the club up 10-2 at halftime.  19 seconds into the third, Brighton native Doug Rice put a two-point tally past California keeper Sanaldo, who played for Detroit last season.  Less than two minutes later, Ze Roberto increased the club’s lead to 13 with a three-point score that spurred the Cougars to bring netminder Matt McDougall in for Sanaldo.   California closed out the quarter with nine straight points from Franck M’Bemba, Evan McNeley, Aterado and Enrique Tovar.

Forward Hewerton Moreira got the Ignition started up again as the fourth quarter began, scoring a two-point tally at 6:59 with an assist from Droo Callahan.  Mike Apple added two more points for Detroit at 7:44 with an assist from goalkeeper Danny Waltman.  At 10:16, midfielder Ryan Mack buried a three-point shot with an assist from Ricardinho.  Ignition defender Josh Rife scored the last goal of the night, a two-point tally at 12:26 to bring the final score to 24-11.

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