3.25.09
On the Brink Once Again
In each of their first two seasons, the Detroit Ignition came within a whisker of a league title before succumbing. They lost the 2007 championship to Philadelphia, then were upset by La Raza de Monterrey in last year’s semifinals. They are close again after defeating Milwaukee and Chicago last weekend.
Detroit must win once and see Milwaukee and New Jersey lose once to clinch the first XSL championship. The Detroit/Milwaukee series is complete but the Ignition face New Jersey twice more, both times in Newark.
Milwaukee, which had been in control last week, followed up Friday’s loss in Detroit with another one Sunday in New Jersey.
A Long Way Removed from Orlando
Drew Ducker scored only five points in 27 games for an Orlando Sharks team that finished 4-26 last season. But he created one of the top highlights of the first XSL season last Friday with a fantastic bicycle kick in the Ignition’s 19-12 victory over the Milwaukee Wave. The play helped Detroit take control of first place in the XSL.
He arrived in Detroit thanks to veteran Miki Djerisilo, who also played in Orlando last year. Ducker still stays with Djerisilo and his wife, who have helped the 26-year-old get acquainted with his new surroundings.
Lucio in Control
After scoring a “cycle” on Sunday (3PG, 2PG and A) against Milwaukee, New Jersey’s Lucio Gonzaga has 50 points, 10 more than Milwaukee’s Marco Terminesi. He’s the only player in the league averaging at least 3 points per game, and looks to be a lock to finish the year as the first XSL scoring champion.