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Home  Articles 98/99 Season Crunch time commences
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Written by Norm Cowley
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Friday, 18 December 1998 |
"I divided the season into three sections -- the first 10 games, the middle 20 and the last 10," said Edmonton Drillers head coach Ross Ongaro.
"The first 10 are very important that a team plays well, the middle 20 is where you really show what you've got and the last 10 are definitely the crucial games.
"We're starting the middle frame and we're 1-0. We've got to win our next two games. The pressure's on. We then go on the road and we've got a very tough road schedule. Our second half of the season is atrocious."
The Drillers, leading the North Division with a 7-4 record, complete a seven-game homestand with games tonight and Sunday at Skyreach Centre and then play three road games in as many days between Christmas and New Year's. Edmonton also plays 11 of 13 games on the road between Feb. 5-March 14.
Turn him loose
After playing sniper Carmen D'Onofrio at midfielder previously this season, Ongaro is moving him back to "target man" while replacing Rick Titus on a line with Chris Handsor and Martin Nash.
Titus was suspended for five games after leaving the Drillers without permission earlier this week to try out for a team in Hong Kong while D'Onofrio, who has been bothered by a sprained ankle, lost his spot on a line with Domenic Mobilio and Kevin Holness to Nikki Vignjevic, who emerged from Ongaro's doghouse with a three- goal, five-point effort Sunday.
"I didn't say he could go. Absolutely not," said Ongaro, who had told Titus three weeks ago that he wouldn't be able to let him go to the tryout camp because he was needed by the Drillers. "He just decided to go."
Ongaro said Titus left "a very touching letter" behind to explain his decision but he wasn't about to make any rash decisions about the player's future with the NPSL team until he gets a chance to talk with him when he returns.
"Like I told the team, until I sit down with Rick Titus and understand the whole picture, I'm not going to shoot the guy," Ongaro said. "It's not my style." Alfredo Valente will replace Titus tonight.
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