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Home  Articles 99/00 Season Team Canada loaded with punch for all-star contest
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Team Canada loaded with punch for all-star contest |
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Written by Joanne Ireland
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Wednesday, 12 January 2000 |
Score one for Canada because judging by the lineup that will take to the field for the National Professional Soccer League all-star tilt, the home side has more than enough offensive punch.
Team Canada, it was announced Tuesday, will be led by Hector Marinaro, the league's all-time leading scorer. The Feb. 1 contest at Skyreach will mark his eighth appearance in an all-star game.
Gino DiFlorio, who recently became the fourth player to score 1,300 points in his career, and Nikola Vignjevic, the Edmonton Drillers' sharpshooter, round out the attack in the starting six.
They will be backed up by Dominic Mobilio, the ex-Driller; Chris Handsor, sixth on the Drillers' scoresheet; and Giuliano Oliviero and Chris Stathopoulos, both of the Montreal Impact.
Edmonton defender Todd Rattee was the third Driller selected by the league's coaches.
Team USA, a squad expected to have more of a defensive flair, will be announced today.
"It's always nice," said Rattee, "but there are a lot of guys on our team who deserved it as well."
For all three of the Drillers, it will be their second appearance in the showcase.
This is the first year the American-Canadian format has been employed. Past games have pitted representatives from the American and National Conferences.
"The best thing about it, for the three of us, is that we're hosting it," said Handsor. "Not only will the crowd be supporting the Canadian team, they'll also be supporting us.
"And I think it's a good thing for Canadian soccer, to show that there is a lot of talent out there."
The Drillers, following back-to-back losses to Kansas City, returned to the practice field Tuesday. Handsor, slowed by a groin injury, didn't run with the squad.
Alfredo Valente, who scored two of the team's three goals in Sunday's loss, left another hole in the lineup. He is in Vancouver, with Canada's Olympic team. The players are auditioning for roster spots for a tournament in Mexico later this month.
So it was that Ross Ongaro's attentions were focused on his lineup The Drillers are back at it Saturday, with a home game against the Wichita Wings.
A victory would end the losing skid, and add another Driller to the all-star lineup.
Ongaro is the front runner for one of the coaching posts. Both bench bosses will be selected on Jan. 17 -- and selected by virtue of their records that day. Ongaro has the edge over Montreal's Tasso Koutsoukos (11-7) and Cleveland coach Bruce Miller (8-10).
The nine remaining teams are coached by Americans and right now, Keith Tozar, the bench boss in Milwaukee, is out front with a record of 12-6.
"If I am the coach, I'll be very proud but I have something else to worry about right now," said Ongaro. "We have to get back on track. I have to get these guys back to playing as a team. It would mean nothing if I'm coaching the all- star team and we're on a losing streak."
STAR-STUDDED
The all-star showdown: The NPSL's all-star contest, a showdown between Canada and Team USA, will be played in Edmonton Feb. 1. The teams were selected by the 12 head coaches, and those votes have now been tallied. The Canadian squad was announced Tuesday with the American side to be named today.
Team Canada: Defender Todd Rattee and midfielders Nikola Vignjevic and Chris Handsor are the three Drillers who made the cut. Rattee and Vignjevic were both named starters, joining goalkeeper Peter Pappas (Philadelphia); defender John Limniatis (Montreal); and forwards Gino DiFlorio (Harrisburg) and Hector Marinaro (Cleveland). Domenic Mobilio, cut loose by Edmonton this off-season, returns to Skyreach as a Philadelphia Kixx and as a member of the 12-man squad. Goalie Paolo Ceccarelli (Montreal), defender Ian Carter (St. Louis), forwards Giuliano Oliviero and Chris Stathopoulos (both from Montreal) round out the squad with an additional four players still to be added.
Seat sale: Tickets for the game can be purchased at the Drillers office. Call 425-5425.
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