|
|
Story courtesy USL Public Relations
With 5 regular season games left to play over the next 3 weeks Riddle is urging his side to buckle down and do whatever it takes for them to achieve a play off spot "We've put ourselves in a position through our excellent away form where we are in the hunt for a play off spot. We've performed above expectations for a first year team and I think our inaugural season can be deemed a roaring success if we can make the play offs".
The Outrage have stuttered in their last 2 home matches losing to both the Indiana Invaders and PDL powerhouse the Michigan Bucks despite leading both matches into the 2nd half. Riddle says his players need to remain focused and confident during vulnerable periods of the game "If we are leading teams we are old and experienced enough to shut up shop and close out the game. The players are aware of this and we know now that it will take everything that we have got physically and mentally to achieve our desired goal".
Outrage Star midfielder Mark Briggs is currently on trial with USL-1 side Portland Timbers and Riddle was unsure if Briggs would return to the club. "Mark's come in and done an excellent job for us. There has been a lot of interest from pro clubs in USL and he has taken the chance to trial at the Timbers despite some concrete offers from elsewhere. I hope he doesnt come back and I mean that in a good way and now its up to him to perform at that next level and impress Gavin Wilkinson (Timbers Head Coach).
Whether Briggs has played his last game for the Outrage is yet to be seen but the club is buoyed by the imminent return from Antiguan national team duty of Troy Mellanson. The 24 year old striker has spent the last month in camp his national side and played in both matches against Cuba in this past weeks World Cup Qualifying "Im proud of Troy, he's gone away and played for his national team and will have had an amazing experience playing in World Cup Qualifying matches. I expect him to come back buzzing and hope that he will make an immediate impact with the side.
Mellanson's return is timely considering the Outrage this week released 3 players. Along with player/assistant coach Alex Andrews, Scott Ellis and Luigj Djokic have also left the club. While not divulging the reasons for their leaving Riddle did go as far as saying he saw it as a "step in the right direction for a positive environment".
The Outrage continue their homestand this Sunday with a match against the Cleveland Internationals.
Sunday (6/23) afternoons match with the Internationals will kick off at 3pm and will be played at Mayor's Riverfront Stadium in downtown Kalamazoo.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate with children aged 6-13 being charged $2, adults 14 and up $3.
| Midwest Division | |||||||
| PDL 2008 | Pts | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Kalamazoo Outrage | 19 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 17 |
| Chicago Fire | 18 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 3 |
| Indiana Invaders | 14 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 |
| Fort Wayne Fever | 8 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 21 |
| West Michigan Edge | 5 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 22 |
US National team news | Blog | West Michigan links
| Search this site
Northern Indiana links | Tournament pages | Club and team pages | Other links | mysoccer.com front page | Advertising information
Copyright © 2008, mysoccer.com