The 2013–14 Detroit Waza season was the sixth season of the Detroit Waza professional indoor soccer club, also known as Detroit Waza Flo Pro FC. The Waza, an Eastern Division team and charter member of the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Melvindale Ice Arena in the Detroit suburb of Melvindale, Michigan. The team was led by general manager Valentino Scicluna and head coaches Matt Johnson and Dominic Scicluna.
Season summary The Waza started the season on a down note, losing in overtime at home to the Harrisbrg Heat, rebounded to win 3 straight, then lost their next 3. After the Christmas break, Detroit won 7 of their next 8 games and finished the season 10–5. (A scheduled home match against the Illinois Piasa was cancelled.) This was good enough for 2nd place the Eastern Division and entry into the post-season. Detroit fell to the Cleveland Freeze 6–5 in the Eastern Division Final, ending their playoff run.
After receiving a bye in the Round of 32, the Detroit Waza participated in the 2013–14 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer starting with a game against the Harrisburg Heat in the Round of 16 on December 21. Harrisburg won the match, ending Detroit's 2013–14 tournament run. The Waza were the defending tournament champions.
Off-field moves The Waza organization has a long history of community involvement and operates more than 100 youth soccer teams in the Detroit area. For the 2013–14 season, the team worked with local charity Hooligans For Heroes to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. A portion of each ticket sold went to the veterans service organization.
Awards and honors On December 3, 2013, the Professional Arena Soccer League named midfielder Miki Djerisilo as the PASL Player of the Week. The league cited his team-leading scoring and his offensive work in the previous weekend's matches.
On February 18, 2014, the PASL named goalkeeper Joey Kapinos as its Player of the Week. The league cited his back-to-back one goal road wins, earning his team a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
On February 26, 2014, the PASL announced its "All-League" honors. Forward Costea Decu was one of six players named to the All-League Second Team.
Schedule
Regular season Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record 1 Saturday November 9 7:05pm Harrisburg Heat L 7–8 (OT) 0–1 Melvindale Civic Center 714 2 Saturday November 16 7:35pm at Harrisburg Heat W 8–5 1–1 Farm Show Complex Equine Arena 1,605 3 Saturday November 30 7:05pm Cleveland Freeze W 8–7 2–1 Melvindale Civic Center 613 4 Saturday December 7 6:35pm at Illinois Piasa W 9–5 3–1 The Field Sports Complex 368 5 Sunday December 8 3:05pm at Chicago Mustangs L 9–13 3–2 Grand Sports Arena 565 6 Saturday December 14 7:05pm Chicago Mustangs L 5–6 3–3 Melvindale Civic Center 203 7 Saturday December 21 7:05pm at Harrisburg Heat† L 8–9 3–4 Farm Show Complex Equine Arena 1,590 8 Saturday December 28 7:05pm Cincinnati Saints W 12–6 4–4 Melvindale Civic Center 1,011 9 Saturday January 4 7:35pm at Cincinnati Saints W 6–4 5–4 Tri-County Soccerplex 225 10 Saturday January 11 7:05pm at Cleveland Freeze L 11–14 5–5 Soccer Sportsplex 594 11 Sunday January 12 3:05pm Harrisburg Heat W 12–6 6–5 Melvindale Civic Center 356 12 Saturday January 25 7:05pm Cincinnati Saints W 6–3 7–5 Melvindale Civic Center 485 13 Saturday February 1 7:05pm Cleveland Freeze W 17–7 8–5 Melvindale Civic Center 575 14 Saturday February 15 7:35pm at Cincinnati Saints W 8–7 (OT) 9–5 Tri-County Soccerplex 649 15 Sunday February 16 3:05pm at Cleveland Freeze W 8–7 10–5 Soccer Sportsplex 506 16 Saturday February 22♥ 7:00pm Illinois Piasa CANCELLED 10–5 Melvindale Civic Center N/A † Game also counts for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below. ♥ Postponed from January 5 due to extreme winter weather then postponed again from January 26 due to a scheduling conflict
Post-season Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record Eastern Division Final Saturday March 8 7:05pm Cleveland Freeze L 5–6 0–1 Melvindale Civic Center 1,218
U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Score Record Round of 32 BYE Round of 16 Saturday December 21 7:05pm at Harrisburg Heat L 8–9 0–1 Farm Show Complex Equine Arena 1,590
References
External links Detroit Waza official website