One and Done, Norfolk SharX to Cease Operations



Norfolk SharX cease operations.

A famous saying that gets a lot of mention lately - "It's the economy, stupid"  may be the perfect way to explain the news today that the Norfolk SharX professional indoor soccer team are now a part of history.
The following is an excerpt from the official statement released today by the SharX organization:

"The decision to cease operations was very difficult," states minority owner,  team founder and president Marcie Laumann . "It became apparent midway through the first season that local support from sponsors, advertisers, season ticket holders and patrons was not driving enough attendance or revenue to carry a pro soccer team. However, our fans and supporters couldn't have been more enthusiastic.  We simply lacked sufficient funding to get the word out that Hampton Roads finally had a Major Indoor Soccer League team. Fans who attended just once were hooked - but getting attendees in the door the first time proved too challenging with limited marketing funds."

In the face of unforeseen expenses and lower than anticipated sales revenue, herculean efforts were made to ensure the team completed its first season. A staff reorganization, streamlining operations and improving the fan's arena experience contained the SharX losses and sparked a surge in attendance through the latter part of the season. As the crowds grew, the first season SharX players starting winning games, leading to even more growth in attendance.

One of the most unfortunate points is that there are still several viable interested investors out there who understand the connection the Norfolk SharX made to their fans in this area, the economic viability of the team and the value that a professional major league team brings to this area, but unfortunately the clock simply appears to have run out on options for continuance without someone writing a check," said Laumann. "If one of the interested investors was able to step forward today or tomorrow, then perhaps there could still be a 2012/13 season, but without such, we have to call everything to a close.

SharX defender Dos Santos named to MISL All Rookie Team

Norfolk SharX Press Release:

Tampa – The Major Indoor Soccer League honored the top performers from a highly successful 2011-12 regular season today, naming the All-MISL First and Second Teams and MISL All-Rookie Team.  The Norfolk SharX are proud to announce that team defender Gerson Dos Santos has been selected to the 2011-12 All Rookie Team.

On behalf of all the players and the coaching staff, we are ecstatic that Gerson has received such an honor,” said head coach Jon Hall. “It couldn’t go to a more deserving person than Gerson. His professionalism, skill and leadership, added to his high integrity, make him such a deserving recipient. He’s a class act.”

Dos Santos scored 36 points in 17 games for the SharX this season including the game winner in the team’s first win in its history over Rochester on December 29, 2011. He was named MISL Player of the Week on January 3, 2012 for his performance in that game. He also led the SharX in assists with ten.

GERSON DOS SANTOS

Dos Santos is very happy and surprised by this honor since he had to travel back to Brazil mid-season to tend to his ill father and missed six games. “I am happier to represent the SharX,” he said, “because the whole organization did an awesome job and everyone including my teammates deserves to be a part of this honor.”

 “I am pleased that our peers recognized a top player on a new team,” said SharX General Manager Jim Gooley. “New teams are generally given a pass on such honors until they prove themselves but Gerson was certainly a playmaker for the SharX.”

The 29 year-old Dos Santos is from Sao Paulo, Brazil and played his college soccer at Virginia Commonwealth University.  He played for several youth clubs in his native Brazil including C.A. Juventus and Foz Cataratas E.C., before moving to the United States in 2005 to attend VCU. He played for the Rams for three seasons, scoring ten goals and nine assists, earning All-CAA First Team honors in his sophomore season. He was named CAA Co-Player of the Year as a senior. He played for the Richmond Kickers Future in the Premier Development League in 2007. Dos Santos graduated from college one year early and turned professional in 2009, signing with the USL Second Division Richmond Kickers. He made his professional debut on April 18, 2009 in Richmond's 2-2 opening day tie with the Harrisburg City Islanders and helped the Kickers to the 2009 USL Second Division championship. He returned to play for Richmond at the end of the SharX’ MISL season.

The All-MISL and All-Rookie teams were selected through a vote by MISL team management and select media members.  

Baltimore and Milwaukee will face off in the best-of-three 2012 MISL Championship Series starting this Friday night at 1^st Mariner Arena in Baltimore (7:35 p.m. ET, MISLLive.com), with the second leg set for 4:10 p.m. ET Sunday at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee (MISLLive.com). A deciding mini-game will be played immediately following Game 2 if needed.

2011-12 ALL-MISL First Team

D        Mike Lookingland, Baltimore Blast

D        Nelson Santana, Syracuse Silver Knights

MF      Max Ferdinand, Baltimore Blast

MF      Geison, Missouri Comets

F        Mauricio Salles, Rochester Lancers 

GK      Sagu, Baltimore Blast

2011-12 All-MISL Second Team

D        Leo Gibson, Missouri Comets

D        Joe Hammes, Milwaukee Wave

MF      Marcio Leite, Milwaukee Wave

F        Machel Millwood, Baltimore Blast

F        Byron Alvarez, Missouri Comets

GK      Danny Waltman, Missouri Comets

2011-12 MISL All-Rookie Team

D         Gerson Dos Santos, Norfolk SharX

D        Stephen DeRoux, Baltimore Blast

MF      Kevin Ten Eyck, Wichita Wings

F        Slavisa Ubiparapovic, Syracuse Silver Knights

F        Nicolas Perera, Milwaukee Wave

GK      Eric Reed, Syracuse Silver Knights

SharX remain winless in MISL following loss to Wichita

The newest professional soccer team in Virginia, SharX struggling for first win

Park City, Kansas – The Norfolk SharX went up 4-0 on the Wichita Wings early in the game Saturday night, on back to back goals from Cecil Lewis assisted by Gersen Dos Santos and Matt Clare’s unassisted strike, and had a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. The score was an even 4-4 at the end of the first half, but Norfolk’s frustrations continue and the SharX fell to Wichita 17-4 after allowing 13 unanswered points in the second half.

Jamar Beasley had two goals and an assist and Carlos Farias added four assists for the Wings plus goals by Kevin Ten Eyke, Brian Cushing, Victor Quiroz and Bryan Perez rounded out the scoring for Wichita.

Norfolk keepers Jamie Lieberman and Brian Sowell faced 27 shots and Wing’s goalies Sanaldo Carvalho and Nic Martinez faced 13.

“The teams in this league are strong and we’re the new kids on the block,” said head coach Jon Hall.  “This is an intense game and there is nowhere to hide when mistakes are made because this game is so fast.”

“Even though as a building and learning year, this has been good,” ”Hall continued. “It’s a hard learning process. We will keep working and training towards that first win and when we get home on Sunday we will all hit the training field hard and be ready for Missouri at Scope next Saturday. We are not giving up.”

The SharX will host the Missouri Comets on Saturday, December 10th at Scope.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Click Here for more: Indoor Soccer News

MISL Championship Game - Wave vs. Blast tonight in Baltimore

Baltimore, MD - VaSoccerNews will be in Baltimore, MD tonight covering the MISL Championship game between the Milwaukee Wave and the Balitmore Blast taking place at the First Mariner Arena.

We will be tweeting updates live so be sure to follow us on Twitter: @VaSoccerNews

Details:
Championship Game
Friday, March 25
Milwaukee Wave at Baltimore Blast
Buy Tickets
Watch Live on the Internet via the America One Network

BLAST TO HONOR CABRAL AT 2011 MISL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Blast to Host 2011 MISL Championship Game on March 25

Baltimore Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey announced that forward Denison Cabral will return to 1st Mariner Arena for a halftime ceremony on March 25 when the Blast host the 2011 MISL Championship. Cabral, the team’s all-time leading scorer with 941 points, began his career in Baltimore during the 1997-98 season and played 13 seasons with Baltimore’s indoor soccer franchise. The Blast won the 2010-11 regular season title and will take on the winner of the Semifinal series between the Milwaukee Wave and Missouri Comets in the Championship Game.

2008 Rookie of the Year Re-Signs with Richmond after MLS Stint

RICHMOND, VA – (Monday, February 14, 2011) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that midfielder Stanley Nyazamba will return to Richmond for the 2011 season, pending USSF and Visa approval.

“It is our pleasure to welcome Stanley back to Richmond,” comments Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer. “He made an immediate impact in his brief time with us in 2008 and I know he is eager to make a similar impact second time around. Our fans loved Stanley's style, passion and enthusiasm for the game and there is no doubt Kickers fans will be excited about his return.”

Named 2008 USL-2 Rookie of the Year, Nyazamba quickly became one of the Kickers top scorers, tallying eight goals and two assists overall for 18 points. Picking up Team of the Week honors on two occasions, he concluded his rookie campaign third on the team in scoring, and finished in the top 10 in goals and points in the league. Following the Kickers 2008 campaign, Nyazamba became the 22nd Kicker to advance to Major League Soccer, signing a developmental contract with the Columbus Crew. Most recently, the native of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe spent the 2010 season with the NASL side FC Tampa Bay where he posted over 1,000 minutes in 25 appearances, adding two assists.
Drafted in the second round of the 2008 Major Indoor Soccer League College Draft by the now-defunct Detroit Ignition, Nyazamba joined the Kickers professional squad upon graduating from Lee University of the NAIA Conference. The three-time All-Conference First Team honoree earned a place on the 2007 All-American First Team and was named a NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete his senior season. During his tenure at Lee, the Flames posted a record of 53-14-2 and made two NAIA National Tournament appearances. Adding 12 goals and 20 assists his senior year, the 6’1” midfielder finished with 28 goals and 44 points over three seasons, eclipsing the All-Time Assists Leader at Lee University with 60 assists overall.

Reserve your 2011 Season Passes and join the Richmond Kickers when they open the USL PRO campaign, hosting Orlando City on Saturday, April 2 at 5:00 p.m. at Richmond City Stadium. Taking the field for their 19th season, the Kickers will compete alongside American Division rivals Charlotte Eagles, Charleston Battery, Orlando City and Wilmington Hammerheads and will also face National and International opponents Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, FC New York, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester Rhinos, Antigua Barracuda FC, Los Angeles Blues, Puerto Rico United and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico of the 24-game season. Visit RichmondKickers.com for schedules and ticket information.

#27 Stanley Nyazamba Midfielder 6’1” 172 lbs Hometown: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe