Sharks Fight Hard…Fall to Three Time Champs

Saturday Nov 3, 2007

by Kim Singh

For the first half, Orlando showed they can play with the league’s elite; then Baltimore unleashed fierce blasts at the goal out-scoring the Sharks 13 to two in the second half. Defender Marko Bedenikovic scored a remarkable three point goal off a power play with two minutes 13 seconds remaining in the game. The water was too high as the Sharks drowned in the second half, scoring only one goal, which came in the last 20 seconds of the game off the leg of defender Bill Sedgewick.

As time expired in the first half of the game, the score was tied 4-4. The Shark Tank came alive with crowd noise, shifting the momentum back to the Sharks. After being shut out in the first period, the Sharks attacked as forward Mauricio Ruiz scored Orlando’s first goal of the night five minutes 31 seconds into the second period. The offense didn’t let up as defender JP Rodrigues put in the tying goal with two minutes 58 seconds left in the half.

La Fiesta Caliente was the perfect theme of the night, temperatures rose as the crowd made their presence and feelings known to the officials after a no goal call on forward Jorge Valle ending the first period. Feeding off the energy of the crowd, the Shark’s attacked the Blast’s territory, taking numerous attempts on the goal but couldn’t get an open shot. The vicious attacks on the net allowed Baltimore no possessions in Shark terrain in the last three minutes of the first period.

Penalty calls woke up the Shark Tank and raised the intensity of the game. The loudest outburst coming after defender Rodrigues was charged with an un-sportsmanlike conduct call, after the game tying goal for taking off his shirt. Another notable call on the night went to keeper Paul Nagy, for a hand ball outside the box, which earned him two minutes in the penalty box.

Once again Orlando made an impressive defensive stance at home, holding the league’s top ranked team, undefeated Baltimore, to only two goals in the first half. Baltimore remained patient, waiting for an open shot at the goal, while the Sharks blocked all efforts in the second period.

In the battle of the rookies versus veterans, Baltimore showed their 16 years of Major Indoor Soccer League experience when forward Machel Millwood scored the first goal on the night, one minute and two seconds into the game. Millwood lead the night in scoring putting up four points, and the assist off forward Matt Watson’s goal.

This game marked the first meeting of Orlando (0-2) and Baltimore (3-0). The two will meet again in one week in Baltimore at 1^st Mariner Arena.

About the Orlando Sharks and MISL

The expansion Orlando Sharks, an operating unit of Orlando-based BVC Sports & Entertainment, are the newest team to join the current Major Indoor Soccer League. The Sharks compete with the Baltimore Blast, California Cougars, Chicago Storm, Detroit Ignition, La Raza de Monterrey (MX), Milwaukee Wave, New Jersey Ironmen and Philadelphia Kixx in the 2007-08 MISL season. The league is in its 24^th consecutive year of operation, starting as the American

Indoor Soccer Association in 1984 and then the National Professional Soccer League beginning in 1990 before the MISL (II) name was procured in 2001. Information regarding Sharks season, group, and individual tickets can be obtained by calling the club at 407-403-6300, by visiting the team’s official Internet property, www.OrlandoSharks.com, by calling TicketMaster at 1-800-277-1700 or by using www.TicketMaster.com.

About Buena Vista Corporation

Buena Vista Corporation was formed in 2004 and has acquired property for development and sale throughout the area, including the Lake Ruby mixed use development project. Additional land acquisition and development projects are also underway. Buena Vista Corporation President and CEO Shamanand Kuldip Maharaj was born in Trinidad-Tobago and has co-developed properties in the U.S. and Canada. Buena Vista Corporation also consists of a professional team of developers, land planners and architects, hospitality project managers and financial analysts. Buena Vista Corporation also represents international financial organizations interested in Central Florida investments and works with domestic and foreign investment organizations.

WWW.ORLANDOSHARKS.COM