Xtreme Soccer League Players to Watch

By Jeff Kassouf

The break-up of the Major Indoor Soccer League has not just caused a division among the former teams into two separate leagues, but has also caused a shake-up among the players. Familiar faces are still all over the Xtreme Soccer League and the National Indoor Soccer League, but many of them are now in different places.

Jamar Beasley has been tearing up indoor soccer for a while now, and is a former MISL Most Valuable Player. After spending the past two years with the Detroit Ignition, the speedy midfielder and brother of DeMarcus is now with the Rockford Rampage in the NISL. Alongside the likes of Sanaldo and Dino Delevski, Rockford should be poised to compete with some of the more established teams in the NISL.

J.P. Rodrigues provided one of the most memorable rookie seasons in many years with the Orlando Sharks last year, recording 30 points in 25 games and making the MISL All-Rookie team. After playing for Miami FC in the USL First Division, Rodrigues finds himself in a much colder environment with the Milwaukee Wave. He should continue to prove to be one of the most attacking-minded defenders in indoor soccer.

Lazo Alavanja has made his way to the Chicago Storm after spending last season with the New Jersey Ironmen. He joins his Charleston Battery teammates Randi Patterson and Stephen Armstrong, all of whom will improve Chicago’s chances at a title.

The New Jersey Ironmen now have the services of Brazilian playmaker Neto, the 05-06 MISL MVP who has tallied 106 goals and 72 assists in 137 career games. They have also added Shawn Boney, who is an enforcer and always the biggest man on the pitch.

Of course there are still plenty of names in the same places, such as Denison Cabral and Sagu of the Baltimore Blast, and Peter Pappas and Don D’Ambra of the Philadelphia Kixx. Certainly, both the XSL and NISL will provide some great seasons.