Comets' Alvarez Named Player Of The Week

The Major Indoor Soccer League announced today that Missouri Comets forward Byron Alvarez had been named the league's Player of the Week for the sixth week of the 2012-13 season. Alvarez recorded a hat trick on Sunday afternoon, finishing with seven points, as the Comets held off the Chicago Soul 14-11 at the Independence Events Center.

Looking to end a three-game losing streak, the Comets got off to a slow start against the Soul, trailing 2-0 after the opening quarter. Alvarez, named November's Offensive Player of the Month last week, helped his side get on track in the second period, though, recording his first goal to make the score 6-2 midway through to quarter.

Alvarez then shone after the halftime break, first assisting on Leo Gibson's goal midway through the third quarter before making the score 12-6 with a goal 1:46 into the fourth quarter. Alvarez then capped his hat trick as the Soul tried to rally, giving him 14 goals and 32 points this season, good for second in the league in both categories.

Alvarez was joined by Gibson on the MISL Team of the Week, with the defender earning his second consecutive selection after recording three points and four blocked shots in the Comets' victory on Sunday.

Alvarez was joined in the Team of the Week's attack by Mauricio Salles, who continued his standout season with a six-point night on Friday in Chicago as the Lancers rallied back from a five-point deficit to open the fourth quarter to take a 13-11 victory against the Soul. Salles scored the game-winning goal from 3-point range with 11 seconds to go, spoiling the Soul's home opener.

Milwaukee's Marcel Feenstra was selected as goalkeeper after recording 13 saves in the Wave's 13-6 win against Rochester on Saturday night. Making just his second appearance of the season, Feenstra was strong against the Lancers' potent attack, raising his save percentage to 0.765 for the season.

Baltimore's Tony Donatelli earned his selection after scoring the go-ahead goal for the Blast in a tightly-fought 10-6 win against the Wichita Wings on Friday night, while Wichita's Geison earned a place on the team for his overtime winner against the Syracuse Silver Knights on Saturday night.

The 2012-13 MISL season continues on Friday night as the Chicago Soul host the Milwaukee Wave at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Sears Centre. Also on Friday, Missouri plays the first game in a weekend doubleheader as they visit the Syracuse Silver Knights at The Oncenter at 7:30 p.m. ET, before moving south to meet the Baltimore Blast on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. at 1st Mariner Arena.

Saturday also sees an afternoon contest as the Wichita Wings visit the Rochester Lancers at Blue Cross Arena at 1 p.m. All of this weekend's action can be seen on MISLNation.com, with in-game updates available on Twitter (@MISLSoccer) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/MajorIndoorSoccerLeague).

MISL Team of the Week

Pos. Player Team Highlights

GK Marcel Feenstra Milwaukee 13-save performance helped Wave past Lancers

D Leo Gibson Missouri Had three points, four blocks in win against Chicago

M Geison Wichita Scored overtime game-winner against Syracuse

M Tony Donatelli Baltimore Go-ahead goal as Blast edged past Wichita

F Mauricio Salles Rochester Late game-winner against Chicago capped six-point night

F Byron Alvarez Missouri Had hat trick as Comets held off Soul for victory

Honorable Mention -Baltimore: Adauto Neto, Machel Millwood; Chicago: Matt Stewart, Christian Meza; Milwaukee: Josh Rife, Missouri: Vahid Assadpour; Rochester: Doug Miller, Jeremy Ortiz; Syracuse: Neto, Nelson Santana; Wichita: Matt Clare.