September 3, 1999
The San Diego Flash claimed its second consecutive regular season Western Conference and Pacific Division championships by virtue of its 4-0 win over the Orange County Zodiac Saturday before 4,579 spectators at Douglas Stadium. San Diego becomes the first team in A-League history to win division titles in its first two years of existence.
The team had a minor celebration in the locker room after clinching the titles, but it was a subdued party knowing that the team has not achieved its main goal of winning the A-League crown. "We are happy to have put ourselves in this position, but we have a long way to go until we reach our goal and then we can celebrate," said Flash head coach Papo Santos.
The Flash finished its sophomore A-League season with a 20-8 mark, one game behind last year's club. In two seasons, the team has compiled a 41-15 lifetime record, a .732 winning percentage. San Diego leads the League in home wins (13) and bonus points (11). The team should finish second in League with 65 goals, a new club record surpassing 1998's total of 58, behind Van-couver's 75 goals. The defense alllowed 30 goals, a club record, which should rank fourth in the final league standings.
San Diego will be the top seed in the upcoming A-League Western Conference playoffs and will host a single-elimination first round match on Friday, September 10, 7:35 p.m. at San Diego Mesa College against an opponent to be decided in the final week of the season. Four teams, El Paso (55 points), Milwaukee (54), Indiana (50) and Tennessee (49) are battling for the eighth and final berth in the West. Milwaukee is in the best position to make the post-season with two games remaining.
Forward Mugurel Dumitru received a red card after the match during an altercation that apparently began when Zodiac goalkeeper Mike Littman charged the forward after the final whistle had blown. Littman was not disciplined for his actions, as he also was involved in a dispute with several Flash fans. Dumitru's red card will be appealed by the team and the tape of the match has been sent to the league for review. Except for Dumitru, the Flash will be at full strength for the playoffs.
The Back-to-Back champions logo designed by Dean Mitchell Design will be released Tuesday. Playoff tickets are on sale now at the Flash Soccer House or by phone at 858-581-2120. Regular season ticket prices will remain for the playoffs, adults for $10 and children 16 and under for $6 with no charge for parking.
Flash Submit Application to Join WISL for 2000
The San Diego Flash have announced that it has submitted a formal application in coordination with partners Charles & Marjory McCreight and Stanley & Lesley Berkowitz to join the World Indoor Soccer League (WISL), the announcement was made by Flash President Yan Skwara. Professional indoor soccer has been absent in San Diego since 1996, when the San Diego Sockers competed in the Continental Indoor Soccer League.
Club officials met with WISL President Gordon Jago and Don Shapero last March, in which they submitted a proposal to join the fledgling league. The Flash has been planning its entry into the indoor market since the inception of the team and is in a strong position to operate an indoor entity. The franchise has solid financial backing from prime investor Charles McCreight and has secured an exclusive lease agreement with the San Diego Sports Arena.
"San Diego is ready for the return of indoor soccer and we want to bring our brand of soccer to the Sports Arena to satisfy that niche." McCreight remarked.
The WISL is an eight-team indoor circuit with expansion plans for ten teams in 2000, throughout North America and Mexico that plays a fall/winter season schedule. The league played under the Premier Soccer Alliance moniker in 1998 and now officially operates in its first year as the WISL. League cities include Dallas, Houston, Monterrey, Arizona, Portland, Sacramento, St. Louis (2000) and Utah.
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