AMBUSH HOST MILWAUKEE IN SEASON FINALE FRIDAY AT FAMILY ARENA

by Jim Fossell

St. Charles, MO (March 28, 2019) – The St. Louis Ambush (10-13) host the Milwaukee Wave (18-3) Friday night at 7:35 p.m. CDT at the Family Arena. Friday’s match is the season finale for the Ambush.

Milwaukee has already captured the South Central Division title. Although the Ambush still have a chance to make the postseason, it would require them to win on Friday night and for the Kansas City Comets to lose all three of their remaining games. Whether they make the playoffs or not, this is the best season in the six-year history of the current Ambush franchise. They come into Friday’s game with 10 wins, which eclipses their total wins of the last three seasons combined. St. Louis is also guaranteed the best winning percentage in franchise history (either .417 or .458, depending on the outcome of Friday’s game). The notable improvement in their record over recent seasons shows the progress made by Head Coach Hewerton in rebuilding the team since he took the reigns last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: ST. LOUIS AMBUSH

Forward Zach Reget is tied for the team lead in points (32), leads the team in goals (22), is second in points per game average (1.4) and is tied in game-winning goals (2). He leads all rookies in the MASL in goals scored and is tied for second among all rookies in the league in points. Reget has been named MASL Player of the Week once, named to the Sporturf Team of the Week twice and earned honorable mention four times. Zach is a candidate for Rookie of the Year. Reget has three goals and two assists in his last three games.

Midfielder Lucas Almeida is tied for the team lead in points (32), leads the team in assists (21), and points per game average (1.5) and is tied for the lead in game winning goals (2). Lucas has four goals and three assists in his last three games.

Forward Justin Stinson is second on the team in points (29), goals (18) and is third in points per game average (1.3). He is another candidate for Rookie of the Year. Justin has a goal and two assists in his last three games.

Defender Douglas Dos Santos leads the team and is tied for fourth in the league in blocked shots with 26. He has one goal and four blocked shots in his last three games. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH: MILWAUKEE WAVE

Forward Ian Bennett leads the team and is second in the league in goals (38). He leads the team in points (47) game-winning goals (4) and leads the team and is fifth in the league in points per game average (2.6). Ian also leads the team and is second in the league in power play goals (7). Bennett has seven goals and three assists in his last three games.

Forward Max Ferdinand leads the team and ranks third in the league in assists (26), is second on the team in points (40), second on the team in goals (14) and points per game average (2.0). Ferdinand has five goals and three assists in his last three games.

Forward Robert Renaud is third on the team in points (28), assists (16) and points per game average (1.8). He is second in game-winning goals (3). Renaud has three goals and three assists in his last three games.

Goalkeeper Josh Lemos comes into tonight’s game undefeated with a 13-0 record on the season. His 3.53 goals against average is good for second in the league and his .725 save percentage ties him for fifth in the league.

In other news, the Major Arena Soccer League announced on Thursday that after a review of incidents involving players and staff from the St. Louis Ambush and Kansas City Comets on March 23, 2019, and a review of appeals filed by the teams, the league has reduced the player suspensions previously announced and has levied individual fines to three Ambush players, Hewerton, Pepe and Stefan St. Louis, as well as a team fine for bench misconduct. As a result of the league’s ruling, all players on the Ambush active roster will be eligible to play in Friday’s season finale. 

Friday’s game also marks the last as a player for Hewerton, who has been a player/coach since joining the club. This season marks Hewerton’s 15th as a player. He has played for the San Diego Sockers, Milwaukee Wave, Detroit Ignition, Philadelphia KiXX, Chicago Mustangs and the Cedar Rapids Rampage. During his seven seasons with the Wave, Hewerton won three league championships. In his playing career prior to Friday’s match, Hewerton posted 194 regular season goals and 169 regular season assists. He has also tallied nine goals and seven assists in postseason play. The Ambush are planning a tribute to Hewerton Friday night to mark the end of his stellar career as a player. He will return next season as the full time Head Coach of the Ambush.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance Friday night will receive Ambush Player Card Set 5. Fans can also take advantage of a free postgame autograph session on the field immediately following the game. 

For fans unable to catch any game in person, all Ambush games are webcast live at masl.tv. Season tickets are now on sale for the 2019-20 season. For more information, call the Ambush office at 636-477-6363. Keep up to date on all Ambush news by following the official website, stlambush.com and on Facebook and Twitter.