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Milwaukee Wave

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Milwaukee Wave
Founded1984
StadiumUW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
Capacity9,500
OwnerMike Zimmerman
Head CoachGiuliano Oliviero[1]
LeagueMajor Arena Soccer League
2022–231st, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: Semifinals
Websitehttps://www.milwaukeewave.com
Current season

The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1984, they have been the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in the United States[2] and are seven-time league champions, most recent being the 2018–19 champions of the Major Arena Soccer League.[3]

The team plays their games at the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena. The team colors are black and yellow.[4] The team has won 7 league championships in their history, three in the NPSL, three in the MISL, and one in the MASL.

History

The team was founded on August 3, 1984, as a member of the American Indoor Soccer Association and played in every season and incarnation of that league (see MISL). They have also played in the Xtreme Soccer League and the third version of the MISL. The team is currently a member of the Major Arena Soccer League. Milwaukee also hosted the 2003 and 2006 MISL II All-Star Games.[5]

Keith Tozer was the team's coach for 21 years before leaving to become United States national futsal team head coach. While with the Wave, he was the all-time winningest coach in North American indoor soccer, with six league championships and more than 700 wins.[6]

The Wave played in the first season of the Xtreme Soccer League in the 2008 – 2009 season, but moved to the new Major Indoor Soccer League for the 2009–2010 season.[7]

After the 2013–2014 season, the team announced that it was leaving the MISL along with five other teams and join the MASL.[8]

In 2014 the ownership group ROC Ventures, headed by Mike Zimmerman, became a partner in the team's ownership.[9]

Just before the 2014–15 season began, the Wave replaced their traditional green artificial turf with a black turf to match the team's colors and marketing strategy. Reception by fans and the press was mixed but generally positive.[10]

Players

Chad Vandegriffe playing for Milwaukee Wave c. 2017
As of 16 October 2022[11]

Active roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
00 FW United States USA James Weber
2 DF United States USA Ben Ramin
3 DF Nigeria NGA Qudus Lawal
4 DF United States USA Taylor Pill
6 MF United States USA Shawn Azcueta
7 FW Brazil BRA Daniel Mattos
8 MF Brazil BRA Luan Oliveira
9 DF United States USA Derek Huffman
10 MD United States USA Mario Alvarez
12 DF United States USA Stuart Grable
14 MF England ENG Alex Bradley
16 MF United States USA Mikey Herrera
18 FW United States USA Cole Stephens
22 DF United States USA Byron Gutierrez
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 MF United States USA Diego Bobadilla
25 MF United States USA Andrew Wiedabach
26 FW Canada CAN Ian Bennett
29 MF United States USA Salvador Nunez
31 GK United States USA Antonio Gonzalez
32 GK United States USA Augie Rey
33 GK United States USA William Banahene
40 DF Jamaica JAM Troy Morrison
41 DF United States USA Alex Tozer
44 GK United States USA Alex Steinwascher
77 DF Brazil BRA Marcio Leite
80 FW United States USA Alex Sanchez
88 FW United States USA Kyle Crain
97 FW United States USA Javier Steinwascher
99 FW Brazil BRA Andre Hayne

Inactive roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Mexico MEX Angel 'Chino' Curiel
— FW Mexico MEX Isaac Pereyra
23 DF Canada CAN Daniel Chamale
30 GK Canada CAN Josh Lemos

2022–23 transfers

Transfers in

Entry date Position No. Player From club Ref.
7 Sep 2022 GK United States William Banahene Harrisburg Heat [12]
13 Oct 2022 FW United States Cole Stephens [13]
19 Jan 2023 MD United States Alan Salmeron Marquette University [14]

Transfers out

Exit date Position No. Player To club Ref.

Wave Hall of Fame inductees

Name Inducted Years played
Peter Knezic 2009 1984–1990
Art Kramer 2009 1987–1991
Steve Morris 2009 1992–2002
Victor Nogueira 2009 1992–2003
Todd Dusosky 2009 1996–2007
Michael King 2009 1993–2008
Tony Pierce 2010 1985–1991, 1992–1993
Pat White 2011 1995–2005
Lee Rogers 2011 1986–1992
Greg Howes 2011 2000–2008, 2011–2012
George Pastor 2012 1986–1991
Michael Richardson 2012 1994–1995, 1996–2000
Jimmy Banks 2013 1987–1993
Ricky Mobley 2013 1993–2000

Retired numbers

Other notable former players

Year-by-year

League Champions Runners-Up Division Champions Playoff Berth
Year League Record PF PA Finish Playoffs Avg. Attend.
1984–85 AISA 13–27 213 248 6th, AISA did not qualify 2,114
1985–86 AISA 11–29 189 247 6th, AISA did not qualify 1,802
1986–87 AISA 12–30 148 222 4th, Northern did not qualify 2,316
1987–88 AISA 11–13 103 111 3rd, AISA 3rd, Challenge Cup, 6–6 3,271
1988–89 AISA 24–16 377 355 2nd, AISA Lost Semifinal 6,410
1989–90 AISA 21–19 373 353 2nd, National Lost Semifinals 7,369
1990–91 NPSL II 23–17 453 404 2nd, National Lost First Round 6,765
1991–92 NPSL II 18–22 453 534 4th, National did not qualify 7,629
1992–93 NPSL II 17–23 513 509 5th, National did not qualify 7,758
1993–94 NPSL II 20–20 496 486 4th, National Lost First Round 7,692
1994–95 NPSL II 23–17 535 459 3rd, National Lost First Round 7,108
1995–96 NPSL II 30–10 610 438 2nd, National Lost Division Semifinals 7,363
1996–97 NPSL II 26–14 525 472 2nd, Midwest Lost Conference Quarterfinals 7,975
1997–98 NPSL II 28–12 593 486 1st, Central Won Championship 7,903
1998–99 NPSL II 25–15 518 428 2nd, Central Lost Conference Semifinals 8,453
1999–2000 NPSL II 31–13 657 483 1st, North Won Championship 8,002
2000–01 NPSL II 24–16 544 452 1st, National Won Championship 8,310
2001–02 MISL II 34–10 663 468 1st, MISL Lost Championship 6,665
2002–03 MISL II 28–8 505 317 1st, Western Lost Championship 7,096
2003–04 MISL II 27–9 235 161 1st, Central Lost Championship 6,012
2004–05 MISL II 24–15 219 173 1st, MISL Won Championship 3,675
2005–06 MISL II 17–13 193 167 3rd, MISL Lost Semifinal 4,352
2006–07 MISL II 16–14 397 360 4th, MISL Lost Semifinal 4,618
2007–08 MISL II 22–8 424 297 2nd, MISL Lost Semifinal 4,367
2008–09 XSL 10–10 236 216 3rd, XSL No playoffs 4,563
2009–10 MISL III 14–6 242 201 1st, MISL Lost Championship 3,977
2010–11 MISL III 15–5 266 191 2nd, MISL Won Championship 4,548
2011–12 MISL III 18–6 356 264 1st, Central Won Championship 3,955
2012–13 MISL III 21–5 310 230 2nd, MISL Lost Semifinals 5,069
2013–14 MISL III 16–4 324 203 2nd, MISL Lost Semifinals 4,907
2014–15 MASL 13–7 160 107 2nd, Central Lost Division Finals 2,962
2015–16 MASL 13–7 130 114 3rd, Central Lost Division Finals 3,504
2016–17 MASL 13–7 135 103 2nd, Central Lost Conference Final 3,794
2017–18 MASL 17–5 172 124 1st, Central Lost Conference Final 4,101
2018–19 MASL 21–3 187 97 1st, South Central Won Championship 4,023
2019–20* MASL 14–6 157 96 2nd, Eastern No playoffs 3,847
2021 MASL Did not participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 MASL 10-14 146 162 4th, Central Lost Quarterfinals 3,026
2022–23 MASL 15-9 154 145 1st, East Lost Conference Final 3,396
2023–24 MASL 15-9 161 137 4th, Eastern Lost Conference Final 3,216
Total 750–492
Pts % = .604 		13,072 10,720 5,228

* Regular season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Head coaches

Years Name
1984–1985, 1985–1986 Dave Johnson
1985–1987 Mike Custer
1987–1990 John Dolinsky
1990–1992 Johan Aarino
1992–2014 Keith Tozer*
2014–present Giuliano Oliviero

* Keith Tozer missed parts of the 1997–98 & 1999–00 season coaching the US Futsal team. Both times, Art Kramer filled in.

Owners

Arenas

See also

References

  1. ^ "Home – Major Arena Soccer League". www.maslsoccer.com.
  2. ^ "Cincinnati Kings to Battle MISL's Milwaukee Wave". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  3. ^ "Teams". Major Arena Soccer League. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Milwaukee Wave Unveil 2019-20 Entertainment & Promotions Schedule". MKE Wave. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Milwaukee to host 2006 MISL All-Star Game". OurSports Central. 2005-11-09. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  6. ^ "Coach Keith Tozer Announces New Soccer Academy". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  7. ^ "United States Indoor Soccer Association | GOAL Online". 2014-03-23. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  8. ^ Graham, Glenn. "Baltimore Blast joining with other teams to form new indoor soccer league". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Milwaukee Wave adds new ownership group". OnMilwaukee.com. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  10. ^ Viquez, Marc (December 22, 2014). "Black is the New Black in Milwaukee". Stadium Journey. Chicago, IL. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "Wave – Stats – Major Arena Soccer League". www.maslsoccer.com.
  12. ^ Milwaukee Wave (September 7, 2022). "NEW PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT|William Banahene". www.twitter.com. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "Stats - Major Arena Soccer League". www.maslsoccer.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  14. ^ Milwaukee Wave (January 19, 2023). "NEW PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT|Alan Salmeron". www.twitter.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
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