2013–14 Wichita B-52s season explained

Club:Wichita B-52s
Season:2013–14 PASL
Chrtitle:Owner
Chairman:Joseph Pindell
Mgrtitle:Head Coach
Manager:Larry Inlow
Stdtitle:Arena
Stadium:Hartman Arena
8151 N. Hartman Arena Drive
Park City, Kansas 67147
League:Professional Arena Soccer League
Cup2 Result:Quarter-finals
Highest Attendance:2,025 (February vs. Dallas Sidekicks)
Lowest Attendance:1,482 (November 23 vs. Hidalgo La Fiera)
Average Attendance:1,650 (8 games)
Prevseason:N/A
Nextseason:2014-15

The 2013–14 Wichita B-52s season was the first season of the Wichita B-52s professional indoor soccer club. The Wichita B-52s, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The team was led by team president Joseph Pindell and head coach Larry Inlow with assistant coach Jamie Harding and strength coach Todd Stranghoner.

Season summary

The B-52 struggled through their first 4 games, beating only the Illinois Piasa and giving up 43 goals with Nic Martinez as keeper. Jason Dewey was brought in as the new primary goalkeeper and over the next six games the team beat Illinois and the expansion Tulsa Revolution for a 6–7 record so far but a sharp reduction from an average of more than 10 goals surrendered per game with Martinez to an average just over 5 with Dewey guarding the net. Wichita earned a respectable 7–9 record in its inaugural season but did not qualify for the Ron Newman Cup playoffs. The team performed well at the box office, drawing an average of 1,650 fans per game, placing them 6th in the 20-team league for average attendance.

The Wichita B-52s participated in the 2013–14 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer, starting with a Round of 32 victory over the Denver Dynamite of the Premier Arena Soccer League on December 28, 2013, to advance. The B-52s' regular season January 25 victory over the Tulsa Revolution on January 25 served as the Round of 16 match for both clubs. Wichita hosted Chicago Mustangs on February 1 for a combined regular season and Open Cup Quarter-finals match and lost 5–10, ending Wichita's run in the tournament.

History

This franchise fills a gap left when the second Wichita Wings of the Major Indoor Soccer League folded in 2013. The B-52s' team colors are based on the Wings' team colors.

Off-field moves

The team's games are broadcast locally by KGSO (1410 AM, "Sports Radio 1410") and over the internet via America One Sports.

The team organized a series of holiday events for December 2013. These included players collecting for the Salvation Army on December 12, a "happy holidays" themed game against the Tulsa Revolution on December 14, plus a holiday celebration including player autographs and a visit from Santa Claus on December 16.

Awards and honors

The B-52s honored Kim Røntved, a former defensive star for the original Wichita Wings, during their final regular season game on February 9. Røntved was inducted into the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony featuring former Wings coach Roy Turner and ISHOF Executive Director Sydney Nusinov.

Schedule

Regular season

GameDayDateKickoffOpponentResultsLocationAttendance
ScoreRecord
1SaturdayNovember 27:00pmat Dallas SidekicksL 3–150–1Allen Event Center4,514
2SaturdayNovember 97:05pmIllinois PiasaW 9–81–1Hartman Arena1,943
3SaturdayNovember 169:05pmat Las Vegas LegendsL 5–141–2Las Vegas Sports Park618
4SaturdayNovember 237:05pmHidalgo La FieraL 5–6 (SO)1–3Hartman Arena1,482
5SaturdayNovember 307:35pmat Illinois PiasaW 8–72–3The Field Sports Complex538
6SundayDecember 14:05pmat Chicago MustangsL 5–92–4Odeum Expo Center627
7SaturdayDecember 147:05pmTulsa RevolutionW 9–23–4Hartman Arena1,691
8ThursdayJanuary 27:30pmat Dallas SidekicksL 3–63–5Allen Event Center3,429
9SaturdayJanuary 4♥ 7:05pmDallas SidekicksL 0–63–6Hartman Arena1,255
10FridayJanuary 107:05pmTulsa RevolutionW 4–24–6Hartman Arena1,424
11SaturdayJanuary 187:05pmIllinois PiasaW 11–55–6Hartman Arena1,826
12SaturdayJanuary 256:05pmat Tulsa RevolutionW 10–96–6Cox Business Center805
13SaturdayFebruary 17:05pmChicago MustangsL 5–106–7Hartman Arena1,558
14FridayFebruary 77:05pmat Tulsa RevolutionL 4–66–8Cox Business Center865
15SundayFebruary 93:05pmDallas SidekicksL 4–5 (OT)6–9Hartman Arena2,025
16SaturdayFebruary 157:35pmat Illinois PiasaW 6–37–9The Field Sports Complex353
† Game also counts for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below.
Postponed from December 7 due to extreme winter weather

U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer

GameDayDateKickoffOpponentResultsLocationAttendance
ScoreRecord
Round of 32SaturdayDecember 287:05pmDenver Dynamite
(PASL-Premier)
W 15–61–0Hartman Arena1,497
Round of 16SaturdayJanuary 256:05pmat Tulsa RevolutionW 10–92–0Cox Business Center805
Quarter-finalsSaturdayFebruary 17:05pmChicago MustangsL 5–102–1Hartman Arena1,558

External links