Wichita Wings Explode Onto MASL2 Stage

NEW WICHITA WINGS EXPLODE ONTO MASL2 STAGE WITH 11-5 WIN OVER AUSTIN

Two teams new to the MASL2 took to the field last night for their first matchup of the season, the newly reborn Wichita Wings and Austin Power FC.

And the Wings looked like a team that has been playing together for years, not weeks.

The Wings won the match soundly, with a score of 11-5, many of those goals coming off of powerplays. And later today (Sunday, Dec. 15) they will try to do it again in the Travis County Expo Center in Austin.

"The mindset on doubleheader road trips is to take game one and be comfortable knowing your leaving with points. Then you’ve got a big opportunity in game 2 to really handle business on the road," said owner Blake Shumaker.

Man of the Match goes to a player who definitely handled business on the road, Rookie David Lucio was spectacular with three goals and one assist - two of those goals on the power play.  Kevin Ten Eyck was also a stand-out with three goals, two assists and five all-important blocks.

That sounds like exactly what Ten Eyck had set out to do this season. He describes his play as "putting my body on the line to block shots. Putting my body on the ground. I take pride in trying to shut down the team’s best forward.”

Team Captain  Brent Hobson was the first to score Saturday night, landing a shot in the back of the net for the first goal for the new Wings during their 40th anniversary season.

Crowds in Austin were sparse, but over three thousand people have viewed the live-stream of the match on MASLTV via youtube. A few hundred more followed reports of the action by the team and fans on social media. Despite there being very few members of the Orange Army in the actual stands, the team definitely felt the love.

"The team had been receiving messages of support from the community leading up to the match, so It was easy for the players to find that extra motivation and make a statement on behalf of all Wings fans," said Shumaker.

And what a statement! New team, new players, first game of the new season on the road? Make plans to see what they do on the field today - stream it free.

Wings players with tremendous performances last night include:

Man of the Match

Rookie - David Lucio
3 goals 1 assist

*2 power play goals

Kevin Ten Eyck

3 goals 2 assists 5 blocks

Bryan Perez

1 goal 3 assists

Captain - Brent Hobson

2 goals 1 assist

First goal for the new Wings 

Jared Robbins

2 goals 1 assist

Are you making the trip today? Tickets are available through austinpowerfc.com and kids under 14 are free for the games at the Travis County Exposition Center. Visit Ticketmaster.com for tickets to the Wings first homegame of the 40th anniversary season on Dec. 28.