2013–14 Dallas Sidekicks season


The 2013–14 Dallas Sidekicks season was the second season of the relaunched Dallas Sidekicks professional indoor soccer club. The Sidekicks, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. The team was led by general manager and head coach Tatu with assistant coaches Mike Powers and Caesar Cervin.
The team finished the 2013–14 regular season with 14 wins and 2 losses, an improvement from their previous season, and finished second in the Central Division behind the Hidalgo La Fiera. They advanced to the playoffs for the second consecutive season, where they lost in the first round to the Monterrey Flash.

Season summary

The Sidekicks franchise started their second PASL season with a home win over the expansion Wichita B-52s and a road win over longtime rival San Diego Sockers. Through the new year, the Sidekicks maintained their perfect home record at the Allen Event Center while suffering road losses to the Ontario Fury and Hidalgo La Fiera. The Sidekicks finished the regular season with a 14–2 record and clinched a post-season berth. Dallas hosted the Monterrey Flash in the first round of the divisional playoffs on February 22. The Sidekicks lost 4–6, ending their playoff run.
Veteran goalkeeper Edilson "Sagu" Xavier started the team's first four games and earned a 3–1 record before being placed on injured reserve on November 17. Rookie keeper Dejan "Milo" Milosevic earned an 8–1 record during Sagu's recovery. Milo held the Wichita B-52s scoreless at Hartman Arena on January 4. This was the first shutout for the Sidekicks in the PASL era, the 7th shutout in PASL history, and just the 9th shutout in the complete history of the Dallas Sidekicks. Sagu returned to the lineup for the January 31 match versus the Las Vegas Legends and prevailed 8–6. Sagu finished the regular season 5–1 but lost the team's only post-season match,
The Sidekicks participated in the 2013–14 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer, starting with a 16–5 victory over the Austin Capitals of the Premier Arena Soccer League in the Round of 32 on November 17, 2013. The Sidekicks' December 29, 2013, regular season 9–12 loss to Hidalgo La Fiera counted as both teams' Round of 16 match, ending the Sidekicks run in the tournament.

History

With some continuity in ownership, coaching, and players, the Sidekicks claim the heritage of the original Dallas Sidekicks that won four championships in three leagues while playing at Reunion Arena in Dallas from 1984 to 2004. The new Sidekicks debuted at the Allen Event Center in November 2012, posting a 13–3 record during the 2012–13 season before falling to the Rio Grande Valley Flash in the playoffs. For the 2013–14 season, the Sidekicks returned largely intact both in the front office and on the field, with a few roster additions to bolster the offense plus new strength and performance coach Kyle Meadows.

Off-field moves

The team established a developmental affiliate called Sidekicks Premier to play in the Summer 2013 PASL-Premier season during June and July 2013. Intended to allow rookies and prospects to perform in a structured setting as well as rehab returning veterans, the team played its home games at the Inwood Soccer Center in Addison, Texas. They compiled a 7–1 record, placing second in the South Central Division.
The Sidekicks ran a series of instructional camps for youth soccer players at multiple locations across Dallas County and Collin County in July and August 2013. On October 17, 2013, the team held a preview event for season ticket holders including a team scrimmage and an autograph session on the field at the Allen Event Center.
Scheduled promotional events for 2013–14 include a parade of teams on November 16, an alumni game on December 14, a "ring in the new year" event on January 2, club soccer night on January 25, faith and fellowship night on January 31, and another parade of teams on February 16. The team is distributing a Panini America set of Dallas Sidekicks player trading cards to attending fans over the course of the season. On November 9, the team hosted a watching party at Grover's Grill and Bar in Frisco, Texas, for the road game against San Diego. On December 29, January 4, and January 11, the team hosted watching parties for road games at The Allen Wickers Pub in Plano, Texas.

Roster moves

In February 2013, the Sidekicks signed Dejan "Milo" Milosevic out of Texas Wesleyan University as a backup goalkeeper. Milo played in all 8 Sidekicks Premier games in June and July 2013, securing his spot on the squad for 2013–14 while the coaches evaluated other prospects. The team held tryouts and a training camp in mid-September 2013 where 60 players competed to fill out the 20 spots on the Sidekicks' extended roster.
On September 30, 2013, the Sidekicks announced the acquisition of forward Nestor Hernandez from the Chicago Mustangs for undisclosed terms. Hernandez was one of the league's leading scorers and named to the 1st Team All-PASL squad in 2012–13.
On October 23, 2013, the team announced that both Edilson "Sagu" Xavier and Dejan "Milo" Milosevic were re-signed as goalkeepers for the 2013–14 season. Sagu is slotted as the primary keeper with Milo as the backup. On October 25, the team re-signed defenders Kiley Couch, Nick Stavrou, and Sean Bellomy. On October 26, the team announced the signing of forward Bronil Koochoie.
Citing personal reasons, forward Bronil Koochoie sought and was granted release from the Sidekicks roster on December 19, 2013. Koochoie, who was a member of the Turlock Express last season, returned to California and signed with Bay Area Rosal. On January 16, 2013, he was released by Bay Area and re-signed with the Sidekicks.

Awards and honors

On January 16, US Soccer named Tatu to the Veteran Player ballot for the National Soccer Hall of Fame in honor of his playing career in the original Major Indoor Soccer League. The Class of 2014 ballot is the first under new rules from the Hall of Fame that make original MISL players eligible for election. Ultimately, no Veteran Player received sufficient votes for induction.
On February 4, the Professional Arena Soccer League named goalkeeper Sagu as the PASL Player of the Week. The league cited his return from injury to help Dallas defeat the Las Vegas Legends, making "spectacular" saves in net while denying rebound opportunities to Las Vegas.
On February 26, 2014, the PASL announced its "All-League" honors. Midfielder Jamie Lovegrove was named to the All-League Second Team and midfielder Nestor Hernandez was named to the All-League Honorable Mention list.

Schedule

Regular season

† Game also counts for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below.
♥ Postponed from December 7 due to extreme winter weather

Postseason

U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer">United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer">U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer

Personnel

Player roster

As of December 19, 2013
Other players that logged time on the field for the Sidekicks this season include forward Mark Withers, defender Beau Bellomy, forward Dominic Schell, and forward Bronil Koochoie.

Staff

The ownership group during this season included majority owner Ronnie Davis as team president and CEO, plus vice president Missy Davis, and minority owners Tatu, J.L. "Sonny" Williams, and Jim Tolbert. Assistant coaches under Tatu were Mike Powers and Caesar Cervin. The team's strength and performance coach was Kyle Meadows, the athletic trainer was Steve Parker, and Steve Wagner was the team chaplain. The team's public relations and communications director was Melissa Smith.
Ten of the Sidekicks' home games were aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel. The broadcast team included Norm Hitzges on play by play, former Sidekicks coach Gordon Jago with color commentary, and Alan Balthrop as broadcast statistician.