By KEVIN FRANSON
The Utah Freezz will take beginner’s luck and the WISL 1999 Rookie of the Year into their first ever playoff appearance Friday night. The Freezz, who finished at 12-10 in their first season as members of the WISL, will face the regular-season champion Sacramento Knights with a record of 17-5.
The two teams met four times during the regular season with Sacramento holding a decisive 3-1 advantage. The Freezz won the first match in Utah and then fell to the Knights twice in Sacramento and once at home.
However, the one-game playoff system employed by the WISL does offer the Freezz the opportunity for an upset.
“We are confident that we can play with a very good Sacramento team and in a one game playoff, anything can happen,” said Ted Roberts, Freezz Assistant General Manager.
The winner of Friday night’s game will move on to face the defending champions of the WISL, the Dallas Sidekicks. The championship game will be played in Dallas at Reunion Arena on Dec. 9.
Along with the thrill of playing in a playoff game, the Freezz were excited by the announcement that rookie forward Justin Labrum was named the WISL Rookie of the Year on Wednesday. The award is the first of its kind for the expansion Freezz team.
“I am very happy for Justin. He has been a consistent player that was noticed immediately by opponents all season,” said Dave Poggi, Utah Freezz head coach.
Labrum finished the season leading all rookies in the league in scoring with 29 points and in goal-scoring with 20. Labrum played in all 22 games for the Freezz and finished 17th in overall scoring in the league.
“The amount of playing time and experience Justin got this season will help make him a solid professional for this organization for years to come,” Poggi said.
Labrum played locally at Brighton High School and was named the Utah 4A MVP during his senior season. Labrum played college soccer at Indian-Purdue at Fort Wayne.
