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Media Kit: Archived Press Releases
Shell Shockers Play Last Home Games This Weekend Against the Division's Top Team
July 6, 2006The New Orleans Shell Shockers end their home league program this weekend with a tough double-header against the runaway league leaders.
They play the Laredo Heat, the side eight points clear at the top of the table, at Muss Bertolino Stadium on Friday and Saturday (both kick-offs 7:30pm). The Heat have set the conference alight this season and started the campaign with a two-month unbeaten streak. They have won 10 of their 11 fixtures and only one club in the country has a better record.
But the Shell Shockers are looking to close out their home program with two wins as a thank you to the loyal fans who have stuck by them during such a difficult climate. This season the club has struggled in a Katrina-ravaged New Orleans after losing their stadium, practice fields, assistant coach and much of their equipment.
Like hundreds of thousands of other residents they were forced to evacuate from the city, and after a frantic search for a suitable pitch ended up playing their matches in nearby Kenner. The myriad difficulties posed by a post-apocalyptic landscape has hit both training and preparation and contributed to a disappointing record of only two home wins this campaign.
But President Michael Balluff is proud of the commitment and attitude by both players and staff despite such challenging circumstances. He said: "It is a testament to the professionalism and skill of everybody involved with this club that we have been able to play at all this year."
"Despite huge practical problems, such as being unable to sell sponsorship for four months because we did not know where we were going to play, we were always committed to the area and determined to do whatever it took to stay here."
"We are hoping for a big crowd for our final fixtures so fans can show their support for local soccer, and at the same time watch us compete against the team who has a great chance of becoming this year’s national champions."
This weekend is the last chance for Southern Louisiana locals to see the Shell Shockers this season. Next Saturday (July 15) the Shell Shockers travel to the Nashville Metros, and then the season ends the following weekend with two games in Texas against the Austin Lightning and the DFW Tornados.