Advocates of the new three-point rule are getting their wish. Three-point goals in the National Professional Soccer League are up.
In an attempt to increase scoring, the league's rules committee changed the minimum distance for a three-point goal from a 50-foot line to a 45-foot arc, making it a much easier shot from the sides in particular.
NPSL teams have scored 91 three-point goals in 61 games, compared with 161 in 240 games all last season.
The Spirit is prospering from the change. With 14 three-point goals in 12 games entering tonight's meeting with the Buffalo Blizzard at the Baltimore Arena, the Spirit is second in that category to the Dayton Dynamo, which has 15.
The season was only a month old when, on Nov. 19, the Spirit tied the club season record of 11 set in 1992-93. The Spirit had seven three-pointers last season. In its first two seasons, then, the Spirit had a total of 18 three-pointers, compared with 14 in 12 games this season.
"The 45-foot arc has helped a lot, especially with those shorter sides," coach Dave MacWilliams said. "A lot of our three-point goals have come from there."
Kevin Sloan, Barry Stitz and Brad Smith have capitalized most on the rule change. With five three-pointers, Sloan is tied with Dayton's Dennis Brose for second in the league behind the Cleveland Crunch's Hector Marinaro (six), and Stitz and Smith have three apiece.
The Spirit's three-point total may mount even faster with the addition this week of Franklin McIntosh, the NPSL's all-time leading scorer who last season had four three-point goals with the Harrisburg Heat. The Spirit's leader was Paul Wright with five, and no one else had more than two.
Sloan can't explain his rash of three-pointers. "I'm certainly not consciously trying to take three-point shots," he said. "You want to score, of course, and sometimes when you're far out, the goalie is screened. You try to take advantage of that."
Sloan, Stitz and Smith weren't three-point threats before this season. Sloan had three in 90 games spanning three seasons, Stitz one in 78 and Smith two in 71.
"I can't explain it, because as a post-up forward I'm usually
inside the line," Smith said. "The change makes it more exciting for the fans. If you're down by three, you've got an easier chance to tie it."
It is that possibility that leaves a goalie such as the Spirit's Joe Mallia lukewarm about the change. He notes that more #i three-pointers are being scored on breakaways and on free kicks, when the kicker now often is outside the arc.
5) "The line is awfully close," he said.
BAYS TONIGHT
Opponent: Connecticut Wolves
Site: Du Burns Arena
Time: 8:05
Outlook: The Bays (3-2), who climbed back into first place in the USISL's North-South Division with last week's 8-3 win over the Richmond Kickers, are trying to string together back-to-back wins for the second time this season. Mark Mettrick continues to lead Baltimore, and his six goals and five assists in four games rank him third in the league in scoring with 17 points. M Billy Ronson, the league's defending assist leader, had seven assists last week, giving him a league-high 11 assists and a share of USISL Offensive Player of the Week honors with Atlanta's Garth Polinais. The Wolves are led by player/coach Leszek Wrona, a native of Poland, and D Larry Piturro.
SPIRIT TONIGHT
Opponent: Buffalo Blizzard
Site: Baltimore Arena
Time: 7:35
Radio: WWLG (1360 AM), WAMD (970 AM)
Tickets: Many available.
Outlook: Franklin McIntosh, the National Professional Soccer League's all-time scoring leader with 743 points, will make his Spirit debut. He was acquired last week from the Harrisburg Heat for Tarik Walker and Steve Boardman. The Spirit (8-4), second in the NPSL's American Division to the Cleveland Crunch (10-1), has won five straight at home. The Spirit's Kevin Sloan is No. 4 in the NPSL with 56 points, ahead of No. 5 Paul Dougherty (48) and No. 6 Gino DiFlorio (47) of Buffalo. In their first meeting this season, the Blizzard (3-6) lost to the Spirit, 16-11.