Bennett, Oliveira help Wave open new era with a win

New coach, new league, same winning ways for the Milwaukee Wave.

Ian Bennett and Luan Sales Oliveira scored two goals apiece and player-assistant coach Nick Vorberg made nine saves as the Wave doubled up the hot St. Louis Ambush 8-4 in a Major Arena Soccer League opener Saturday night.

Tony Walls (Wauwatosa East/UW-Green Bay) added two assists and Marcio Leite had a goal and an assist as Milwaukee won its debut under Giuliano Oliviero, who took over as coach after the legendary Keith Tozer parted ways with the organization last spring.

The Ambush took the lead through Cory Adamson 3 minutes, 33 seconds into the match and went ahead again late in the first quarter after Oliveira had equalized on a restart, but the Wave didn't trail again Bennett's first goal 4:09 into the second.

Bennett's second goal 2:51 after halftime snapped a 3-3 tie and gave Milwaukee the lead for good in its 31st season opener.

The Wave scored the final three goals of the night, with Oliveira converting a penalty shootout, Tenzin Rampa (Madison West/UW-Milwaukee) blasting home after Walls' nifty backheel pass and 41-year-old Marcelo Fontana sealing the victory against a sixth attacker with 5:01 remaining.

Milwaukee continues its season-opening, five-game road trip against the Missouri Comets (2-0) – last season's Major Indoor Soccer League champions – at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in Independence, Mo. All MASL matches are streamed live for free through GoLiveSportsCast.

Listen to Oliviero's postgame comments below: