Tozer provides energy burst for C.R. Rampage

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's not difficult to pick out Alex Tozer on the soccer field.

The 24-year-old Cedar Rapids Rampage defender has quickly become an early fan favorite for the first-year Major Arena Soccer League franchise with a style that is equal parts vocal, energetic and physical.

'I see high-energy players, how they really do inspire teams when they're down,” Tozer said. 'I see my players feeding off of it and in return, I feed off of it. It helps me stay balanced, helps me stay composed mentally on the field. … I think it's pretty clear to the fans that I'm not afraid to go physical.”

Tozer and the Rampage defense will be severely tested as the club seeks its first victory in a Central Division game against the unbeaten Missouri Comets (6-0) Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center. Missouri midfielder Vahid Assadpour and forwards Max Touloute and Ramone Palmer have combined for 28 goals and 18 assists in six games.

'They try to do quick counter attacks, that's their thing,” Tozer said. 'As long as we can kind of isolate those players and make sure that they're not really playing a huge role on the field, I think we stand a great chance.”

The Tozer name is legendary in the annals of indoor soccer. Alex's father, Keith, played for over a decade and won over 700 games as a coach, including six championships with the Milwaukee Wave. Off the field, Alex Tozer also made a name for himself as a Milwaukee-area DJ, even performing to crowds which rival a soccer game.

”It's something to do to kind of take your mind away,” Tozer said. 'The stress of the game can sometimes be intense after a loss or something, so it's kind of like my time to unwind and not really think about the game so much.”

The Rampage have added a pair of veterans this week in defender Alex Moseley and midfielder Gary Boughton. To date, only Carlos 'Chile” Farias and former Coe College player Chris Fitch have been released.

The Comets have won 31-consecutive regular season games. Cedar Rapids (0-3) nearly ended the streak in the season opener at Missouri, where they dropped a controversial 9-8 decision in overtime. The Comets won the game over 11 minutes into an overtime that should have stopped at 10 minutes.

'For us, every game is a tough game,” Rampage Coach Jeff Kraft said. 'Being a new team, every game is a tough game and we just have to limit the mistakes. … If we limit the mistakes, we can hang with anybody.”

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com