Chicago Defeats California 19-13
Published on March 18, 2007 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release
The Chicago Storm jumped out to a 10-0 lead versus the California Cougars Sunday night and continued to weathered a six goal barrage in the second half to win their third straight game, defeating the Cougars 19-13. Midfielder Mariano Bollella notched a hat trick, rookie Stephen Armstrong scored two goals and an assist and goalkeeper Jim Larkin saved twenty shots to seal the victory for the Storm. With the win, Chicago reclaimed sole possession of the fourth and final MISL postseason spot, with a half game lead over the Milwaukee Wave.
Chicago came out Sunday in their annual green jerseys in honor of St. Patrick's Day and it seemed early on that the luck was going the Storm's way. Only a few minutes into the game target man Mark Ughy banked a pass off the wall to midfielder Andy Rosenband to put the Storm up 2-0. The score would stand through out a tightly contested first quarter.
In the second Chicago opened the game up. Two rookies teamed up at the three minute marker. Forward Stephen Armstrong took a pass from defender Will Kletzien and he shot a left footer far post for his first of the night. The assist by Kletzien was his first if his MISL career.
Mark Ughy scored a goal off of a Stephen Armstrong assist and John Ball scored a power play goal on a three on two breakaway, assisted by Ughy to give Chicago a 8-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, California switched 'keeper Bayard Elfvin for Dominik Jakubek and momentum swung their way. Cougar defender Nelson Santana notched a pair of goals and Ryan Hall blasted a three pointer to give California nine points in the quarter but Chicago maintained the lead. Mariano Bollella weaved his way through four different Cougars before poking in a left footed shot. Then Armstrong scored his second of the night, on a restart. The Birkenhead England native lined up the shot from the top of the goalkeeper area and scored in the upper left hand corner to keep Chicago up 12-9 going into the fourth.
Bollella scored two unanswered goals to kick off the fourth, earning the hat trick and giving Chicago the 16-9 lead. To their credit California did not give up.
Former Storm players Elvir Kafedzic and Semir Mesanovic each scored to get within three points. Then to make fans sit on the edge of their seats, defender Branko Savic received a two minute penalty for boarding, with only 2:40 left to play. California pulled Jakubek and put in Santana as the sixth attacker to capitalize on the odd man advantage.
Storm 'keeper Jim Larkin pushed away shot after shot before John Ball saw the defense out of position and sent a long three-point goal from the half line to seal the 19-13 victory for Chicago. The Storm now gets ready to travel to Baltimore Friday to take on the Blast and then come home Saturday to face the Milwaukee Wave, who battle it out with the Storm for postseason position.
News and Notes: The Storm is now 13-12 and in the fourth and final spot for the MISL postseason... Chicago is 5-1 versus the Cougars this season... Rookie defender Will Kletzien earned his first assist as a member of the Storm... Mariano Bollella earned his first hat trick as a member of the Storm... On the weekend rookie forward Stephen Armstrong scored five goals and one assist. He had a hat trick Saturday versus the Phialdelphia KiXX.
The Chicago Storm is a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). Chicago's professional indoor soccer team, plays its' home games at the all- new Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. The Storm's next home game is Saturday, March 24th against the Milwaukee Wave. Great tickets are available! Storm offices are located at 1945 Cornell Ave., in Melrose Park. For additional information on all aspects of Chicago Storm soccer including season tickets, group outings, birthday parties and Chicago Storm Summer Soccer Camps call (224) 653-GOAL (4625).
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 18, 2007
- Chicago Defeats California 19-13 - Chicago Storm
- Cougars fall to Storm in Chicago - California Cougars
- Green-Clad Wave make Blast see red, 10-4 - Milwaukee Wave
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