Chicago Storm Hosts Kansas City Tomorrow at 7:00 P.M. CT

February 4, 2005 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release


Chicago (Friday, February 4, 2005) – The Storm will host the Kansas City Comets on Saturday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. CT at the UIC Pavilion. The game can be heard live on Univision Radio WRTO 1200 AM in Spanish and www.chicagostorm.net in English. The "Yellow and Black" is currently riding a three-game winning streak, which matches the team record set earlier this season.

Individual tickets are available and range in price from $8 to $25 and can be purchased by calling the Storm's front office (312) 226-GOAL (4625), Ticketmaster (312) 559-1212 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Fans can also purchase individual tickets at the UIC box office located on 525 South Racine, Chicago, IL 60607. The box office is open from 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Chicago Storm vs. Kansas City Comets

UIC Pavilion, 7:00 p.m. CT

English Radio: www.chicagostorm.net

Spanish Radio: Univision Radio WRTO 1200 AM

Storm Injury Report

Byron Alvarez – right ankle inflammation - probable

Ted Chronopoulos – broken cheek bone – probable

Costea Decu – stress fracture right leg – IR

Andy Guastaferro – abdominal strain – probable

Gus Karterouliotis – foot contusion – questionable

Awadalla Morad – sports hernia – IR

Leo Pernia – IT Band friction syndrome – probable

Officials

Senior Referee: Rich Grady

Referee: Abbey Okulaja

Assistant Referee: Mark Gorak

Fourth Official: Jason Kolisch

Tracking the Comets: The Chicago Storm has dropped both contests this season to the Kansas City Comets, but in different fashions. The first game saw the Storm battle back to tie the game 8-8 with only seconds remaining when Awadalla Morad converted his team-record fourth goal of the game. Kansas City scored in the golden goal overtime period to escape with a 9-8 win. The Storm was shorthanded by eight field players for the second game as injuries and suspensions took its toll on the Windy City squad. The Comets defeated the Storm 6-3, but since the loss the Storm has rolled off three straight wins and is poised to add to their total.

Streaking Storm: The Chicago Storm is currently riding a three game winning streak into this weekend's action against the Kansas City Comets. The three-game winning streak matches a team record for the Storm set earlier this season from November 13 through November 26 when the Storm defeated the Baltimore Blast (3-1), Philadelphia KiXX (7-4) and the Milwaukee Wave (8-7). The latest Storm streak has seen the team defeat the Cleveland Force (8-4), Milwaukee (7-3) and the St. Louis Steamers (5-3).

Home Sweet Home: The Chicago Storm has settled in to their home at the UIC Pavilion by posting a 6-4 mark at the West Loop venue. Currently the Storm in the the midst of a seven-game home-stand and has posted a 3-1 mark thus far. Kansas City enters the weekend as the next opponent for the Storm, but the rival Milwaukee Wave and St. Louis Steamers lay in wait for the "Yellow and Black" to round out the home-stand. The Storm will host their I-94 rival Milwaukee Wave on Friday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a Storm mini soccer ball. The Storm and the Steamers will renew their rivalry on Friday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. CT to end the home-stand.

Snow Day: The Chicago Storm would like to thank all of their fans and reward them for their loyalty under adverse weather conditions, while attending the January 21st contest. Any fan holding a ticket to the Storm's win over the Cleveland Force on Friday, January 21 will be able to redeem their ticket for a free ticket to the Storm's February 11th contest against the Milwaukee Wave at 7:30 p.m. CT at the UIC Pavilion. Fans can contact the Storm front office at (312) 226-GOAL (4625) or by presenting the ticket at the UIC Pavilion box office on the night of the game. Thank you for your support.

Game Change: The Chicago Storm's road contest at the St. Louis Steamers scheduled for Saturday, February 12 at the Savvis Center has been changed to Friday, March 25 at 7:35 p.m. CT.

Lazo Leads: Chicago Storm midfielder/defender Lazo Alavanja, a native of Crown Point, Indiana, has excelled with the Storm in his first season of professional indoor soccer. Alavanja is one of five players on the team to play in all 21 games so far this season. In those games, the 28-year-old has totaled five goals and eight assists for 13 points. His latest goal came with only 1:04 remainind in the contest between the Storm and the St. Louis Steamers on January 28 at the UIC Pavilion. He rifled a freekick from the St. Louis yellow line, past the wall and into the top left corner to give the Storm the victory over St. Louis.

The Indiana product won a national championship for the Hoosiers in 1998 and was drafted fourth overall in the 1999 MLS draft by the Dallas Burn. Alavanja spent two seasons with the Burn before being traded to the Miami Fusion in 2001. With the Fusion, Alavanja helped the team to the league's best record (16-5-5, 53 points). After the season, the Fusion folded and Head Coach Ray Hudson accepted the position with D.C. United and acquired Alavanja in a dispersal draft. He played in 17 games (10 starts) for D.C. before being released at the end of the 2002 season. The 5'11", 165-pound defender then found himself without a team. He returned to the Chicagoland area and found himself playing for Winged Bull in the National Soccer League. While with the team, Storm Head Coach and GM Frank Klopas kept an eye on Alavanja. He went through all the processes of an invitational tryout and preseason training. He committed himself to get back to the top level he is capable of and he made the Storm roster for the inaugural season.

Storm Shots:

· Only five players on the Storm roster have played in all 21 games this season (Novi, Sandre Naumoski, Lazo Alavanja, Gaston Pernia and Jorge Valle).

· Chicago midfielder/forward Nind DaSilva recorded his very first goal and assist in a Storm uniform on January 21 in a 8-4 victory over the Cleveland Force. DaSilva followed up the performance with a goal in a 7-3 win over Milwaukee just two days later. DaSilva has recorded a point in all three contests he has competed in for the Storm (two goals, two assists)

· Forward Byron Alvarez is currently riding a three-game scoring streat. The Mexico native has tallied four goals and one assist in the three contests.

· Defender's Tijani Ayebusi and Lazo Alavanja recorded two assists a piece in a 7-3 victory over the Milwaukee Wave at the UIC Pavilion on January 23. Ayebusi also was named Defensive Player of the Week on January 24 by the Major Indoor Soccer League for his stellar player over that weekend.

· Storm forward Byron Alvarez and midfielders Matthew Stewart and Sandre Naumoski all recorded two goal a piece to help the "Yellow and Black" to a 7-3 victory at home over rival Milwaukee Wave.

· Storm forward Mark Ughy bagged two goals in a 5-3 victory at home over the St. Louis Steamers on Friday, January 28, bringing his season total to 15. Ughy has tallied four goals in five games, since joining the Storm from San Diego.



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 4, 2005


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