Chicago Storm Set for Home and Away Matches This Weekend

February 18, 2005 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release


Chicago (Friday, February 18, 2005) – The Chicago Storm is currently riding a team-record five game winning streak and the "Yellow and Black" will put that mark on the line this weekend when they face the rival St. Louis Steamers on Friday, February 18 at the UIC Pavilion, starting at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game can be heard live on www.chicagostorm.net in English and on Univision Radio. So far this season, the Steamers lead the series 2-1, with both of their wins coming at home. The Storm picked up their first victory of the season over St. Louis back on January 28 in a 5-3 win at the UIC Pavilion.

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. St. Louis Steamers

UIC Pavilion, 7:30 p.m. CT

English Radio: www.chicagostorm.net

Chicago Storm @ Milwaukee Wave

U.S. Cellular Arena, 1:05 p.m. CT

English Radio: www.chicagostorm.net

Storm Injury Report

Costea Decu – stress fracture right leg – IR

Awadalla Morad – sports hernia – IR

Officials

Senior Referee: Kia Dehpanah

Referee: Scott Weyland

Assistant Referee: John E. Anderson

Fourth Official: Tim Deters

Back North: After taking on the St. Louis Steamers Friday night at home, the Storm will head up to Milwaukee to face the Wave on Sunday, February 20 at 1:05 p.m. CT at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The match will be the last between the bitter rivals during the regular season as the Storm leads the season series 4-3. Chicago dropped Milwaukee 5-1 last weekend to move into fourth-place in the MISL with an 11-12 record.

DaSilva's Streak Reaches Five: Chicago Storm midfielder/forward Nino DaSilva is riding a five-game point-scoring streak, which started on January 21 in a 8-4 win over Cleveland. That match marked DaSilva's debut with the Storm after being acquired from St. Louis in a trade. The Hoffman Estates, IL native recorded a goal and assist in his first game with the "Yellow and Black" and the team has not lost a game yet with him in the lineup (5-0). Throughout the streak, DaSilva has totaled four goals and two assists for six points in helping the Storm to fourth-place in the MISL. DaSilva's five-game point-scoring streak tied a team record set by Byron Alvarez at the start of the season, when the Mexican forward scored goals in the Storm's first five games.

Alavanja Streaks to Four: Chicago Storm midfielder/defender Lazo Alavanja has put together a four-game point-scoring streak, dating back to January 23 when he earned two assists in a 7-3 Storm win over Milwaukee. The Crown Point, IN native followed up that performance by scoring the game-winning goal in a 5-3 win over St. Louis at the UIC Pavilion. Alavanja's goal came with 1:04 remaining in the contest to give the Storm their first-ever win over the Steamers. The Indiana product has totaled three goals and three assists for six points in the four games. His streak is just one game behind Nino DaSilva and Byron Alvarez for the team lead at five consecutive games. DaSilva's streak is still active.

Dynamite Defense: The Chicago Storm is currently riding a team-record five-game winning streak, which has been credited to an offense that has scored an average of 6.6 goals a game, although the defense has quietly allowed only three goals per game in that same stretch. In the past five games, the defense of the Storm has stifled their opponent's offensive attack, allowing only 12 shots on goal per game. "Yellow and Black" goalkeeper Danny Waltman has solidified his place as one of the top goalkeepers in the league, saving 45 of 60 shots faced in the past five games. The 24-year-old netminder has now saved 241 shots on the season, ranking him third in the league in saves.

Streaking Storm: The Chicago Storm is currently riding a five-game winning streak into this weekend's action against the St. Louis Steamers and Milwaukee Wave. The five-game winning streak is a team record that Storm set starting 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 twice (7-3 and 5-1), St. Louis Steamers (5-3), Kansas City Comets (8-4).

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.

Storm Shots:

· Only five players on the Storm roster have played in all 23 games this season (Novi, Sandre Naumoski, Lazo Alavanja, Gaston Pernia and Jorge Valle).

· Storm forward Mark Ughy has tallied five goals and one assist in six games, since joining the team from the San Diego Sockers in January.

· Forward Byron Alvarez bagged his very first hat trick of the season in an 8-4 victory at home over the Kansas City Comets on February 5, bringing his season total to 17 goals and extending his scoring streak to four games.

· Storm goalkeeper Danny Waltman recorded 16 saves on 20 shots faced in an 8-4 victory at home over the Kansas City Comets on February 5, bringing his season total to 231.

· Storm forward Mark Ughy bagged two goals in a 5-1 victory at home over rival Milwaukee Wave on February 11. The Hungry native picked up his 18th and 19th goals of the season, placing him first on the team in goals scored so far this season.

· Goalkeeper Danny Waltman recorded 10 saves on 11 shots faced in a 5-1 victory at home over the Milwaukee Wave on February 11, bringing his season total to 241. The 23-year-old netminder allowed only one goal, which tied his season low that took place back on November 13, 2004 in a 3-1 victory on the road against the Baltimore Blast.



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 18, 2005


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