Chicago Storm Weekly
Published on January 31, 2007 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release
Chicago played its roughest road trek of the season last week, facing three teams on the road in a span of four days. Chicago started the trip with an 18-10 win over the Cougars at Stockton Arena where Chicago's offense was powered up by hat tricks from forward Awadalla Morad and midfielder Matthew Stewart. Then the team went to Baltimore Friday to face the defending Champion Blast, where the road weary Storm lost 10-4. The difference in that game was Baltimore's ability to score power play goals and extra man goals. Finally Chicago traveled to the city of brotherly love on Saturday to face the first place Philadelphia KiXX. Led by goalkeeper Jim Larkin who faced 26 shots, blocking 25 of them, the Storm defense was more than stout, all but blanking the KiXX, 6-2. Chicago received goals by target man Chris Handsor, forward Stephen Armstrong and Awadalla Morad and went two for two on the power play to seal the victory.
On the Road Again: This game versus Milwaukee marks the fifth game of a six game road trip, with Chicago going 2-2 thus far. With five wins already this season, a win against Milwaukee will guarantee the Storm the best road record in team history.
Versus the Wave: The Storm enters this game with a 9-7 all-time record versus their neighbors to the north, with Chicago going 2-1 against the Wave this season.
On Top of the League: Let's Go Storm! Chicago sits in fourth place in the MISL standings with a 9-8 record just a half game back of the Milwaukee Wave... Team captain Gaston Pernia is second in the MISL in blocked shots with 36... Midfielder Mariano Bollella is tied for third in the MISL in assists with 14 and tied for first in the league in game winning goals with two... Rookie forward Stephen Armstrong is tied for second in the MISL in power play goals with 5... Four players on the Storm roster sit in the MISL's top 20 in points (Chris Handsor, Awadalla Morad, Stephen Armstrong and Matthew Stewart)... Target man Chris Handsor is first in the MISL in first goals with three... Handsor also sits first in the league in sixth attacker goals with two.
The Award Goes To: The Major Indoor Soccer League names Chicago Storm goalkeeper/assistant Coach Jim Larkin as the MISL Goalkeeper of the Week, for the week of January 29, 2007. The award marks the fourth time this season and the 18th time that the veteran 'keeper has won the award. Larkin now sits 11 weekly awards behind indoor legend Victor Nigueira.
First Timers: Newly acquired midfielder John Ball scored his first goals and assist of the season, as a member of the Storm, Wednesday night versus his old club, the California Cougars... Wednesday also marked the first time in team history that two Storm players notched hat tricks. Midfielder Matthew Stewart and forward Awadalla Morad both had three goals a piece versus the Cougars. The hat tricks also marked the first time this season that either player had a hat trick.
For the Record: With his fourth Goalkeeper of the Week award, Jim Larkin ties Danny Waltman for most Players of the Week Awards in a season for the Storm. Waltman had four in the 2005-06 season as a Chicago 'keeper... The Storm's five road wins ties the team with the 2004-05 Storm team for most road wins by Chicago in a season... Defender and team captain Gaston Pernia has broken the teams' single game blocks record of six, which was coincidentally set by him in November of this season. Saturday night the Argentinean defender blocked seven versus the first place Philadelphia KiXX in a game in which Chicago only gave up one goal.
On Tap: Chicago plays a couple of exhibition games in the next few weeks, starting with the Stars of Mexico game February 6th at 7:30 pm. A week later the Storm take on the Rockford Thunder of the AISL in Chicago's first ever School Day Game.
2006-07 Regular Season Team Leaders:
Player GP Points Player GP Goals Chris Handsor 16 32 Matthew Stewart 17 13
Awadalla Morad 17 32 Stephen Armstrong 16 12
Matthew Stewart 17 31 Awadalla Morad 17 12
Stephen Armstrong 16 28 Chris Handsor 16 12
Player GP 3-Pt. Goals Player GP PPG Fabinho 17 2 Stephen Armstrong 16 5
Awadalla Morad 17 1 Fabinho 17 3
Stephen Armstrong 16 1 Mark Ughy 11 3
Randy Soderman 13 1 Matthew Stewart 17 3
Andy Rosenband 16 1 Branko Savic 17 1
Player GP Assists Player GP Blocks Mariano Bollella 17 14 Gaston Pernia 17 36
Chris Handsor 16 8 Jorge Valle 17 12
Awadella Morad 17 7 Fabinho 17 9
Mark Ughy 11 4 Branco Savic 17 9
Branco Savic 17 4 Mark Ughy 11 6
Goalkeeper Mins. W-L SF SV GA PAA
Jim Larkin 763:38 6-7 221 153 63 11.08
Jeff Richey 229:57 3-1 68 34 18 12.26
Randy Soderman 18:59 0-0 4 3 1 6.32
John Ball 5:41 0-0 0 0 0 0.00
Stephen Armstrong 0:50 0-0 0 0 0 0.00
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, February 24th against the Baltimore Blast at 1 p.m.. 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 January 31, 2007
- Chicago Storm Weekly - Chicago Storm
- Wave weekly - Milwaukee Wave
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