Chicago Storm wins fourth straight

Published on March 23, 2007 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release


The Chicago Storm went down early to the Baltimore Blast 4-0 in the first quarter and a half before battling back and scoring 12 unanswered points to beat the defending champions 12-4, Friday night in front of 6,443 fans at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore. The win marks Chicago's fourth straight and it gives them five in their last six games. Goalkeeper Jeff Richey earned his sixth win of the season and his 10th straight dating back to last season. The Storm wins their fourth straight moving the team record to 14-12. A game up on the Milwaukee Wave for the fourth and final spot in the MISL postseason and only a half game back of the Blast for the third spot, with only four games left to play. Chicago flies home to take on the Wave Saturday, March 24th at 1 pm at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

The Blast took the lead on a pair of goals by Baltimore midfielder Denison Cabral. The first came off of an assist from forward Tarik Walker in the first quarter and the second came as Baltimore took advantage of a power play. After Storm defender Randy Soderman was called for Tripping, Cabral beat Chicago goalkeeper Jeff Richey at the midway point of the second quarter to give the Blast a 4-0 lead.

Chicago countered with six unanswered goals. Twenty seconds after Cabral's second goal, Storm midfielder Mariano Bollella stole the ball from Blast defender Rey Martinez and blasted a left footed shot to cut the Baltimore lead 4-2.

Thirteen seconds later, Storm defender Fabinho lofted a pass to rookie forward Stephen Armstrong and the Birkenhead England native silenced the crowd with a gorgeous bicycle kick, drawing the game even at four a piece, on his team leading 26th goal of the season.

Bollella struck again with only a minute and half left on the clock. Goalkeeper Jeff Richey made a save on the Blast and quickly sprung to his feet and whipped the ball forward to Bollella. The Argentinean midfielder streaked pass two Baltimore defenders and beat Blast ‘keeper Sagu, giving the Storm a 6- 4 lead going into the half. The goal marks Mariano's fifth goal in the last two games and his 15th goal of the season.

The third quarter was mired with penalties. Jeff Richey was called for a handball outside the box but fellow ‘keeper Jim Larkin saved four shots to help kill the penalty. Storm midfielder John Ball was given a yellow card for dissent. Baltimore's Jonathan Steele was given a blue card for tripping and with only a few seconds left in the quarter, Chicago target man Mark Ughy was given a blue card for holding. Neither team could capitalize on the power plays, keeping the score at 6-4 in favor of the Storm going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter forward Awadalla Morad surprised the Blast ‘keeper. The Palestinian native took the ball to the far right of the goal and ripped an improbable right footed shot through a Baltimore defenders legs and into the far post.

Three minutes later target man Mark Ughy played a give and go with Bollella. After receiving the pass from Mariano, Ughy blasted in his 21st goal of the season, giving the Storm the 10-4.

To cap the scoring off, Baltimore pulled their goalkeeper in favor of the sixth attacker for the final four minutes. After some strong defense by Chicago, midfielder Andy Rosenband found himself with the ball and the open net and the Hammond Indiana native tapped in his ninth goal of the season, sealing the 12-4 victory over the Blast.

Chicago wins their fourth straight moving to 14-12. A game up on the Milwaukee Wave for the fourth and final spot in the MISL postseason and only a half game back of the Blast for the third spot, with only four games left to play. Chicago flies home to take on the Wave Saturday, March 24th at 1 pm at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

News and Notes: Mariano Bollella has scored has scored five goals and an assist in the last two games... Bollella is now third in the league for assists with 21... The Storm's four game winning streak ties a season high that the Storm held from November 19-December 9th... Goalkeeper Jeff Richey has won six straight games on the season and 10 straight dating back to last year... Rookie forward Stephen Armstrong scored his team and MISL rookie high 26th goal of the season. Armstrong is now only three goals back of the team record for most goals in a season of 29 set by Novica "Novi" Marojevic.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 23, 2007


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