Force Fall In Baltimore

February 28, 2003 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Cleveland Force News Release


BALTIMORE, MD– The Cleveland Force traveled to Baltimore, Maryland tonight for a Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Eastern Conference showdown at 1st Mariner Arena versus the Baltimore Blast. The Force entered the contest ranked second in the MISL East with a record of 15-14, with the Blast hot on their heels with a third place record of 13-17.

With the loss, Cleveland ends a three game win streak slipping to 15-15 overall, while Baltimore improves to 14-17 overall and 4-1 in the season series.

Baltimore opened the scoring (0-2) when Craig Scheer notched a two-point goal on a feed from Tarik Walker at 4:06 of the first quarter. The Blast continued to control possession throughout the first quarter extending the lead to (0-4) at the 10:45 mark with a Tarik Walker two-point shot off of Dewan Bader.

Baltimore continued their scoring run in the second quarter with another two-point shot from Danny Kelly on a feed from Sean Bowers to extend the lead to (0-6). The Force offense came alive in the second when Goalkeeper Jim Larkin fed to an open Chris Stathopoulos at midfield to notch a two-point shot at the 11:05 mark, narrowing the Blast lead to four (2-6), to close out the half. The Force goal was the 22nd tally for Stathopoulos this season, all of which are two-pointers.

The Blast opened the second half scoring posting a two-point goal by Denison Cabral on a feed from Jason Dieter at 6:39 of the third period to extend the lead to six (2-8). Baltimore widened the margin to eight (2-10), when Craig Scheer notched his second two-pointer of the night off of Tarik Walker at 7:28 in the third.

The Force answered with a two-point goal from Steve Butcher at 9:27 of the third on an assist from Myles Stoddard cutting the Blast lead to six (4-10), to end the quarter.

The Blast notched the first points of the final period with a two-point Dewan Bader restart goal from Danny Kelly at 1:38 in the fourth extending the margin to eight (4-12). Cleveland Forward Lee Edgerton notched the final goal of the night, and his 19th goal of the season, with a two-point shot at 13:43 in the fourth to end the game (6-12). Steve Butcher was credited with the assist and led the Force scoring with three points.

Cleveland travels to Milwaukee, Wisconsin tomorrow afternoon to face the Milwaukee Wave at the Bradley Center. The game is set to begin at 2:00 p.m.(EST) and will be televised live on WUAB 43 The Block and can be heard live on radio at WHK 1220 AM in Cleveland and WHKW 1440 AM in Warren or Worldwide on the Internet Home of LIVE Cleveland Force Soccer and the MISL All-Star Game at www.thesportsking.com.



Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 28, 2003


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