Force Gets Past Chicago In Stormy Showdown, 5-4

Published on March 19, 2005 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Cleveland Force News Release


CHICAGO, ILL.-- The Cleveland Force traveled to the Windy City and was defeated by the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Chicago Storm by a final score of 5-4 at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion. The game was the first game of back-to-back weekend contests.

With the victory, the Force won their season-high fourth straight game and improved to 15-13 overall, 6-7 on the road, 4-2 versus the Storm this season and 33-18 all-time versus Chicago teams. With the loss, the Storm fell to 15-16 overall and 11-6 at home.

Cleveland opened the scoring (1-0) when forward Chris Handsor took the pass from forward and team captain John Ball and trapped it and then chipped it over Chicago goalkeeper Danny Waltman at 11:34 of the first quarter. The early lead for the Force was the first time this season that they lead at UIC-Pavilion. The assist marked the 450 career point for Ball. The Storm quickly responded (1- 1) when defender Gaston Pernia took the kickoff down the field and scored the tying goal just 12 seconds after the Cleveland goal off the cross from forward Nino DaSilva at 11:46.

The Force regained the lead (2-1) when Ball scored the power play goal as he was sitting on the back post and tapped in the cross from forward Aaron Susi at 6:35 of the second quarter. Susi has now scored a point in all eight games he has appeared in since being acquired by Cleveland. Chicago tied the game for the second time (2-2) when DaSilva hit the volley shot into the back of the net off the cross from midfielder Matthew Stewart at 9:37. The Storm took their first lead of the game (2-3) when forward Novi Marojevic hit a shot that deflected off Ball and into the goal off the cross from midfielder Andy Gustaferro at 14:07.

The Force tied the game for the third time (3-3) when Ball scored his second goal of the game as he took the deflected shot by defender Genoni Martinez and went on the breakaway and scored the tying goal at 9:42 of the third quarter. After the goal, a bench clearing fight broke out on the field and five players were ejected for Cleveland forward Joel Bailey and Susi and for the Storm Gaston Pernia, who started the fight, Leo Pernia and Fred DeGand all were ejected. Bailey and Susi will have to sit out tomorrow's contest at the Wolstein Center. Chicago regained the led (3-4) when Marojevic scored the unassisted goal on the restart at 11:01. The Force tied the game for the fourth time (4-4) when Handsor scored his second goal on the breakaway and power play off the second assist of the game for Martinez at 12:59.

Cleveland regained the lead and won the game (5-4) when forward Tamas Weisz scored his second goal of the season as he took the pass from Ball and nailed the shot for the go ahead goal at 5:46 of the fourth quarter.

Cleveland will return home to take on the Kansas City Comets in the second game of back-to-back weekend contests on Sunday, March 20 at the Wolstein Center. The can be heard live on WHK 1420 AM in Cleveland as well as 1440 AM in Warren/Youngstown or worldwide on the Internet at www.thesportsking.com. with kickoff for slated for 3:05 p.m.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 19, 2005


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