Force Proves To Be Lone Star

Published on February 23, 2003 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Cleveland Force News Release


CLEVELAND, OHIO – The Cleveland Force played host to the Dallas Sidekicks on Sunday afternoon in a Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) game at the Convocation Center at Cleveland State University. The Force defeated the Sidekicks 10-8 during the annual Big Buddy game. The overtime game marked the third time this season that Cleveland has played the extra session and all three overtime games have been decided by the score of 10-8 with the Force winning two games.

With the victory, Cleveland won its third straight game and improved to 15-14 overall. With the loss, Dallas fell to 7-22 overall, 0-4 in overtime games and 1-2 in the season series.

The Force opened the scoring (2-0) when Chris Stathopoulos stole the ball when Sidekicks defender Frank Filo lost the ball and Stathopoulos scored the two-point goal between the legs of Dallas goalkeeper Sagu at 2:21 of the first quarter. The Sidekicks tied the game (2-2) when Nick Stavrou scored a two-point goal off the cross from Tatu at 8:24. Cleveland regained the lead (4-2) when Giuliano Oliviero found the back of the net off the pass from John Ball at 10:35.

Dallas tied the game for the second time (4-4) when Antonio Sutton scored a two-point goal off the feed from Larry Dube at 8:32 of the second quarter. The Force once again regained the lead (6-4) when Kiley Couch scored a two-point goal off the pass from Anthony Maher at 9:29.

The Sidekicks tied the game for the third time (6-6) when Frank Filo scored a short handed two-point goal off the assist from Brad Flanagan at 6:56 of the third quarter. Cleveland regained the lead (8-6) when Oliviero scored his second goal of the game off the assist from Nevio Pizzolitto at 14:15.

Dallas tied the game for the fourth time (8-8) when Sutton scored his second goal of the game off the feed from Giampaulo Pedroso at 14:07 of the fourth quarter.

The Force won the game (10-8) when Steve Butcher scored the game-winning two-point goal that went off the hands off Sagu from the pass of Justin Evans at 8:19 of the extra session.

Cleveland will next travel to Baltimore, Maryland to face the Baltimore Blast in a MISL Eastern Conference game at the 1st Mariner Arena. The game is set to begin at 7:35 p.m. and game can be heard live on 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.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 23, 2003


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