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Force Steams Past St. Louis For Comeback Victory

February 27, 2005 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Cleveland Force News Release


CLEVELAND, OHIO - The Cleveland Force played host and defeated the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) third place St. Louis Steamers by a final score of 6-5 at the Wolstein Convocation Center. Cleveland uses two late fourth quarter goals to secure win.

With the victory, the Force improved to 12-13 overall, 3-1 in the season series, 43-27 all-time versus St. Louis teams and 7-6 at home. With the loss, the Steamers dropped their fourth straight game and fell to 16-12 overall and 7-8 on the road.

The two teams battled to a scoreless first quarter. The scoreless opening period marked the second time this season neither Cleveland nor St. Louis found the back of the net.

The Steamers broke the scoreless streak (0-1) when forward Marco "Chikis" Lopez scored the restart goal at 6:24 of the second quarter. St. Louis added to its lead (2-0) when Mariano Bollella connected on the restart opportunity off the feed from forward Joe Reiniger at 13:59.

The Force cut into the lead and opened the second half scoring (1-2) when forward John Ball hit a nifty turn around volley into the top shelf off the cross from midfielder Gary DePalma at 1:08 of the third quarter. Cleveland tied the game (2-2) when forward Sipho Sibiya played a pretty pass to the back post and a streaking Chris Dore tapped in the tying goal at 5:59. The Steamers regained the lead (2-3) when forward and Akron native Mike Apple stole the outlet pass from Force goalkeeper and took it from midfield and buried a shot past Larkin for the go ahead tally at 7:26. Cleveland tied the game for the second time (3-3) when Ball scored his second goal of the quarter as he took the pass from defender Genoni Martinez at midfield and buried a shot in the upper left corner at 13:23.

St. Louis regained the lead (3-4) when Addae Rique beat a Force defender and buried a shot in top corner of the goal at 1:30 of the fourth quarter. Cleveland tied the game for the third time (4-4) when Aaron Susi was sitting on the back post and tapped in the cross from Martinez for the score at 11:00. The Steamers regained the lead (4-5) when Jeff DiMaria hit the cross from Reiniger into the near post at 12:19. The Force tied the game for the fourth time (5-5) when forward Chris Handsor hit a back heel flick into the far post off the feed from Cleveland sixth attacker Robbie Aristodemo at 13:47. Cleveland won the game (6-5) when Ball recorded his second hat tirck of the season as he took the long outlet pass from Handsor and he took it from midfield and beat a St. Louis defender and goalkeeper at 14:34.

The Force will have next weekend off but will return to action on Friday, March 11 in the first of two home games when they play host to the Baltimore Blast at 7:35 p.m. The game can be heard live on WHK 1420 AM in Cleveland as well as 1440 AM WHKW in Warren/Youngstown or worldwide on the Internet at www.thesportsking.com starting at 7:05 p.m.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from February 27, 2005


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