Ironmen Hang XSL Season High 23 Points in Win Over Storm
Published on January 9, 2009 under Xtreme Soccer League (XSL)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
Newark, N.J. (Friday, January 9, 2009) - The New Jersey Ironmen (2-2) got offensive tonight before a home crowd at Prudential Center, rolling over the Chicago Storm (2-4) by a count of 23-8. The 23 points are a season high for the Xtreme Soccer League so far this year in a game that saw Lucio Gonzaga register 11 points and goalkeeper Pat Hannigan land the first win of his indoor career.
After the original gatekeeper of indoor soccer, Shep Messing, put the honorary first touch on the ball during the opening ceremonies, reigning Rookie of the Year Frederico Moojen put New Jersey on the board at 5:59 of the opening frame when he booted home a feed from Brooklyn native Oral Bullen. Midfielder Stephen Armstrong quickly equalized for Chicago 17 seconds later, but a Gonzaga to Rey Martinez goal at 11:49 put the Ironmen back on top, 4-2. In the final minutes of the first stanza, Storm midfielder Ian Bennett scored a solo strike at 13:19, and the two clubs headed into the break knotted up at four points each.
New Jersey regained the advantage at 6:20 of the second period when Gonzaga hit an unassisted knock, but Chicago again equalized at 5:15 and acquired their first lead of the evening with 38 seconds left on a Lazo Alavanja to Fabinho tally. With the visiting team leading, 8-6, both sides headed into intermission after watching the final seconds of the opening half tick off the game clock.
The third quarter saw the Ironmen establish some leverage after Gonzaga netted his second goal at 8:15, and playmaking midfielder Goran Vasic hooked up Sunny Naumoski at 7:49 for his first knock as a member of the East Coast representatives of the XSL. The goal put the Macedonian midfielder over the century mark for his career (101), and New Jersey took an 11-8 edge into the final 15 minutes of regulation.
The Ironmen offense caught fire in the fourth period with their first two points coming off the foot of Martinez at 4:55. Vasic then set up another first goal for a new teammate by feeding Aaron Bonser at 8:12 followed up by Tiguinho and Gonzaga hitting open-net three pointers. Martinez then got on the other side of the score sheet when Gonzaga nailed a fourth goal at 12:21, hanging the final 23-8 tally.
The win comes in the first start of Hannigan's indoor career, and Gonzaga led the offense with 11 points on four goals (two two-pointers, two three-pointers) and one assist. The Ironmen will now take a two-game winning streak in a Sunday afternoon showdown with the first-place Milwaukee Wave (3-0). Kickoff for that contest is slated for 4:00 p.m. Tickets start at $10 and are available by calling 1-800-IRONMEN.
Xtreme Soccer League Stories from January 9, 2009
- Ironmen Hang XSL Season High 23 Points in Win Over Storm - New Jersey Ironmen
- Detroit Ignition Newsletter - Detroit Ignition
- Wave vs. Detroit preview - Milwaukee Wave
- Ignition battle first-place Milwaukee Saturday night - Detroit Ignition
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