Steamers Win Fifth Straight
December 23, 2005 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
St. Louis Steamers News Release
A hat trick by forward Shaun David led the Steamers to a 6-5 win over the California Cougars Thursday night at Stockton Arena. The win was the fifth in a row for the Steamers, who improved to 6-2 and moved to within 1½ games of the league-leading Milwaukee Wave. For California, the loss continues their woes as their record drops to 0-9.
Randy Soderman put the Steamers on the board just 32 seconds into the game. When Steamers captain Jeff DiMaria was called for a handball penalty, California drew even on a penalty kick goal by Ronnie Ekelund. Ekelund's goal would be the last of the opening period, sending the teams into the quarter break tied 1-1.
Jamar Beasley put the Steamers on top 2-1 with the first goal of the second quarter and Shaun David added another St. Louis (3-1) tally less than a minute later. St. Louis forward Marcos Chantel beat former Steamer Matt Caution up the boards and passed to David, who notched his second goal of the night to give the Steamers a three goal lead (4-1) that carried into halftime. The Steamers outshot the Cougars 13-4 in the first half.
Beasley notched his second goal of the night when he took a loose ball the length of the field and beat goalkeeper Jim Larkin to start the scoring in the second half and increase the Steamers' lead to 5-1. When officials sent St. Louis goalkeeper Brett Phillips to the penalty box on a handball call outside the penalty area, Soderman donned the sixth attacker jersey and substituted in goal. Ekelund then notched his second goal of the night to make the score 5-2. California midfielder Ricardinho beat Phillips with a kick to the upper part of the net to reduce the Steamers' lead to 5-3. Shaun David completed his hat trick when he took a Mike Apple pass and fired it into the upper side corner of the goal to increase St. Louis' lead to 6-3, a score that held until the expiration of the third quarter.
California closed the gap to two (6-4) when a shot by Vincente Figueroa deflected off the leg of St. Louis midfielder Jesse Elmore and went into the goal. With the sixth attacker in play for California, the Cougars scored a late goal in the final stanza to draw within one of the Steamers (6-5), but St. Louis held on until the end of the quarter to seal their fifth consecutive victory.
The Steamers return home to host Chicago in the Storm's first visit of the season next Thursday, December 29 at 7:35 p.m. at Savvis Center.
Tickets for all Steamers home games are on sale at the Savvis Center box office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be ordered by phone by calling Ticketmaster at 314-241-1888 (automated line) or 314-421-4400 (live operator) or 618-222-2900 (live operator). Tickets may also be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
The December 29 game will also be the last home game for over three weeks, as the Steamers embark on a four-game road trip following that contest, then return home to host the Baltimore Blast Tuesday, January 24 at 7:35 p.m. at Savvis Center.
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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from December 23, 2005
- Steamers Win Fifth Straight - St. Louis Steamers
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