Storm Beats Blast 21-6, Clinches Postseason Berth
March 31, 2007 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release
Saturday afternoon the Chicago Storm beat the defending champion Baltimore Blast 21-6, winning the sixth game in a row, tying a team high, for the Storm. The win moves Chicago to 16-12 on the season and clinches a postseason spot, for the second straight season for the Storm. With two games left on the schedule, one Sunday versus the Detroit Ignition at 3:30 and the last game at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates on April 7th, the Storm still has a chance to take first place in the league.
The Storm took the lead at the onset of the game and never looked back. Defender Randy Soderman scored his third three-pointer in two games to start the scoring for Chicago, off of a restart pass from John Ball. The Arizona native blasted the shot from 46 feet away to score his seventh goal of the season.
Forward Awadalla Morad stole the ball from a Blast defender in the middle of the goalkeeper area and beat Baltimore goalkeeper Sagu to put the Storm up 5-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Two minutes into the second, rookie defender Chris Brisson scored just inside the arch for his sixth of the season before Baltimore would get on the board. P.J. Wakefield beat Storm goalkeeper Jim Larkin before the floodgates opened for Chicago.
In the remaining 12 minutes, the Storm scored three goals. Midfielder Mariano Bollella scored off an assist from Brazilian defender Fabinho. A few minutes later Bollella assisted on a goal by fellow midfielder John Ball. With that assist, Bollella earned his 300th career MISL point. Then, with less then 30 seconds left on the clock in the half, forward Jorge Valle took a pass from Morad and the give and go worked to perfection as Valle scored his ninth of the season. At half Chicago walked into the locker room with a 13-2 lead. The second half was more of the same. Midfielder Matthew Stewart worked a give an go with target man Mark Ughy. Stewart took the shot and scored his personal best 20th goal of the season.
The Blast scratched out their second goal of the afternoon on a power play goal from Machel Millwood to draw the game to 15-4. However Chicago rookie phenom Stephen Armstrong (pictured above) scored his team leading 29th goal of the year. Jorge Valle passed the ball to Armstrong in the left corner. The rookie blasted a shot that somehow squeezed between the wall and Sagu and trickled into the goal for a 17-4 lead going into the fourth quarter. That goal ties Armstrong with Novica Marojevic for the most goals in a season for the Storm. Marojevic set the record in 2004-05.
Armstrong returned the favor in the fourth quarter. The Birkenhead England native dropped the ball off to Valle in the right corner and the Mexico City native blasted a right footed shot into the far corner for his second of the night and tenth on the year.
Billy Nelson scored the Blast's final goal but it was to no avail. A minute and a half later Mark Ughy receive a pass from Bollella and the big Hungarian turned and in one motion drove a right footed shot into the lower left corner for his 23rd goal of the season.
With the win Chicago moves to 16-12, clinching a postseason position for the second straight season. Chicago's playoff game would be Friday, April 13th at 7:30 pm at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.Baltimore falls to 15-15, losing their sixth straight. The Blast would need the Milwaukee Wave to lose both of their remaining games to get in. Chicago's next game is Sunday afternoon in Detroit at 3:30. The game will be telecast on Comcast Sportsnet on tape delay at 7 pm.
In his post game press conference head coach Steve Morris talked about the teams' objectives. "We accomplished our first goal, getting into the playoffs. Now we have to focus on keeping up this run." Morris continued, "I warned the guys at halftime, it's extremely hard to set to this point and play as well as we are right now. I basically said that once you take the foot off the gas, it's very difficult to get back to this level. Now we have to continue this all the way into the postseason and not lose sight on the main objective, which is winning a championship."
News and Notes: The Storm is in the postseason for the second straight year... Chicago's sixth straight win, ties a team high set in 2004-05... Rookie forward Stephen Armstrong tied the teams' all-time record for goals in a season, set by Novica Marojevic in 2004-05... Midfielder Mariano Bollella scored his 300th career point this afternoon... Midfielder Matthew Stewart scored his career best 20th goal in a season... Goalkeeper Jim larkin won his ninth game of the season and saved nine shots on goal.
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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 31, 2007
- Philadelphia awaits first round opponent after regular season finale loss to Detroit, 10-9 - Philadelphia KiXX
- Late goals from locals Worteh Sampson and Ryan Mack key in Ignition victory - Detroit Ignition
- Cougars End Season in Front of National Audience - California Cougars
- Wave's Impressive Postseason Streak Hits 14 Years - Milwaukee Wave
- Storm Beats Blast 21-6, Clinches Postseason Berth - Chicago Storm
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