Storm fall to Blast, but attain MISL playoff berth
March 29, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release
BALTIMORE - The Chicago Storm dropped their fourth match of the season against the Baltimore Blast on Saturday at 1st Mariner Arena. But the Storm attained a consolation prize. In the waning minutes of the Storm's 16-8 loss to the Blast, Chicago nevertheless clinched a Major Indoor Soccer League playoff berth.
During the closing minutes, the Milwaukee Wave defeated the host Philadelphia KiXX, 15-13, in overtime. With the Philadelphia loss, it assured the Storm would mathematically have enough victories to maintain a spot among the top six MISL teams that advance to the postseason. This is the third playoff berth for the Storm organization.
The MISL quarterfinal two-game series runs from April 11-13. Stay tuned for official dates, times, locations and matchups for the playoff series. On Saturday, Monterrey also clinched a playoff spot as five of the six berths have been decided. Detroit has a first-round bye, and Milwaukee and Baltimore also have reached the postseason.
The Storm (15-14) wrap up their regular season with a 6:35 p.m. (CST) match at Orlando on Saturday, April 5, at Amway Arena.
Chicago entered Saturday's match coming off of an organization-high 25-point effort Friday against California for a 25-17 win. But the Storm still had something to prove following their 13-0 loss to Baltimore (18-10) on March 22 at the Sears Centre Arena. It almost looked like Chicago would come up empty in the first half of Saturday's match, trailing 8-0 in the closing minute. But with 37 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Storm defender Branko Savic scored a two-point goal off of a Mariano Bollella assist.
Aside from cutting Baltimore's lead to 8-2, the Storm went into halftime with a little more momentum after the Blast's Adauto Neto was called for holding with 3 seconds remaining in the half.
At the start of the third quarter, Baltimore fended off Chicago's power play. But at the 4:20 mark, Fabinho tallied a two-pointer, with a Carlos "Chile" Farias assist, to cut Baltimore's lead to 8-4.
Later in the third, each team was called for tripping penalties, including Fabinho's first penalty of the season. But neither the Storm nor the Blast could capitalize on their power-play chances as Baltimore carried its 8-4 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Baltimore's Billy Nelson temporarily subdued the Storm's momentum with a three-point goal just 41 seconds into the fourth for an 11-4 lead. However, Chicago would not go away quietly. A Mariano Bollella two-pointer and a Mark Ughy two-point, power-play goal trimmed the Blast's lead to 11-8.
Chicago was held at bay the rest of the way. Baltimore's Giuliano Celenza netted his second goal of the match and Carlos Garcia added an empty-net, three-point goal when the Storm used Fabinho as a sixth attacker late in the fourth quarter.
In the net, Storm goalkeeper Jim Larkin made 15 saves, including nine in the first quarter. Baltimore goalkeeper Sagu turned away 18 Storm shots on Saturday.
The Chicago Storm are members of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Storm offices are located at 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy., in Hoffman Estates. For more information on all aspects of Storm soccer, including season tickets, group outings, birthday parties and more, call (866) STORM-81, or visit ChicagoStorm.net.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 29, 2008
- Storm fall to Blast, but attain MISL playoff berth - Chicago Storm
- Antoniuk hits game-winner in La Raza nail biter - New Jersey Ironmen
- Philadelphia's playoff hopes dwindle with loss and New Jersey win - Philadelphia KiXX
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