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Storm host defending MISL champs on Fox Soccer

January 17, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release


HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - In a rare spot this season, the Chicago Storm find themselves looking above within the Major Indoor Soccer League standings. But the Storm, tied for third place, only find themselves 1 1/2 games behind MISL-leading Milwaukee. Chicago takes on the defending MISL champion Philadelphia KiXX at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at the Sears Centre Arena. Doors open at 6 p.m. The game is televised live on Fox Soccer Channel.

"They're playing a lot better now than when we saw them last," Storm head coach Steve Morris said of Philadelphia. "They've played well in this building in the past and we have to be sharp. We have to be focused."

Storm fans, take advantage of the team's 2-for-1 Fridays promotion. The sale is good for Friday's match against Philadelphia, as well as the team's Jan. 25 game against the Detroit Ignition. Call 1-888-SEARS-TIX, or visit SearsCentre.com/promotions/ and insert promo code STORM241.

STORM UPDATE

Points leaders: Three Storm players are in the MISL top 20 in points. Carlos "Chile" Farias is tied for 11th in the league with 31 points, with 11 goals and seven assists in 14 matches. Mariano Bollella is tied for 18th with 27 points (eight goals, 11 assists in 14 matches) and Matthew Stewart is tied for 20th with 26 points (11 goals, four assists in 13 games).

Dishing the love: Mariano Bollella, who earned his 125th career assist against Detroit, leads the Storm with 11 dishes this season. He set a Storm record with 24 assists last season and also holds the team mark with four assists against the Philadelphia KiXX on Dec. 10, 2006.

Fox Soccer Channel slate: Friday's game is one of six times the Storm play on Fox Soccer Channel this season. In its first FSC appearance Dec. 22, 2007, Chicago fell to the Detroit Ignition, 25-7, at the Sears Centre.

Last Storm-KiXX match: For a second straight match, Chicago's Stephen Armstrong posted two goals and Jeff Richey earned his 15th straight regular-season win as Chicago defeated the KiXX, 9-2, on Dec. 8, 2007, at the Wachovia Spectrum. Richey improved to 4-0 at the time with 15 saves. Armstrong's first goal broke a 2-2 tie in the third quarter, and his second pushed Chicago's lead to 6-2. Philadelphia actually out-shot Chicago, 23-18. Pat Morris netted the KiXX's lone goal. The match was Chicago's first without target man Mark Ughy, who is nursing a foot injury. The Storm are 3-4 without him thus far.

Quotable: "From our goal line to their yellow line, we were probably as good as them, if not better. Just in the final third of the field, we absolutely created nothing." - Storm head coach Steve Morris, on the "Sports Corner," WRLR 98.3 FM, after their first road loss against Detroit

KIXX UPDATE

KiXX in the mix: Philadelphia opened the 2007-08 season with four straight losses and found itself at 2-7 through nine matches. But things turned around for the KiXX, who are in the midst of a 5-1 stretch, with the only loss a 12-10 nail biter against the MISL-leading Milwaukee Wave. Philadelphia heads to the Sears Centre needing a win to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season. The KiXX are four games behind Milwaukee.

Shutout rarity: Goalkeeper Peter Pappas earned his fourth career shutout when the KiXX defeated Baltimore, 4-0, on Jan. 5. It marked the league's first shutout since Feb. 4, 2006. Pappas (7-7) is allowing 8.61 points a game this season, with a saving percentage of 0.760. His 14 games, 808 minutes, 229 shots faced and 174 saves all rank first among MISL goalkeepers heading into this weekend's matches.

Award worthy: Don D'Ambra earned MISL Offensive Player of the Week and Peter Pappas won goalkeeper accolades for the week ending Jan. 6. For Pappas, the award marked his third of the season. D'Ambra earned the honor because of his four-goal performance during the KiXX's 12-8 victory against the visiting Orlando Sharks on Dec. 31, 2007.

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 January 17, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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