Storm shoot for 4-0 mark vs. Sharks in regular-season finale

Published on April 4, 2008 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release


HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - With a Major Indoor Soccer League playoff spot secure, the Chicago Storm still have one final regular-season match to go. The Storm travel to Orlando to take on the expansion Sharks at 6:35 p.m. (CST) Saturday, April 5, at Amway Arena.

Chicago (15-14) is 3-0 against Orlando this season, looking to complete a season sweep of the Sharks (3-26). The Storm then focus on the MISL playoffs. Chicago hosts its MISL quarterfinal opener at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Sears Centre Arena. If the playoff seeds stay as they are, the Storm face La Raza de Monterrey in the quarterfinals.

If the Storm defeat Orlando on Saturday, it would be their second win in three games, giving the team a little momentum entering the playoffs. Before Chicago's March 28 victory against California, the Storm had lost six of seven matches.

Playoff tickets for Thursday's match start at only $16. Call (866) STORM-81 or visit ChicagoStorm.net for tickets.

STORM UPDATE:

Points leaders: Carlos "Chile" Farias leads the Storm with 62 points and 26 assists. He had 11 points over the past weekend, including nine points against California on Friday, March 28. Farias' nine points are the second-highest individual Storm total behind Mark Ughy's 11-point performance April 1, 2007, against Detroit. Matthew Stewart is second on the Storm with 55 points, and he leads the team with 22 goals (all two-pointers).

Playoff situation: Before Friday's slate of MISL games, the Storm enter the weekend with the fifth seed for the MISL playoffs, with a first-round, quarterfinal series currently set against No. 4 seed La Raza de Monterrey. New Jersey garnered the sixth playoff position Thursday when defending MISL champion Philadelphia lost its match to Monterrey. However, before Friday's match against Baltimore, the Ironmen have an outside chance at swapping playoff spots with the Storm. With a New Jersey win Friday and a Storm loss Saturday, the two teams would share 15-15 records. New Jersey holds the tiebreaker, 2-1, against Chicago this season, and would earn a higher seed than Chicago.

Road/home tendencies: The Storm are 6-8 on the road after starting the season with a 5-0 mark away from home. Chicago finished the 2007-08 season with a 9-6 home mark, bettering last season's eight-win home total. Orlando is 2-12 at Amway Arena and finished the season 1-14 on the road.

SHARKS UPDATE:

Chicago ties: Orlando's Jorge Valle played for the Storm during their first three seasons - also Valle's first three seasons with the MISL. The former Chicago forward played in 90 matches, tallying 28 goals, 19 assists, 57 points and 23 blocks. This season, Valle leads the Sharks with 29 games played. He is third on the team in blocks* (33) and fourth in points (29). ... Orlando defender Gaston Pernia was a defensive force for the Storm. He led the team with 58 blocks last season, which ranked second in the MISL. He currently holds the Storm record with 122 blocks. Like Valle, Pernia played for Chicago during its first three seasons. Pernia is second on the Sharks with 34 blocks*. He has played in 25 matches, scoring two goals and five points. (* The Sharks' Matt Caution has 49 blocks, but 42 came earlier this season with California.)

Sharks vs. Storm, head-to-head: Chicago is a perfect 3-0 against Orlando during the Sharks' inaugural season. The Storm dropped Orlando, 14-4, on Nov. 30, 2007, at the Sears Centre. The next day, Chicago netted three three-point goals en route to a 9-4 road victory. On Dec. 29, 2007, the Storm edged the visiting Sharks, 9-6.

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.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from April 4, 2008


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