Storm stop KiXX, 10-6

Published on March 17, 2007 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release


PHILADELPHIA, PA. - It took a hat trick by Rookie Stephen Armstrong and three assists by veteran John Ball but the Chicago Storm beat the Philadelphia KiXX 10-6 Saturday night in Philadelphia to move into sole possession of the fourth and final spot in the MISL postseason, with only six games left to play. Storm ‘keeper Jeff Richey earned his eighth straight regular season win, on his second consecutive start. The Storm is three games out of first place. The team now flies home to take on the California Cougars, Sunday at 5 pm.

In the first quarter if it was a restart, it was dangerous. The KiXX started the scoring in the eighth minute with a pair of restarts. Midfielder Edgar Bartolomeu and defender Genoni Martinez both beat goalkeeper Jeff Richey, making his second consecutive start, within a minute of each other.

Chicago countered with a restart for their opening goal. At 9:19 the Storm took a restart at the top of the arch. Midfielder John Ball passed the ball to his right, where midfielder Mariano Bollella faked as if he was going to shoot and let the ball continue to rookie forward Stephen Armstrong. Armstrong let loose a left footed shot beating KiXX ‘keeper Peter Pappas high and to the right to cut the Philadelphia lead to 4-2 at the end of the first.

The goal marked Armstrong's team leading fifth restart goal and tied him for the Storm rookie goal record of 21 set by Byron Alvarez in 2004-05. Armstrong has scored a goal in all six of the games that the Storm played versus Philadelphia this season.

In the second quarter the Storm scored to unanswered goals to take the lead. After nine straight minutes of good end to end action, Storm ‘keeper Jeff Richey found midfielder John Ball all alone in the middle of the field. The speedy veteran sprinted towards the KiXX net, drawing a Philadelphia defender towards him. Ball sent a long pass right in front of the goal mouth where target man Mark Ugh tapped in his 19th goal of the season to draw the game at four a piece.

Three minutes later Chicago the KiXX on a three-on-two advantage. Forward Jorge Valle eluded one Philadelphia defender before leaving the ball to fellow forward Awadalla Morad. The Palestinian native ripped a shot the KiXX goalkeeper Peter Pappas that he deflected right to a streaking Fabinho. The Brazilian defender wasted no time heading the ball in to give the Storm a 6-4 lead going into the half.

Chicago rookie Will Kletzien played in his second game of the season and earned his second penalty, a blue card for holding in the third quarter. On the ensuing restart, Genoni Martinez took the shot and earned his second goal of the night, drawing the game even at six a piece.

However Chicago's Armstrong retook the lead and broke the rookie scoring record oon the same play. Taking the ball off of a KiXX midfielder, the Birkenhead, England native worked his way past two Philadelphia defenders, angled towards the left of the KiXX net and took a left footed shot that went far post, giving Chicago the 8-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Armstrong iced the game with only a minute left. Philadelphia pulled their Pappas in favor of the sixth attacker. John Ball earned his third assist of the game as he sent a pass to Armstrong and Stephen shot a low line drive into the far corner, giving himself the hat trick and earning the Storm the 10-6 win. Chicago now moves to 12-12 on the season and in sole possession of the fourth and final spot in the MISL postseason, a half a game ahead of Milwaukee.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 17, 2007


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