Chicago Storm 8-9 New Jersey Ironmen

by Rusty Silber

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL--Looking good was one thing, the Chicago Storm were sporting green jerseys Sunday afternoon with St. Patrick's Day fast approaching. However, the Storm going after another victory and staying in the Xtreme Soccer League race ended up with some unfortunate luck falling to New Jersey 9-8 at the Sears Centre. 

"It's tough to dig yourself a hole early in the season and constantly play at a high level getting yourself back into it," said Chicago Storm coach Steve Morris whose team sits at (7-10) with three games remaining.  "All we can do is go back to the drawing board over the last three games and get positive results."

Chicago never let down throughout the game and battled its way down to the final seconds, but New Jersey (7-8) prevailed and got away with a much needed victory.

"We defended well and wanted to keep New Jersey at 9 or below," Morris said. "We're getting results, but we defended too much. We didn't string enough offense together.  In the fourth quarter, Brett Phillips came up with the saves and New Jersey got the goal. It's a good team."   

 The Storm thought a fourth quarter roll was in the making similar to last Sunday against Milwaukee. Chris Brisson off a deflection scored after taking a pass from Frederico Moojen and Chicago led 8-7, a minute in..

"It feels good to score, but it feels worse to lose," Brisson said. "I was trying to get it on goal and luckily it found its way in.

The Ironmen had the luck go into their direction the rest of the way. With just under five minutes into the quarter. Tim O'Neill scored between Storm keeper Bayard Elfvin (12 saves) and the near post for the eventual winning goal. Chili Farias assisted on the goal.

Still, the Storm kept trying to get the winning goal and had numerous chances over the final 10 minutes. Chicago even added a sixth attacker in the final few minutes. Ian Bennett had the best opportunity, drilling a low shot for the far corner, but Phillips made an incredible clearing leg save over the boards in the final minute.

"We're disappointed that we could've have a few more goals," New Jersey coach Omid Namazi said. "Tim O'Neill got us the big goal we needed. Phillips made some big saves for us too. I thought we were the better team and deserved the win."

The Storm got off to a quick start scoring two goals in over a minute taking a 4-0 advantage over the Ironmen early in the opening quarter. Lazo Alavanja fired a shot from a Stephen Armstrong assist which was set up off a free kick at 4:05. Chicago's other tally was Brisson's first goal of the season courtesy of a Bennett assist at 5:15.

New Jersey's Farias cut the Storm lead down to 4-3 at the 7:46 mark of the second quarter. Farias connected on a three-point goal which was deflected off a Chicago defender, Goran Vasic assisted.  The Storm answered back off a free kick, Dan Antoniuk scored off a Alavanja pass which extended the lead 6-3 at 9:09.

In the third quarter, New Jersey scored twice taking the lead for the first time. Evan McNeley blasted a shot in which the Storm couldn't clear the ball from its area at 8:26 and Adauto Neto followed with a rocket shot at 11:18 making the score 7-6.

The Storm returns back to the Sears Centre next Sunday, hosting Detroit, at 3 p.m. 

New Jersey    0    3    4    2    -9

Chicago         4    2    0    2    -8

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

(1st) CHI-Lazo Alavanja (Armstrong) 4:10

(1st) CHI-Chris Brisson (Bennett) 5:15

(2nd) NJ-Chile Farias (Vasic)(3PT) 7:46

(2nd) CHI-Dan Antoniuk (Alavanja) 9:09

(3rd) NJ-Evan McNeley (unassisted) 8:28

(3rd) NJ-Adauto Neto (unassisted) 11:18

(4th) CHI-Chris Brisson (Moojen) 1:07

(4th) NJ-Tim O'Neill (Farias) 10:51

PENALTY SUMMARY:

(3rd) NJ-Shaun David (yellow, misconduct) 2:03

 

CHICAGO STORM (7-10): 

Starters:  #1-Bayard Elfvin, #7-Will Kletzien, #11-Lazo Alavanja, #16-Stephen Armstrong, #18-Chris Cerroni, #9-Frederico Moojen

Bench:  #3-Daniel Antoniuk, #4-Chris Brisson, #5-Carlos Clay, #8-Fabinho, #10-Polegar, #14-Alen Osmanovic, #15-Andy Rosenband, #21-Ian Bennett, #25-Brandon Corday.

NEW JERSEY IRONMEN (7-8):

Starters: #5-Evan McNeley, #10-Tiguinho, #12-Tim O'Neill, #13-Lucio Gonzaga, #15-Adauto Neto, #32-Brett Phillips.

Bench: #3-Oral Bullen, #6-Rey Martinez, #7-Chile Farias, #9-Edison Bilbao, #11-Jerrod Laventure, #17-Goran Vasic, #20-Randi Patterson, #24-Shaun David.

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 19-28 NJ

SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 17-16 NJ

SAVES: CHI 12-13 NJ

FOULS:  CHI 20-19 NJ

POWER PLAYS:  CHI 0-0 NJ 0-0

Man of the Match: Tim O'Neill (NJ) scoring the game-winning goal

Second Star:  Chris Brisson (CHI) scoring his first two goals season

Third Star:  Bayard Elfvin (CHI) who made 12 saves keeping the Storm in the game.

Attendance: 3,375