Chicago Storm 4-11 Detroit Ignition

by Dan Gaichas

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL--The Storm’s XSL title hopes going into Sunday’s match were slim and none.  Slim officially left town as an abject performance by the Storm led to a 11-4 loss to the Detroit Ignition officially eliminating the Storm from title contention.

After a goalless first quarter, a Storm turnover in their own end led to an unassisted, three-point goal by Leo Gibson.  It was the only scoring of the first half. 

Three minutes into the third quarter, another Storm turnover led to another Detroit goal.  This time, Gibson took the ball away and fed Mike Apple to make it 5-0.  Three minutes after that, Zach Wilkes got a fortunate bounce and scored to make it 7-0 Detroit. 

Before the third quarter ended, the Storm had a free kick opportunity and it was a poor one.  Detroit then went on a counter attack and Droo Callahan was there to make it 9-0. 

The Storm finally got onto the board 28 seconds into the fourth quarter with a little luck.  Lazo Alavanja got a fortuitous bounce off the board and and scored from close range.  Midway through the quarter, the Ignition played a ball off the boards and Ryan Mack was there to restore their nine-point lead.  Ian Bennett scored a consolation goal with 35 seconds left, but it was much too little, much too late. 

The Storm next play on Friday, April 3 against the same Ignition in Detroit.  Kickoff is at 6:30pm.

SCORING SUMMARY:

(2nd) DET-Leo Gibson (unassisted)(3PT) 7:04

(3rd) DET-Mike Apple (Gibson) 3:04

(3rd) DET-Zach Wilkes (Seliadopolous) 6:05

(3rd) DET-Droo Callahan (Ducker) 14:44

(4th) CHI-Lazo Alavanja (Fabinho) :28

(4th) DET-Ryan Mack (Callahan) 7:27

(4th) CHI-Ian Bennett (Clay) 14:25

PENALTY SUMMARY:

None

CHICAGO STORM (7-11): 

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

Bench:  #3-Daniel Antoniuk, #4-Chris Brisson, #6-Carlos Clay, #8-Fabinho, #10-Polegar, #14-Alen Osmanovic, #15-Andy Rosenband, #19-Kyle Lance, #21-Ian Bennett

DETROIT IGNITION (10-7): 

Starters:  #24-Danny Waltman, #4-Josh Rife, #14-Zach Wilkes, #2-Tino Scicluna, #21-Kyt Seliadopolous, #7-Mike Apple

Bench:  #6-Wes Sechrist, #10-Miodrag Djerisilo, #11-Ryan Mack, #12-Droo Callahan, #13-Drew Ducker, #16-Leo Gibson, #17-Nic Djokic, #26-Nate Craft, #33-Drew Crawford

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 18-16 DET

SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 16-12 DET

SAVES: CHI 7-14 DET

FOULS:  CHI 15-15 DET

POWER PLAYS:  CHI 0-0; DET 0-0

Man of the Match:  Danny Waltman (DET) with 14 saves.

Second Star:  Leo Gibson (DET) with a goal and an assist.

Third Star:  Droo Callahan (DET) with a goal and an assist.