Chicago Storm 19-10 Milwaukee Wave

by Dan Gaichas

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL--A phenomenal second half by the Chicago Storm propelled them to a 19-10 victory over the Milwaukee Wave and off the foot of the XSL table.  It is the fourth win in five matches for the Storm while the Wave pulled level on the table with the Detroit Ignition (21-14 winners over New Jersey on Sunday). 

You would not have guessed that this was going to be a high-scoring game at halftime as it was just 2-0 Wave on a power play goal from Giuliano Oliviero.  Oliviero would get another power play goal just thirteen seconds into the second half as well.

Fifteen seconds later, the Storm would power up as Andy Rosenband pulled to Storm to 4-2.  Three minutes later, Daniel Antoniuk netted his fifth of the year on the restart.  Sixty-three seconds after pulling level, the Storm would go ahead as Frederico Moojen’s shot would somehow go between Wave keeper Nick Vorberg and the post. 

The Wave would equalize 7:03 into the third on yet another power play goal.  Nilson Pernambuco would score one second into a power play where Storm keeper Bayard Elfvin was in the box for tripping and Will Kletzien was standing in goal.  It would be 8-6 Wave with 3:21 left in the frame as Travis MacKenzie followed up on his initial shot and scored on the rebound. 

That lead would last a little under two minutes as Stephen Armstong, returning from an ankle injury, scored off a free kick.  Then, the Storm got another fortuitous bound 2:25 into the fourth quarter as Armstrong’s shot spun off the boards and past Vorberg to make it 10-8 to the hosts. 

About 90 seconds later, a sensational solo effort by Ian Bennett through the Milwaukee defense and past Vorberg made the score 12-8. 

Milwaukee was not done though as Lovelace Ackah pulled the Wave back to within two on a rocket shot from just inside the arch. 

As the Wave tried for an equalizer, they pushed forward, and ended up caught out as Andy Rosenband got in behind the Wave defense and made it 14-10 for his second of the match. 

Then, the Wave went with Troy Dusosky as the sixth attacker and had a power play with under five minutes later as well.  But this time, it would be the Storm that would score as Bennett would get a shorthanded, three-point goal to effectively put the match to rest.  Chris Cerroni would add one more goal with 32 seconds left to cap off an amazing, 19-point second half for the Storm.

Bennett thought that the Storm needed to prove a point in such a huge match with the league leaders coming into Sunday.

“We had to come in and try to take the play away from them because [the Wave] are on top right now,” said Bennett.  “We had to come in and prove a point that we can play with Milwaukee and that we are a good team and we are in contention in this league.”

Storm head coach Steve Morris said that the team was really up for this match, and that was perhaps one of the reasons why the Storm were struggling in the first half.

“After being down 2-0 at halftime, we were really out of it,” said Morris.  “We were kind of expending so much emotion and get ourselves so ready to play.

“In the first half, we were really clouded (by our emotions).”  There was a lot of rush of blood to the head and guys were making poor decisions because of that eagerness to do well.  Once we relaxed and got our composure, just letting the legs and our soccer take over we got ourselves back into it.”

Meanwhile, Wave head coach Keith Tozer was not pleased with the way his team played in the second half. 

“Nineteen points in the second half is just unacceptable,” said Tozer.  “Nick (Vorberg) is a strong enough guy that he knows he did not have a good game today.  I felt there were some easy goals (allowed by the Wave) and other guys didn’t have a particularly good game.  [The Storm] were better than us today.”

The Storm will look to continue in the hunt for the XSL title as they host the New Jersey Ironmen next Sunday at the Sears Centre.  Kickoff is at 3pm. 

SCORING SUMMARY:

(2nd) MIL-Giuliano Oliviero (Pernambuco)(PPG) 1:27

(3rd) MIL-Giuliano Oliviero (Terminesi)(PPG) :13

(3rd) CHI-Andy Rosenband (Antoniuk) :28

(3rd) CHI-Daniel Antoniuk (Armstrong) 3:29

(3rd) CHI-Frederico Moojen (unassited) 4:32

(3rd) MIL-Nilson Pernambuco (Delevski)(PPG) 7:03

(3rd) MIL-Travis MacKenzie (unassisted) 11:39

(3rd) CHI-Stephen Armstrong (unassisted)(PPG) 13:36

(4th) CHI-Stephen Armstrong (Alavanja) 2:25

(4th) CHI-Ian Bennett (Elfvin) 3:51

(4th) MIL-Lovelace Ackah (Oliviero) 8:15

(4th) CHI-Andy Rosenband (Kletzien) 9:02

(4th) CHI-Ian Bennett (Elfvin)(SHG)(SAG)(3PT) 11:42

(4th) CHI-Chris Cerroni (unassisted)(SAG) 14:28

PENALTY SUMMARY:

(1st) MIL-Jonathan Santos (blue, tripping) 7:08

(1st) CHI-bench (blue, too many men)(Moojen) 14:52

(2nd) MIL-Marco Terminesi (blue, tripping) 2:53

(2nd) CHI-Fabinho (blue, 4th foul in half) 14:30

(3rd) CHI-Bayard Elfvin (blue, tripping) 7:02

(3rd) MIL-Jonathan Santos (blue, dangerous play) 11:51

(4th) MIL-bench (blue, too many men)(Oliviero) 5:58

(4th) CHI-Will Kletzien (blue, tripping) 10:25

CHICAGO STORM (7-9): 

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, #8-Fabinho, #10-Polegar, #14-Alen Osmanovic, #15-Andy Rosenband, #21-Ian Bennett, #25-Brandon Corday

MILWAUKEE WAVE (8-6): 

Starters: #0-Nick Vorberg, #19-Troy Dusosky, #10-Jonathan Santos, #20-Marcelo Fontana, #21-Giuliano Oliviero, #23-Marco Terminesi

Bench:  #2-Tenzin Rampa, #3-Lovelace Ackah, #4-Chad Burt, #6-Nilson Pernambuco, #12-Travis MacKenzie, #14-Brett Wiesner, #15-Nathan Sabich, #16-Jacek Przednowek, #22-Joe Hammes, #24-Dino Delevski

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 23-26 MIL

SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 18-17 MIL

SAVES: CHI 12-9 MIL

FOULS:  CHI 17-10 MIL

POWER PLAYS:  CHI 1-4; MIL 3-4

Man of the Match:  Ian Bennett (CHI) with the two goals including the goal of the match.

Second Star:  Andy Rosenband (CHI) who gave the Storm a much-needed spark in the first of what would be nine goals for the Storm in the second half.

Third Star:  Bayard Elfvin (CHI) who made 12 crucial saves in his first start with the Storm.