Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Defeat Storn in Chicago; Pull into First Place Tie Philadelphia looks to clinch a playoff spot with a victory Sunday, March 11 in Milwaukee Saturday, March 10, 2007 By Tom Hushen Philadelphia KiXX Marketing Manager The Philadelphia KiXX (15-9) defeated the Chicago Storm (10-12) 18-11, pulling the club into a tie for first place in the MISL with the expansion Detroit Ignition. KiXX captain Pat Morris is catching fire at the right time, with 21 points in his last five games as the club marches towards the playoffs. With just six games remaining in the regular season, Philadelphia can be the first team in the League to clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Milwaukee Wave, Sunday, March 11. Genoni Martinez wasted no time extending his current point streak to nine games with a two-point restart goal 9:32 into the first quarter. Player/coach Don D’Ambra tallied his team-leading 24th goal from Pat Morris, putting the KiXX up 4-0 after one frame. John Barry Nusum scored his 17th goal of the season from Tony Donatelli at 8:48 into the second quarter. Nusum was listed as questionable coming into the game with a sore quad, which kept him out of action the past two matches. Steve Wacker’s third of the season from D’Ambra put the KiXX up 8-0, 2:15 into the second half. Ptah Myers followed with his 11th goal just over a minute later, unassisted. Rookie Stephen Armstrong finally got Chicago on the board 8:25 into the third quarter on a power-play goal after a Nusum tripping call. Jorge Valle and Mariano Bolella brought the Storm to within four with back-to-back goals, 10-6. D’Ambra’s second goal of the night from Morris put the KiXX back up six, but just eight seconds later Bolella struck again with a three-pointer to pull Chicago to within three heading into the final stanza. Chicago’s furious comeback continued when Bolella completed the hat trick 2:12 into the fourth. Pat Morris struck with a three-pointer from David Castellanos to give the KiXX some breathing room, 15-11. After the Storm pulled keeper Jeff Richey for a 6th attacker, Edgar Bartolomeu buried his third three-pointer of the season into the empty net. Notes: Pat Morris extended his current goal and point streak to five games each. The game was the 100th of David Castellanos’ career. Philadelphia improves to 2-3 in the first game of a back-to-back set. Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 4 Total Chicago 0 0 9 2 11 Philadelphia 4 2 6 6 18 First Quarter - Scoring: PHI 2, Martinez (Unassisted) 9:32. PHI 4, D’Ambra (Morris) :01. Penalties: PHI, Delevski (Dissent, 5 min.) :14. Second Quarter - Scoring: PHI 6, Nusum (Donatelli) 8:48. Penalties: CHI Soderman (Boarding 2 min.) 4:03. PHI Guataferro (Boarding 2 min.) 1:30. Third Quarter – Scoring: PHI 8, Wacker (D’Ambra) 2:15. PHI 10, Myers (Unassisted) 3:37. CHI 2, Armstrong (Ball) 8:25. CHI 4, Valle (Soderman) 12:44. CHI 6, Bolella (Handsor) 13:20. PHI 12, D’Ambra (Morris) 14:50. CHI 9, Bolella (Unassisted) 14:58. Penalties: PHI Nusum (Tripping, 2 min.) 7:10. Fourth Quarter – Scoring: CHI 11, Bolella (Unassisted) 2:12. PHI 15, Morris (Castellanos) 3:33. PHI 18, Bartolomeu (Unassisted) 12:54. Penalties: CHI Armstrong (Pushing, 2 min.) 11:12. CHI Brisson (Bench dissent, 5 min.) 8:50.