NEXT STEP, PLAYOFFS
By: Dan Parks
Not bad for the first time around. That’s a fair assessment for the Chicago Storm’s inaugural season that ended on April 2 with a 4-2 loss in St. Louis against the Steamers that eliminated the Storm’s hopes of qualifying for the Major Indoor Soccer League playoffs.
Just 10 months after coming into existence in June 2004, the Storm found itself finishing the best season of any expansion team in MISL history with an 18-21 record. The Storm even split its eight games last year against the league champion Milwaukee Wave with three of the four games up in Milwaukee being decided in overtime.
Fourth quarter woes did the Storm in last year. They allowed too many games to get away from them in the final stanza, but they did turn that around in the home finale when they recovered from a three-goal deficit scoring five times in the final quarter to defeat the Baltimore Blast 6-5 and keep their playoff hopes alive going into the season finale in St. Louis.
The Storm’s season seemed to turn on one game in particular. On Saturday, March 19, eventual league runners-up Cleveland came into UIC Pavilion for what was to be a spirited affair. With the game tied in the third quarter, a fight broke out leaving the Storm without significant players like defenders Leo and Gaston Pernia for the rest of that game and for many games to follow. Cleveland came away with a 5-4 win from that game and with no suspensions. It’s no surprise that the Force rode that emotional wave to a championship series berth while the short handed Storm scratched and clawed before falling short of the postseason.
Now head coach Frank Klopas’ and his staff’s attention turns toward season two. New faces are part of any new season. The Storm as already lost two players in the expansion draft on June 22, when the California Cougars picked midfield sparkplug Andy Rosenband and much improved Mexican forward Jorge Valle to help build a roster for their inaugural season this fall.
What other moves Klopas makes remain to be seen. He needs players who know the intricacies of indoor soccer. How to play the boards, how to keep focus in the final minutes of games, and how to play a little more physically and get away with a few nudges that the other teams benefited from against the Storm last year.
Can he afford to keep the Pernia brothers because of their fiery temper? Can he afford to lose the Pernia brothers because of their composure on the ball and their valuable indoor soccer experience?
Goalkeeper Danny Waltman had an amazing rookie season. He led the MISL with 2,154 minutes played while being credited with every Storm win. Will he succumb to a sophomore jinx or will he be able to raise his game to another level and push the Storm to the playoffs?
Veteran midfielder Novi Marojevic put another season of mileage on his well-traveled and skillful legs. He maximized his time on the carpet finishing tops on the team and seventh in league scoring with 29 goals and 19 assists for 48 points. Does he have another season left in those legs?
The Storm set high standards in season one. With playing so well and still coming just short, Klopas isn’t about to be satisfied and allow this franchise to let down in season two. Although the first game is still months in the distance, the second edition of the Chicago Storm will begin to take shape very soon.