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Feb. 20, 2009
FIREWORKS
Storm regain scoring touch against Detroit
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Ian Bennett’s hat trick helped propel the Storm past Detroit.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images |
PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Given every reason to go into Detroit and lose, the Chicago Storm performed a minor soccer miracle on Friday, snapping the Ignition’s 15-game home winning streak with a 15-7 victory.
The Storm (4-8) wrap up a three-game weekend road trip on Sunday in Milwaukee, and the trip will be pleasant after Friday’s morale-boosting victory.
Ian Bennett paced the Storm with a hat trick. Newly-signed forward Daniel Antoniuk, who passed his physical barely two hours before kickoff, set up three goals in his Storm debut. Another Storm newcomer, Alen Osmanovic, netted the game-winner.
Chicago left New Jersey at 4 a.m. Friday after losing the night before to the Ironmen, arrived in Detroit and promptly fell behind 4-0 to the high-flying home team.
But with Antoniuk in his familiar role of target forward and Bennett running wild, the Storm outscored the Ignition 8-0 in the third quarter to take a 10-4 lead, then salted the game away on Andy Rosenband’s goal with 4:42 to go.
The Storm got off to a quick start in the decisive third quarter, with Chris Cerroni scoring just 26 seconds in. Twenty-eight seconds later, Bennett outran the defense and fired a shot that slid through netminder Danny Waltman’s hands to make it 6-4.
Bennett also set up the next goal with another burst of speed; his shot was turned aside by Waltman to the feet of Osmanovic, who clinched the win with his first goal with the Storm. Cerroni wrapped up the quarter by sticking in a loose ball forced by Antoniuk.
Bennett completed a hat trick and an eight-point night with a last-minute strike against the sixth attacker, moments after Detroit’s Ryan Mack had closed the gap to 12-7.
Chicago’s defense turned in its second consecutive solid shot-blocking performance with 16.
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