Soccer Spotlight: KiXX Drop into Third Place After Loss to Storm, 11-6 Philadelphia still fighting for playoff spot with only four games remaining Saturday, March 17, 2007 By Tom Hushen Philadelphia KiXX Marketing Manager The Philadelphia KiXX (15-11) fell to the Chicago Storm (12-12) by a final score of 11-6 in front of 5,957 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum. The KiXX drop into third place in the MISL standings with just four games remaining, despite a two goal effort from three-time Defender-of-the Year Genoni Martinez. The League currently has five teams within 3.5 games, all fighting to lock up four playoff spots. The defending champion Baltimore Blast come to Philadelphia next weekend, March 24, currently holding a half game lead on the KiXX. KiXX midfielder Edgar Bartolomeu began scoring on his seventh of the season from Shawn Boney. Less than a minute later, three-time Defender-of-the-Year Genoni Martinez extended his point streak to 11 games with a two-pointer from player/coach Don D’Ambra. Rookie Stephen Armstrong cut the KiXX lead in half, 4-2, with his Storm leading 21st goal of the season. Chicago kept scored four unanswered in the second quarter with goals from Mark Ughy and Fabinho. The Storm took a 6-4 lead into halftime. At 12:22 of the third quarter, Will Kletzein committed a holding foul for a two-minute penalty, putting Philly on the power play. Martinez wasted no time capitalizing by tying the game with his second of the night, a power-play, restart goal. Armstrong’s second of the night would put the Storm back up two at 5:31 of the third. Philadelphia’s fourth quarter comeback attempt fell short with Pat Morris playing 6th attacker for the final three minutes of the game. Armstrong completed the hat trick with an empty netter. Shots ended Chicago 26, Philadelphia 14. Notes: Philadelphia’s John Barry Nusum did not dress for the ninth time this season with a sore hamstring. Chicago’s Gaston Pernia was suspended for tonight’s match after receiving a red card in the Storm’s last game. Pernia ranks second in the MISL with 42 blocks. Scoring Summary: 1 2 3 4 Total Chicago 2 4 2 3 11 Philadelphia 4 0 2 0 6 First Quarter - Scoring: PHI 2, Bartolomeu (Boney) 7:40. PHI 4, Martinez (D’Ambra) 7:04. CHI 2, Armstrong (Ball) 5:41. Penalties: None Second Quarter - Scoring: CHI 4, Ughy (Ball) 5:37. CHI 6, Fabinho (Morad) 2:55. Penalties: None Third Quarter – Scoring: PHI 6, Martinez (Unassisted, PPG) 12:22. CHI 8, Armstrong (Unassisted) 5:31. Penalties: CHI, Kletzein (Holding, 2 min.) 12:23. Fourth Quarter – Scoring: CHI 11, Armstrong (Ball) 1:00. Penalties: PHI Boney (Charging, 2 min.) 10:12.