Storm stops Rampage for 16-14 win at home

Matthew Stewart scored 4 goals and an assist as the Major Indoor Soccer League's Chicago Storm defeated the American Indoor Soccer League's Rockford Rampage, 16-14, in an exhibition School Day Game on Tuesday at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Rockford goalkeeper Dimitri Meletis was tested early and often, but he kept the Rampage in the match with a game-high 23 saves. Rockford's effort was a boost from its 21-10 loss to the Storm during last season's exhibition.

"That's a good soccer team," Storm head coach Steve Morris said. "(Meletis) had 10 to 15 outstanding saves."

"I'm proud of the guys," Rampage head coach Jeff Kraft said. "It went down to the wire, and we put it all on the line."

Two of Stewart's goals came on the power play - both assisted by Carlos "Chile" Farias. Farias had a game-high five assists.

"That's why we have him here. He has worked hard on his fitness, and for two straight weeks, Chile has defended really well," Morris said. "He blocked some shots, and any time you play well defensively, that opens your game offensively."

Rockford's 10-0 AISL record and regular-season title speak for themselves. In the organization's short existence, Kraft and the Rampage have molded a team that played on the same level as some of the MISL's top talent.

"They have heart and soul every time they go out," Kraft said. "It's all about unity and working with each other. They kept fighting. And as we know in indoor, no lead is safe."

"This game was as good as any training session we could possibly have this week," Morris said. "It was good fitness, and it was like an MISL game."

Storm rookie Gabriel Cigliano, Andy Rosenband, Chris Brisson and Ian Bennett tallied other goals for Chicago, which is third in the MISL with a 12-7 record. Rockford's Novi Marojevic, a former Storm player, scored two goals and assisted another score. Marco Sullo and Zlatko Zebic each added two goals for the Rampage, who had one lead at 2-0 and tied the score on four other occasions.

The series shifts to Loves Park, Ill., on Saturday, when Rockford hosts the Storm at 7:30 p.m. at the Victory Sports Complex, 7003 N. Alpine Road. Saturday's match will use AISL scoring: 1-point and 2-point goals, versus the MISL's 2-point and 3-point scoring system.