With MISL playoffs on the line, Storm's top scorer puts pain behind
Chicago Storm leading scorer Matthew Stewart's knees have bothered him for nearly two months.
They throb when he practices. They throb even more when he's done practicing. His adrenaline gets him through the games, but afterward the pain makes it difficult to even fall asleep.
It's a problem that's not getting any better. But with all of the Storm's injuries problems this season - only one player has appeared in every game - Stewart has kept quiet about his own troubles.
Storm coach Steve Morris didn't even know it.
"It's the first I've heard of it," he said.
And he won't be hearing any more about it. Stewart has no plans of complaining as the Storm enters a vital weekend in its quest to make the Major Indoor Soccer League playoffs. It hosts the California Cougars at the Sears Centre in its home finale on Friday, and then travels to the Baltimore Blast on Saturday.
Two Storm wins or a win and a Philadelphia loss on Saturday will put the Chicago franchise into one of the final MISL playoff spots.
"I can't stay off them," said Stewart of his knees. "I need to keep stay on them. There's no way I'm going to sit out any games. The only way I'm going to stay off the field is if I have a broken leg and I can't run."
Logic would suggest Stewart's numbers should be headed down this season. His knees are bad. He's getting older (31). But despite the pain and age, he has put together a career year. His 22 goals and 52 points lead the Storm this season and are both career-highs.
So what's the secret? Stewart believes he understands the game better.
"It's all about finishing your chances," said Stewart, who has been with the Storm since its inception in 2004. "I think I've definitely got better at that. Sometimes you want to nail the ball just to get it by the goalkeeper before he can react. More times than not, you miss the frame or hit it right to him. It's about using a little more finesse and not so much power.
"Hopefully the older I get, the smarter I get, and the less running I will have to do."
Heading into weekend, Morris would like to see more out of Stewart and his teammates. Morris isn't pleased with anyone on the Storm right now. The team has lost six of its last seven, which includes a 13-0 loss at home.
"We probably could have scored if I had done things differently," Morris said. "But it was more important to get shutout to feel that sting. I think it opened everyone's eyes. In retrospect, maybe getting beaten like that is what we needed.
"We don't need any more disappearing acts. We need to step up. We need to play to our ability."