CHICAGO (Sunday, March 15, 2009) – In a virtual elimination game Sunday night between the New Jersey Ironmen (7-8) and the Chicago Storm (7-10) the Ironmen trailed 9-8 with 4 minutes remaining in the game. After the smoke cleared, New Jersey kept their XSL championship hopes alive on the strength of a goal by newly reacquired defender Tim O''''Neill 4:08 remaining in the contest.

The Ironmen alumni played well against their former club, sending the host Storm into halftime with a 6-3 edge. Former New Jersey captain Lazo Alavanja netted the first goal of the evening, and following a Chris Brisson score, Chicago led this contest at the end of the first period, 4-0. Ironmen midfielder Chile Farias answered for his team with 7:14 remaining in the second frame when he knocked in a Goran Vasic feed for three points. Dizzy Antoniuk, current Storm forward and top point-getter for New Jersey last season, retaliated with a two-pointer at 9:15 to give Chicago a 6-3 advantage. Behind some solid saves by former Ironmen and current Storm backstopper Bayard Elfvin, Chicago held that lead into intermission.

Whatever Ironmen Head Coach Omid Namazi said during halftime undoubtedly woke his team. At 8:28 of the third quarter, New Jersey defender Evan McNeley redirected a Farias shot and pounded the ball home closing the gap to 6-5. Forward Adauto Neto granted the Ironmen their first lead of the night, 7-6, when he was able to send home a ball at 11:18. Stellar play between the pipes by New Jersey netminder Brett Phillips led to a clean slate in the third period, the 7-6 tally stood as the two sides headed into the fourth stanza.

Brisson wasted little time recorded his second goal of the night at 1:07 of the final period. The tally gave the edge back to the Storm, 8-7. Championship dreams of the Ironmen slipped away with every passing minute and the intensity level of the players reflected the immediacy of the moment. The Ironmen were unable to catch a bounce, as an incredible bicycle kick by Neto and an athletic header by defender Rey Martinez hit the posts down the stretch. Phillips remained dialed in defending the net making some heart pounding saves for New Jersey, and the Ironmen displayed resiliency by remaining on the attack. Their perseverance finally paid off with a little over four minutes remaining.

Phillips threw a ball down the left wing to Farias, who then sent the ball over to the right flank. O''''Neill was awaiting the feed, and he fought his way to the ball to knock it just past Elfvin and give New Jersey the lead, 9-8, with 4:08 on the clock. Chicago battled, attacking the Ironmen net, even coming close on a few chances, but the Ironmen fended off the flurry of the Storm.

The win keeps New Jersey remains two games behind the league leading Milwaukee Wave (9-6), who defeated the Detroit Ignition (8-7) earlier today in a first place showdown. The Ironmen will get the opportunity to gain some ground on Milwaukee in front of their home crowd at the “Rock” next Sunday, March 22nd, when they host the Wave at 1:00 p.m. New Jersey will be wearing special green jerseys in celebration of St. Patrick''''s Day, with all jerseys will branded with the Grassroot Soccer (GRS) logo.