THUNDER BAY – Giving up a goal almost seems like a loss these days for the Thunder Bay Chill.
They don’t like it.
The top defensive team in the Premier Development League, the Chill on Saturday conceded just their fourth goal of the season, a Moses Danto second-half penalty kick, but can live with the lapse after knocking off WSA Winnipeg 4-1 at Fort William Stadium.
The victory earned the hometown Chill a share of second place in the Heartland Division and leaves them a point behind the top-ranked Des Moines Menace with a game in hand.
It wasn’t the clean slate they were hoping for, but looking at the big picture – securing a post-season berth – they’ll take it.
“It’s tough. We always want to secure the shutout. We emphasized a lot this season on our defensive effort and I think it’s showing with how many goals we’ve had against,” said the Chill’s Abraham Villon, who subbed in the second half and scored the game’s final goal, tapping home the ball a few steps away from the goal line.
Midfielder German Alfaro, who scored on a 20-yard free kick to open the scoring in the eighth minute, said allowing a goal just makes the Chill that much more determined to keep the ball out of their net going forward.
He’s not about to dwell on one goal.
“Our defence did a really good job. Winnipeg had their opportunities, but we shut them down,” said the first-year Alfaro, who left with a lower body injury in the second half.
The goal isn’t what concerned Thunder Bay coach Giovanni Petraglia.
They’re going to happen, he said.
“I liked the reaction. It was a very good reaction and we closed right after to get six huge points,” Petgralia said.
Danto’s 11-yard penalty kick - awarded in the 58th minute when the officials ruled the Chill’s Mattia Rolli was too harsh with his shoulders while battling Danto for ball possession – sparked a reawakening of the Thunder Bay offence.
Four minutes later Luca Mastrantonio headed home a corner kick off the foot of Thunder Bay’s Evan Sawula
Villon, handed a yellow card with 15 minutes to go, iced the contest in the 89th, potting a rebound Winnipeg keeper Evan Barker was unable to corral, seconds after Eddie Sanchez nearly connected on an acrobatic kick just outside the box.
The Chill (5-2-1), needed to prove to themselves they could score, before hitting the road for St. Louis, where they’ll take on the St. Louis FC U23 on Thursday and the St. Louis Lions on Friday and Sunday.
Villon said getting the offence rolling means the Chill will be tough to stop.
“We definitely wanted to come in and attack and try to create a lot of chances. I feel like we’ve done that. We’ve just got to keep going. It’s a long season,” Villon said.
Brandon Swartzendruber had the Chill's other goal, heading home a Rolli crossing pass in the 31st minute. It was his fourth goal in two games.
