Chill clinch playoff spot

Clinching a playoff berth, in the whole scheme of what the Thunder Bay Chill have planned this summer, is a minor necessity.

But Friday night’s 2-0, sometimes soggy, win over the Real Colorado Foxes, will be long scourged from the players’ memory banks if good things don’t follow, good things meaning primarily postseason success. Andrew Marinez, who scored both Chill goals on Friday night, has already started doing the math and has one number in mind these days.

“Hopefully we can get seven more (wins). No ties, no losses, no goals, nothing,” said Marinez. “People need to be afraid of us. People need to hear the words Thunder Bay and be nervous, be preparing themselves two weeks in advance.”

Perched firmly atop the Premier Development League’s Heartland Division at 11-1-1, a fourth-straight postseason trip guaranteed, a division title there for the asking and a conference crown well within reach, the Chill aren’t taking anything for granted these days, despite the relative ease with which they’ve ran roughshod over the opposition in 2010.

But even as they check those accomplishments off their to-do list, Marinez said there’s really only one goal that matters.

“We haven’t done anything until we’ve won in August. Up until then every win is just another step. You like winning, you like scoring, but it’s small steps. The big prize is in August. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Still, the Chill have to perform in the games leading up to the playoffs, and with a job still to be done before time runs out on the regular season, Marinez took it upon himself to ensure they picked up three points against the Foxes.

It was his plan all along, he said.

“I told the boys early this morning that I hadn’t scored a goal in a couple of games and I needed to come out and do my share. So I told Brandon (Swartzendruber) to take the day off,” the Santa Monica, Calif. native said, his self-confidence bordering on cockiness.

It was a game the Chill took control of early, and one that could easily have gotten out of hand, if it weren’t for the acrobatics of Colorado goalie Miguel Rosales and more than a fair share of missed opportunities on Thunder Bay’s end.

Newcomer Anthony Colaizzi, who took over for the departed Nathan Poirier, rang one off the Colorado post in the 12th minute.

The Chill, who outshot their opponent 18-3 in the opening half, kept pressing and were rewarded in the 17th minute when Marinez banged home a rebound off a tough Sicelo Buthelezi shot that Rosales did everything in his power to deflect aside.

“That was all (Sicelo). I appreciate it. I just did the easy job. But it works, it counts, my name is in the paper, not his, so it’s all good,” said Marinez, his humour emerging once again.

In the 38th minute it appeared Swartzendruber had indeed scored, but officials ruled the bouncing ball never crossed the line. A minute later Rafa Heck drove one into the crossbar, yet another opportunity lost.

But while Lady Luck may have smiled upon Colorado, they were unable to build on it when they emerged from the locker room to start the second half, even though they now had the stiff wind that blew through Chapples Park firmly at their back.

But save for an early free kick that was easily handled by Thunder Bay goalie Stephen Paterson, it was all Thunder Bay once again.

In the 68th minute Marinez struck again, converting a Gustavo Oliveira pass and blasting hit high and hard on Rosales, who couldn’t catch up, putting his team in a 2-0 hole.

Chill coach Tony Colistro said he was worried about the effects of a two-week layoff heading into the Colorado series, but he soon learned there was little to be concerned about.

“I thought in the first half we had so many opportunities. It was good we got the goal that we needed and we got the insurance goal in the second half. So it was a good game for us all around,” Colistro said.

It wasn’t so good for Colorado, who sit one point back of Rochester for the second and final playoff berth, with just one game left to catch them.

There’s no time for fooling around, said assistant coach Herman Sullivan, knowing his team is now in a virtual must-win situation in Saturday’s rematch.

“Unfortunately with this loss it takes control out of our hands and puts it in the hands of other teams. We have to win tomorrow and keep a little bit of control,” Sullivan said.

Game time Saturday night is 7:30 p.m.

Pitch marks: The Chill got a scare in the sixth minute when captain Wilson Neto collided with a Colorado player and smashed his head. Neto was sent to hospital for stitches and possible concussion symptoms ...Midfielder Nolan Intermoia sat this one out, earning an automatic suspension for a red card called on him in the final game of a recent five-game road trip.