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Chill face pressure of going for championship at home

Wilson Neto has been here before.
Wilson Neto has been here before.

The captain and unquestioned leader of the Thunder Bay Chill, the Brazilian-born defender will lead his troops this weekend into their fourth consecutive playoff appearance as they take on second-year Forest City London on Friday in their first ever role as hosts of the Premier Development League’s Central Conference championship.

That, and the chance to win the franchise its second national title in three seasons is enough to keep the 28-year-old Neto motivated – not that he really ever needs a reason.
But he said being at home does have its disadvantages too.

"The same fans that can support us can be the ones who will put a little bit more pressure on our shoulders to win the game," he said, arriving at the team’s annual awards banquet on Tuesday night. "But I think we’re taking the positives away. We’re thinking we’re at home, we can have our own crowd and we can put on a good show on Friday and Saturday."

Twice previously the Chill (12-2-2) have played in the four-team tournament –which this year also includes the Michigan Bucks and the upstart Rochester Thunder, the only team to beat the Chill outright in 2010.

They lost their opener in 2007 and were eliminated on Day 1, but used it as a springboard in 2008 in Auburn Hills, Mich., sweeping the national semifinal and then edging host Laredo to capture the crown.

Neto sees no reason why a similar scenario can’t unfold this weekend at Chapples Field. Experience could be the difference, he said.

"London, I believe it’s the first year they’ve gone to the postseason. They’re going to have to travel, they’re going to have to come here against a team that looks like the team that won the PDL in 2008," he said. "Being at home and having five guys on the team that actually have been there before (means we can) pass how to deal with it to the younger players so that we can be successful."

In addition to Neto, midfielder Nolan Intermoia, goalie Stephen Paterson and strikers Gustavo Oliveira, the PDL’s leading playmaker in 2010, and Brandon Swartzendruber, the top goal scorer and point-getter, are in the lineup.

Coach Tony Colistro said those are the guys that have to step up their game against a London squad that finished second in the Great Lakes Division with a 10-1-5 record, a team with speed up front and in the rear, with a striker equally as good as Swartzendruber in Luke Holmes.

Holmes finished second to Swartzendruber in both goals and points, but Colistro said he’s got the measure to counter whatever London throws at them, but his players can’t take the game for granted and must dig deep to secure the win.

"I think guys like Gustavo and Brandon are really going to have to show their true colours. They’ve done what they’re supposed to do in the regular season, but playoffs are different. It’s one game and it’s easy to go cold and go scoreless," Colistro said.

"They’re experienced, but I think they showed it Friday night against Rochester (a 2-1 win) when we needed the goals and they came from them. And that’s what we’re going to need on Friday."

Rochester and Michigan will play in the first conference semifinal at 3 p.m., with the Chill and Forest City London to follow at 5:30 p.m.




Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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