Chill return to postseason with easy win over Winnipeg

After a one-year hiatus, the Thunder Bay Chill are back in the Premier Development League playoffs.

Brandon Swartzendruber scored three times on Friday night to the lead Chill to a 5-1 win over visiting WSA Winnipeg, wrapping up second place in the Heartland Division.

Sergio Campano Franco and Sullivan Silva also scored for the home side, whose win put to rest any postseason hopes still held by their division rival Chicago Fire U-23s.

Chicago in turn helped the Chill settle for second, falling 10-0 at the hands of the Des Moines Menace, who secured top spot heading into next week’s conference playoffs.

Getting back to the playoffs was all Swartzendruber had on his mind when he made the decision to return for other season in Thunder Bay.

The 30-year old striker agreed it wasn’t the perfect season the team was hoping for, but they’re in an have a chance at a second PDL title.

“I don’t think it went exactly as we planned, but we’re there and we’re happy. We’re still looking forward to tomorrow night first, and then we’ll be ready,” said Swartzendruber, who took over the team lead with nine goals in 2015.

In all reality, the game could have been a much bigger blowout.

The Chill were outshooting their opponent 24-0 until the dying minutes of the lopsided contest, when Winnipeg’s Daniel Oyeymi came off the bench and pushed one past Thunder Bay goalkeeper Daniel Milton.

It was the lone shot on net they managed all night.

“Not to discredit Winnipeg, but It’s nice to have these couple of games right before the playoffs,” Swartzendruber said, his team looking for a boost of confidence before heading to either Pontiac, Mich. or Kitchener-Waterloo next weekend to begin their playoff quest.

But, he said, they don’t want to get overconfident.

“It’s definitely something you have to pay attention to and be aware of,” the Colorado native said. “Hopefully we’ll be mature enough to go into the playoffs understanding what to expect and what we’re going to see out of Michigan or whoever else we play.”

Sergio Campano Franco opened the scoring in the 26th minute, finally finding the back of the Winnipeg net on a Swartzendruber feed, after the Chill had several near misses in the early stages of the contest.

The goals came fast and furious in the second half.

Swartzendruber, the Chill’s all-time goal-scoring leader, netted his first in the 57th minute, Rolli Mattia sending the ball across the front of the Winnipeg net and goalie Dylan O’Connor.

Sullivan Silva made it 3-0 in the 63rd and Swartzendruber scored his second in the 86th, heading home a Lucas Felice corner kick.

He completed the hat trick in extra time.

Coach Gio Petraglia said he’s happy the team is headed to the playoffs, but just making it isn’t enough.

“I’ve said since Day 1 this team is a playoff team. So that we’ve got a spot, it shouldn’t be a surprise,” he said. “But the feeling is good. We clinched today.”

Thunder Bay (8-2-3) and Winnipeg (0-11-2) wrap up regular season play Saturday night at Fort William Stadium.