Wilson Neto was up all night worrying about when he’d score his next – and possible final – goal as a member of the Thunder Bay Chill.
His teammates and coach had spent the previous day teasing the 29-year-old Brazilian defender about his last goal, which came more than two years ago. His last goal at Chapples Park came in 2008, the Chill’s championship year.
Having decided to retire, win or lose, after the 2011 season, Neto was letting it get the better of him. Well, he can worry no more.
Neto one-timed a shot into the net on Wednesday night, then ran toward the stands and gave his baby daughter a kiss, as the Chill (11-2-1) took a step closer toward a playoff berth, downing visiting WSA Winnipeg 4-0.
“Yesterday I had four or five people coming to me because I missed about three opportunities. They said you’ve got to score a goal here. This is your last year and we haven’t seen a goal here in two years from you,” Neto said.
The goal, one of three the Chill scored in the second half, the other two off the foot of Abraham Gomez, came with several Chill regulars on the sidelines.
Anthony Putrus and Gustavo Oliveira were serving suspensions and Nolan Intermoia was being rested by coach Tony Colistro.
Neto said he’s just relieved his scoreless streak is over, glad he could help the Chill win a second straight game and, at least for now, give them a four-point cushion in the Premier Development League’s Heartland Division.
“It’s a good feeling to know we’re on the right track. We came into these two games not knowing what to expect. Our record against Winnipeg was a win and a loss. We knew we were tired and we had a lot of guys injured. But it’s good to come out, give the guys a break and have our second line and some of the guys step up and get the job done,” Neto said.
Colistro said knowing the team has the depth to win with key players out of the lineup makes him feel a lot more comfortable with the playoffs just around the corner.
“They showed today that they can play and that they want to play and we’re going to need that going into the playoffs,” Colistro said.
Of course it was Mr. Tried and True who gave the Chill their initial lead, and Brandon Swartzendruber didn’t wait long.
Taking the opening possession, Swartzendruber blasted the ball past Winnipeg goalie Andrew Gladstone at about the 20 second mark, a 1-0 lead the Chill would carry into the intermission.
After Neto, who scored in the 64th minute, having missed an open chance in the 64th, the second half was all Abraham Gomez.
Gomez averages about 30 minutes a game, but given a starting role against Winnipeg, he made the most of it, driving home a loose ball in the 67th to make it 3-0 and firing a free kick through traffic 10 minutes later that found the back of the net.
The goal was credited to Felipe Souza, who appeared to tip it as it rolled past.
“We had fresh legs. That was our opportunity to show what we can import to the team, and we did a great job I believe,” Gomez said.
“It was a chance for us to shine. We don’t get that many opportunities, so whenever you get the chance you’ve got to show what you have, if you want to be on the scene because it’s a winner’s team and you’ve got to have that mentality in order to meet the expectations.”
Pitch marks: Swartzendruber’s tally was his 11th of the season, putting him two behind Orange County’s Chandler Hoffman and Westchester’s Jake Keegan for the PDL lead. Swartzendruber led the league in goals in 2010 ... The win was the 98th in franchise history ... A win against Colorado next weekend clinches a playoff berth, while a sweep would earn the Chill their fourth Heartland Division title.
