After snapping an 87-minute home scoreless streak the night before, the Baltimore Blast again opened slow Saturday night. But a 6-0 run around halftime was enough, and the Blast (6-8) held on to beat last-place California, 8-6, before 6,830 at 1st Mariner Arena.
/>After calling Friday night?s performance a disappointment, Blast coach Danny Kelly still wasn?t crazy about the team?s effort Saturday.
/>”In my mind it?s still not good enough,” Kelly said. “We got the win and that?s the positive. This was a huge game for us tonight.”
/>Goalkeeper Sagu made 12 saves on 15 shots, including one at point-blank range in the closing seconds of play.
/>The team came out flat, surrendering a 4-0 lead to California (5-11) in the first quarter, before Machel Millwood got the Blast on the board on a lob from Carlos Garcia with 1:58 remaining in the half.
/>”We?ve been struggling scoring goals,” Millwood said. “At this point, it doesn?t matter how they came.”
/>Just 19 seconds later, Denison Cabral drove a shot off the boards that caromed off a California defender and into the net. Cabral was awarded the goal, and the Blast went into the half in a 4-4 deadlock. The Blast out-shot California, 12-7, in the period.
/>The shooting barrage continued in the third quarter, with the Blast owning the shot advantage, 25-3. Despite maintaining offensive pressure, the Blast was only able to convert once, on Millwood?s second goal of the night. Lee Tschantret had the assist, and is now just three points away from 1,000 for his career.
/>Kelly was again frustrated with his team?s finishing on offense, pointing to the 1-for-25 shooting in the third period. The team is also struggling on power plays, having converted two on eight opportunities Saturday night.
/>”We?ve just got to keep at it,” Millwood said. “You never know when it?s going to bounce in our favor. Its good at least that we?re getting shots off.”
/>The Blast is home for two more games this coming weekend. They play Chicago Friday and Detroit Saturday ? both games start at 7:35 p.m. ? and should welcome back the team?s leading scorer from last season, Guiliano Celenza, who has been nursing a groin injury.
/>Having split two games this weekend, Blast players are still insistent upon winning at home.
/>”If we want to get into the playoffs, we have to at least win our home games,” Millwood said. “We just wanted to come out and play as hard as we could, and we came out with the win.”
/>BLASTING BACK
» Millwood assisted on a third-period goal by Mike Lookingland. Cabral?s goal was unassisted, while Millwood?s first came from Carlos Garcia.
» California?s Vicente Figueroa scored twice and had an assist
