After breaking through with a road victory for the first time in six tries, the Baltimore Blast returns home this weekend for the first two games of a five-game home stand.
“Getting that one road win, getting that monkey off our back, was huge,” said rookie defender Mike Lookingland, who recorded a hat trick in last Thursday?s win at California.
“We?ve done very well at home, and we expect to do well at home [this weekend].”
The Blast (5-7) had lost five straight on the road before beating the Cougars, and after a loss at Philadelphia Sunday, the team is 1-6 on the road.
“We needed a win, period,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “We?ve talked about it before. … You need to win games on the road if you?re going to be a playoff team.”
Heading into a five-game home stretch, the Blast have its sights set on getting back into the playoff race. The team is currently in fifth place, sitting three games out of first.
“If we can come out of this weekend alone 2-0, that?ll put us right back in the playoff race, possibly third or fourth place,” Lookingland said.
The Blast will face fourth-place Milwaukee (6-8) Friday night before playing host to last-place California (5-9) Saturday night. Both games are set for 7:35 p.m. In the upcoming five-game span, the Blast will face each of the other five teams in the six-team Major Indoor Soccer League.
Kelly said this home stand will be a “test,” with each team offering different looks. It?ll also be a test for the team physically. With four key players out at any time, the Blast has battled the injury bug this season. And the upcoming five-game series will be played out over just 15 days.
“It could be, hopefully, a turning point in the season where we?re playing in front of our home fans,” Kelly said. “We can get some important wins and get heading in the right direction.”
But with 18 games remaining, Kelly is not in position to place extra importance on the upcoming contests.
“I don?t think it?s make-or-break,” Kelly said. “I think it could put us in the right direction.”
BACK TO BALTIMORE
The Blast will play the following games at 1st Mariner Arena, each with a 7:35 p.m. start (Team records/standings as of Monday):
» Friday: Milwaukee (6-8, fourth)
» Saturday: California (5-9, sixth)
» Jan. 26: Chicago (7-6, third)
» Jan. 27: Detroit (9-6, second)
» Feb. 2: Philadelphia (8-4, first)
