The Blast, which does not play until hosting Philadelphia on Friday, spent the past week hoping history does not repeat itself.
Baltimore (14-9) is in third place in the Major Indoor Soccer League, 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee (15-7) and 1/2 game behind second-place Detroit (14-7). But the Blast also were in contention to make the playoffs at this point last year ? until it ended the season on a six-game losing streak to miss the postseason by a game.
“We got stuck last year, and we’ll never forget it,” veteran forward Denison Cabral said. “We needed one more [win] to make it, and it didn’t happen. Our goal now is to take it one game at a time. We’ll find a way to make it to the playoffs.”
The Blast has seven games ? three at 1st Mariner Arena, four on the road ?remaining in the regular season. The team practiced four days this past week, and gave injured midfielder Matt Watson (toe), midfielder Scott Buete (foot) and David Bascome (knee) the chance to recover from nagging injuries.
The Blast hosts defending champion Philadelphia (11-13) on Friday at 7:35 before getting a nine-day break until it begins a three-game road trip that likely will determine if the team earns the first seed in the playoffs. The Blast plays at California (8-13) on March 22, at Chicago (13-10) on March 22 and at Monterrey (11-11) on March 27. The Blast is 4-7 on the road this season, and lost at California and Monterrey in its last visit, but defeated Chicago, 19-9, on Feb. 23. The Blast ends its season against Chicago, New Jersey and Detroit, as the Blast?s final five opponents are a combined 7-6 against Baltimore this season.
“It’s a huge seven games,” Kelly said. “Our whole season revolves around what we do in these seven games. By no means are we looking past anybody. Every game is a big game.”
Six teams qualify for the MISL playoffs – up from last year’s four-team postseason ? because the league added three expansion teams: Orlando, New Jersey and Monterrey. Monterrey holds the final playoff spot by one game over Philadelphia.
But still, the Blast?s players are only focused on themselves, as last year?s collapse began when they were 14-9, which is their exact record today.
“I think its still fresh in a lot of our minds,” Kelly said. “You don’t forget your past, or your bound to repeat it. It’s in our minds, but we’re a different team than last year. We have to use it as a bit of motivation. For us as an organization, that was unacceptable.”
