Lee Tschantret returned to two familiar places Saturday night: 1st Mariner Arena, and its penalty box.
The former Blast stand-out signed with Philadelphia after sitting out the 2007-08 season, and was in uniform for the KiXX in Saturday’s 16-10 Blast win.
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Tshantret, 29, spent seven seasons in Baltimore, recording 332 points in 235 games. The fiery defender scored 123 goals with 125 assists from 2000-2007, and tallied his 1,000th point during the 2006-07 season.
He was slapped with a two-minute penalty for a dangerous play at the 6:30 mark of the second quarter.
“Lee has a blue card there, he was kind of getting fired up,” Blast midfielder Robbie Aristodemo said. “That put a smile on my face, seeing him getting fired up. We knew he’d get fired up.”
Tschantret has accumulated four penalty minutes through four games, and now has 770 penalty minutes in 550 games played.
TOPS IN ATTENDANCE
The Blast drew 7,368 fans to 1st Mariner Arena Saturday night, continuing to dominate the league, not only on the field but at the turnstiles.
Through four games, the Blast leads the National Indoor Soccer League in average (7,603) and total (22,810) attendance.
Philadelphia ranks second in the league in average attendance with 6,245 fans per home game. Monterrey drew 3,267 fans to its lone home game.
Expansion teams in Rockford and Massachusetts have struggled thus far. In three games, Rockford is drawing 799 fans per game. In two home dates, Massachusetts has drawn 758 total fans.
ACHES AND PAINS
Philadelphia defender Joe Di Buono dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter and did not return. … Blast midfielder Giuliano Celenza took a hard-driven ball off the face in the first half, causing a stoppage in play. After a few minutes on the turf, Celenza walked off, and he returned shortly thereafter. … Denison Cabral returned from a bout with the flu. After missing the team’s 27-2 win Dec. 12, Cabral played the entire game Saturday, adding two assists despite playing at less-than-full strength.
JUST FOR KICKS
The first 2,000 kids (14-and-under) in attendance got a Jonathan Greenfield replica jersey t-shirt. The Blast will give away a bobble head to the first 2,000 fans at the arena Feb. 20. … Philadelphia goalkeeper Nick Hovaker, II is a graduate of Chesapeake High in Pasadena. The former first-team All-County keeper pitched 12 shutouts his senior season before playing at Mount Olive College. He has played in two games this season, but did not appear Saturday.
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