The Blast has shown it has no trouble winning in Orlando. Now comes the bigger test: prove it can consistently beat league?s best teams in their own arenas.
The Blast?s 12-4 victory in Orlando capped a four-game sweep of the season series against the expansion club, with two of the victories coming in Florida. But of the Blast?s 11 remaining games, seven are on the road, which could be a daunting task for a team that has just one game in six road games against the rest of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
The Blast?s next road game could be one of its biggest of the season, as it travels to play league-leading Milwaukee (14-7) on Friday night at 8 in what will be the first of eight games against teams with winning records before the end of the season. After facing the Wave, the Blast (12-7) returns home the next night to host expansion New Jersey (10-9) at 7:35 at 1st Mariner Arena.
The Blast, which has won its past six games ? its longest of the season ? had no trouble against the Sharks (3-18). Machel Millwood, Lucio and Robbie Aristodemo each had a goal and an assist, as the Blast, which has a league-best 8.6 goals against average, held Orlando to just two goals.
“I think we?ve learned from our mistakes, what?s gone on this season,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “If you let in soft goals here and there, it can lose you a game.”
The Blast boasts a league-best 9-2 home record. But if it is to make the playoffs after missing the postseason by one victory last year, Baltimore must have more results like the one it had on Saturday.
“Now, making the playoffs is huge,” David Bascome said. “I want to win another championship, and that?s it.”
But midseason success is nothing new to the Blast, which won league titles in 2003, 2004 and 2006. At this time last year, the Blast was in the midst of an eight-game winning streak. But that winning streak was followed by a six-game losing streak to end the season.
“It?s kind of unacceptable not to win a championship here,” second-year defender Mike Lookingland said. “To miss the playoffs and end the way we did, in first place, losing six in a row and not even making it. We?re in a good position now, and I think the guys are starting to get a taste in their mouth, like ?Playoffs ? lets do it. And lets not only do that, lets win the championship.?”
