Grind it out.
That?s the best way to describe how the Blast advanced to the Major Indoor Soccer League semifinals by sweeping its quarterfinal series against New Jersey.
The Blast held the Ironmen scoreless for the first 50 minutes, 36 seconds before allowing two goals in a 29-second span late in the fourth quarter. But in the end, the expansion Ironmen had no answer for Adauto Neto?s right-footed strike with 2:20 remaining that gave the Blast a 6-4 win. The victory sent the third-seeded Blast (21-11) into the semifinals, which it begins on Wednesday night against second-seeded Milwaukee (22-8) at 1st Mariner Arena.
“We showed character,” Blast forward Machel Millwood said. “We hung in there when they came back in the fourth quarter. We knew we had to come in here and grind out a win.”
After winning Thursday?s series opener, 22-10, the Blast needed Saturday?s win to advance. The Blast didn?t get the blowout it envisioned, but the team gained confidence by winning a close game, which should help it against Milwaukee. The Wave, which had a first-round bye along with top-seeded Detroit, hasn?t played since April 5.
“It wasn?t pretty, but we held them scoreless for the better part of the game,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “We found a way to win, and that was the important thing. We just hung in there. [Saturday] was a big character game for us.”
And any edge the Blast can cling to this week will be crucial. Milwaukee is one of the team?s fiercest rivals.
“It?s going to be another battle,” Neto said. “It?s always a good rivalry against Milwaukee. We have to play good defense, and the goals will come.”
After the teams meet in Baltimore on Wednesday, the deciding game of the series will be Sunday afternoon at Milwaukee?s U.S. Cellular Arena. If the teams split the two games, which ever scores first in an overtime period immediately after the second game advances to the final on April 26.
The Blast also could have a vocal contingent of fans in Milwaukee, as its supporters? boisterous cheers negated the Ironmen?s home-field advantage. New Jersey fans had to be reminded by the public address system that Prudential Center was “their house.”
The Blast?s fans ? many of whom traveled by bus -?were theloudest contingent among the crowd of 4,000.
“I?d say we almost had as many fans as they did,” Kelly said. “It was great to have some support when you?re playing on the road. I think it helped us out a bit.”
