Blast coach Danny Kelly will have plenty of reference material when he addresses his team before tonight?s playoff game against the New Jersey Ironmen at 1st Mariner Arena.
Forget the 14 years he spent playing in the Major Indoor Soccer League, Kelly can reflect on his first two seasons as Blast coach, as the team won the 2006 title before missing the playoffs by a game last year.
“Every game you have to treat as important as the next one,” he said. “One of the things we talked about is why we play the game. We play thegame to win championships. We don?t play the game for the money. We play because we love the game, we play to compete and we play to win. Now, this is the time of year where the level is raised in every aspect. The speed of the game picks up, the game is more physical and there?s more on the line. That?s what we?re trying to get through these guys heads ? you can?t relax now.”
In fact, the Blast (19-11) needs to play better. The team has the best defense in the MISL, allowing a league-low 9.6 points and 23.3 shots, in addition to killing a league-best 66.7 percent of power plays during the regular season.
But if there is one weakness in the team?s defense, it is the Blast?s penchant to allow goals on set plays, which begin with a free kick in the attacking zone.
“A lot of it is recognizing situations. You know the team?s tendencies, but if a team is smart, they?ll put in some new free kicks for the playoffs,” said Kevin Healey, the team?s president, adding that positioning and anticipation are keys to defending restarts. “You have to get down and create a block for the goalkeeper. That way they?re blocking the low shot and the goalkeeper can see the high shot.”
The Blast is second-to-last in the league, having allowed 15 restart goals in 30 games this season. Monterrey?s 18 is the most, with New Jersey third with 14.
Midfielder Denison Cabral feels most teams are putting an emphasis on scoring on set plays.
“I think our defense was just unlucky a couple times,” Cabral said. “It?s playoff time now, it?s going to have to be better.”
The team made a concerted effort to improve defensively after opening the season 6-7, as players, including the team?s offensive stars, emphasized team defense. But what the Blast did during the regular season doesn?t count when it takes the field against the Ironmen (14-16), who went 1-3 against Baltimore this season.
“Now, it?s back to zero, and everybody has a shot,” Blast goalkeeper Sagu said. “You never know. In the playoffs, everything changes.”
