With a talent-laden roster, it was only a matter of time until the Blast got back to their championship ways. But, who knew it would come in such a hurry against such adversity?
The Blast (11-9) has won four straight, including back-to-back sweeps of the top two teams in the league standings. After this weekend?s two-game sweep of Milwaukee (11-10), the Blast leap-frogged the Wave in the league standings, and is in line for a playoff trip and a shot at defending its Major Indoor Soccer League title.
“Every win for us is big right now,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “We have our destiny in our hands and it?s up to us to determine what we do with it. If we go out and play like that, I think we have a good shot at making the postseason.”
The Blast is currently in third place and trails first-place Philadelphia (12-7) by 1.5 games. The Blast visits fifth-place Chicago (9-10) Saturday before battling Philadelphia at 1st Mariner Arena March 2.
“One month ago, we?re in last place. Everybody in here was mad,” goalkeeper Sagu said. “This is soccer, you know? You can?t put your head down. You?ve got to fight.”
With the top four teams advancing to the playoffs, the Blast have developed a cushion and can now focus on home-field advantage. The players now look back two weeks at the two-game weekend sweep of first-place Philadelphia as a key moment in the season.
“You can probably count it as the turning point in our season so far,” midfielder Robbie Aristodemo said. “More than anything, it got us on a roll.”
In mid-January, the team seemed at full strength, with injured stars Giuliano Celenza and Adauto Neto returning to action. But both of those players sat out this weekend. Neto re-aggravated his lower leg injury while Celenza injured his calf muscle in practice.
“Winning without those two guys says a lot about those guys in the locker room tonight,” Kelly said after Saturday?s win.
Part of the team?s offensive success in the absence of it?s two top scoring threats from a year ago can be credited to the development of Machel Millwood, who scored three fourth-quarter goals Sunday to complete the comeback.
Blast off
» The Blast continue to lead the league in home attendance, after drawing 7,303 Saturday night.
» The team unveiled a new Hall of Fame banner Saturday night, including Heinz Wirtz, who was inducted Saturday night. Hall of Famers Dave MacWilliams, Mike Stankovic and Joey Fink were on hand for the celebration.
» The team held a moment of silence before Saturday?s game for Mike Woodward, the facilities director at both Du Burns Arena and Myers Pavilion, the training venues of the Blast. Woodward died Feb. 4 at the age of 49.
