Rey Martinez couldn?t have picked a better time to score his first ? or his second ? goal of the season.
The Blast midfielder scored a pair of three-point, fourth-quarter goals, to give the Blast a 16-14 win before 7,865 at 1st Mariner Arena Saturday night.
Despite a bevy of injuries, the Blast (3-2) outlasted a pesky Milwaukee Wave (2-4) squad, which had beaten the Blast, 21-17, Friday night in Milwaukee.
“We played well for good stretches of that game,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “We created a lot of opportunities offensively, and unfortunately we couldn?t convert on a lot of them and that kept them in the game.”
Also keeping Milwaukee in the game was a six-point, first-half swing courtesy of two three-point goals. The game was tied at eight heading into halftime.
“They had two three point goals which I thought were soft on our part,” Kelly said.
But the Blast responded after the half, and in the fourth quarter, Martinez put Milwaukee away. His first goal of the season ? in just his second game with the Blast since signing on Nov. 14 ? put the team ahead by one. His second three-pointer, shortly thereafter, gave his team the cushion it needed to pull out the win.
“When we get opportunities like that, and I have the time to shoot, I do,” Martinez said.
And Kelly gave the 35-year old permission to do so.
“Yes, keep shooting,” said Martinez of his coach?s directions.
For his efforts, Martinez was named the Pepsi player of the game.
“I think Rey is a very good player and he?s only going to get player,” Kelly said. “He gives us a different dimension coming out of the back. He can handle the ball and as you saw tonight, he can score a goal. He played a great game and I look for more in the future.”
His two goals capped a three-goal streak for the Blast, which turned a 12-8 deficit into a 16-12 lead.
As Kelly suggested, the Blast-Wave battle brings out the best in both teams.
“It?s definitely, I think, the league?s best rivalry,” Kelly said.
Blast off
» Veteran forward Lee Tschantret carried the Blast captain?s armband, with P.J. Wakefield (foot) out with an injury. Tschantret responded with a pair of assists.
» Blast midfielder Carlos Garcia scored two goals in the second quarter, while Matt Watson, Billy Nelson and Guiliano Celenza added single goals in the win.
» Blast goalkeeper Sagu had 17 saves on 23 faced shots
