A week ago, Baltimore Blast coach Danny Kelly half-jokingly said the team?s biggest wish for the holiday season would be a road win.
Still waiting for its Christmas wish, the Blast (4-4) take to the road today to close out 2006, and Kelly hopes the team?s gift will arrive in Chicago this afternoon, when the team visits the Major Indoor Soccer League-leading Storm (6-3).
“We had a good week of practice,” Kelly said. “We watched a little bit of game tape this week. We know what we have to do, and now it?s just a matter of going out and doing it.”
Kelly said taking the time to watch extra game tape proved beneficial. After losing two straight games, Kelly said he was able to find some positives from watching game film.
“You get a different perspective from watching the game tape,” Kelly said.
The Blast and Storm will meet at Sears Centre at 2 p.m. The two played Nov. 11 in Baltimore ? the Blast?s first game at 1st Mariner Arena since winning their third championship in four seasons. In that game, forward Guiliano Celenza scored a hat trick in the opening quarter to lead the team to an 18-12 win.
“In a perfect world, we?d love to do that,” Kelly said. “We know it?s going to be a tough game, but at the same time, we?re not going to go in there intimidated.”
Celenza (UMBC) will be out this weekend fora fourth straight game with a groin injury. Captain P.J. Wakefield (foot) is also out, as are Adauto Neto (lower leg) and David Bascome (knee).
With that in mind, Kelly understands that nothing will be gift-wrapped for the defending champs. The offense will have to earn a win.
“We?ve been creating opportunities, but we haven?t been finishing them,” Kelly said.
Against a hard-working Chicago club, Kelly will be looking for some of his younger players to make contributions.
Based on the Blast?s success over the past four seasons, the team is in a bit of a funk, but Kelly isn?t discouraged by a third-place record.
“Indoor is a bit of a crazy game at times,” Kelly said. “To be fair, this is probably where we deserve to be right now.”
BLAST AT CHICAGO
» When: 2 p.m., Saturday
» Where: Sears Centre, Chicago
» Radio: WCBM 680 AM
» Season series: Blast, 1-0 ? Blast won, 18-12, on Nov. 11.
