Machel Millwood is adept at scoring golden goals.
But the Blast forward would prefer if the team advances tonight at 7 without having to go to sudden-death overtime if host New Jersey ties the first-round series with a win at Prudential Center in Newark.
Millwood won the Major Indoor Soccer League semifinal series and the championship in 2006 with golden goals, which he feels prepares the Blast for winning close games.
“We got a lot of experience from that. We know we have to be mentally focused in each game,” Millwood said. “You have to let every guy know that any mistake at all can cost you the game. You can?t go back after and say: ?I could have done something else.? You either claim responsibility, or you?re just going to let it go. Most of the guys here were on that team, and they?re ready to go out and win another championship.”
But the Blast won?t need a golden goal to earn a spot in the semifinals against the Milwaukee Wave (22-8) if they produce an effort similar to the one it gave on Thursday night. MIllwood scored three times in a 22-10 win, giving him 30 goals ? second-most on the team ? to go along with 23 assists.
Milwaukee had a first-round bye because it finished in second place during the regular season behind Chicago, which will play either Chicago or Monterrey in the semifinals.
Millwood?s final statistics Thursday would have seemed improbable in the first half, when the Blast struggled to solve New Jersey?s zone defense and led just 10-6 at intermission. Blast defender and captain P.J. Wakefield remembers Ironmen coach Omid Namazi installing a zone defense while he was coaching in Cleveland.
“In a playoff game, we didn?t think they?d do that,” Wakefield said. “I think they were just trying to save some legs and steal a win [tonight] at their place.”
Blast goalkeeper Sagu expects the Blast to have a much easier time tonight.
“I don?t think they?ll play zone up there,” he said. “If they lose, it?s done.”
Wakefield said the Blast won?t change its strategy.
“I think we?re going to play the same way,” he said. “What we did [Thursday] is what we usually do ? a typical Blast win. It might be a little tougher because it?s on the road, but we just have to take care of business.”
