On the seventh day, the Blast traveled.
It took until late Sunday night, but the Blast (12-9) finally got airborne from Chicago after defeating the Chicago Storm, 12-4, in an early Saturday afternoon game.
With the remnants of the storm that also created travel issues in Baltimore, the Blast flight was grounded Saturday night, and the club was essentially cooped-up in a hotel all day Sunday.
“It was a long day for sure but at least we made it out of there,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said.
For a team that has made quite a jump up the Major Indoor Soccer League standings, the prolonged stay in Chicago offered the team a chance to reflect on the season thus far.
“We try to make a bad situation good. We were pretty much stuck in the hotel and they got to spend some time together,” Kelly said. “Usually, a lot of time the guys are in their room with their roommate. The guys were able to do some bonding and we went out to eat together.”
Three Blast players who didn?t travel were out to breakfast Sunday, but not to bond with one another. Instead, Wendell Regis, Robbie Aristodemo and Giuliano Celenza were at ESPN Zone for a breakfast with the fans. Despite the messy weather, a Blast spokesperson said that everyone who bought tickets for the sold out event was in attendance.
That fan base, which can boast the highest average attendance in the MISL, is one reason why the club is happy to be home. Now, the Blast can focus on a two-game weekend at 1st Mariner Arena. The Blast plays first-place Philadelphia Friday and last-place California Saturday ? both games at 7:35 p.m. The focus this week, with the potential of being in first place after this coming weekend, is to work hard, but not over-work.
“We do have a fair amount of guys banged up, so we want to keep guys as healthy as possible,” Kelly said.
