If only the Blast played all its games at home.
The Blast won for the seventh time in nine games at 1st Mariner Arena this season with a convincing, 12-7 victory over the Milwaukee Wave on Friday that moved Baltimore to within two games of first place in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
After completing a first half of the season in which the Blast (9-7) had a five-game winning streak, a five-game losing streak and was shutout for the first time in franchise history, it opened the second half of the year with an inspiring performance against the Wave (12-6).
“It was probably our most complete game of the season,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said.
Since a 19-11 loss to the Detroit Ignition on Dec. 8, Baltimore is 3-0 at home ? and hosts the Chicago Storm (11-6) on Friday and league-worst Orlando (2-16) on Saturday before playing consecutive road games.
The Blast clearly is a better team playing in front of its raucous fans. The Blast has drawn a league-leading 61,485 fans after a crowd of 5,467 watched defender P.J. Wakefield score two, three-point goals and add an assist as the Blast defeated the Wave for the second time this season.
“I think the crowd plays a big part of it,” said Wakefield, who posted a career-high seven points. “We?re comfortable when we play here.”
It shows. During its three-game home winning streak, the Blasthas outscored the opposition 37-18.
“Every game is important,” Kelly said. “We missed the playoffs by one game last year. We can?t afford to take any games easy, but you must win your home games. You have to play tough defensively and do everything you can to win those games.”
The Blast has outscored its opponents, 106-75, in nine home games, but has been a completely different team on the road, where it is 2-5 despite being outscored, 63-62. The Blast, however, has been held to four or fewer points in five of those games, which doesn?t bode well in a league in which each eight of nine teams average at least nine points per game.
The Blast has eight road games remaining, including five against the league?s top four teams.
“There?s just something about the road games,” Wakefield said. “We?ve got to start getting that mentality like we play at home.”
Blast vs. Chicago Storm
» Kickoff: Friday, 8 p.m.
» Where: 1st Mariner Arena
» Radio: 680 AM
» Tickets: Available
