Blast coach Danny Kelly often speaks of playing team defense, a message that may not be clear to the team?s fans, but certainly is to the Major Indoor Soccer League?s best unit.
“[Team defense] makes it harder for the [opponent] to come through all five guys as opposed to three [defenders],” Blast defender Billy Nelson said. “For the most part, in the last 12 games, we?ve been playing defense great as a team.”
The Blast has gone 9-3 in the past dozen games to move into third place with a record of 15-9, and is one victory away from qualfying for the playoffs after missing the postseason by a game last year.
In a league that changed its scoring system ? goals are worth two or three points instead of the traditional one ? to encourage scoring, the Blast?s defensive statistics have improved since it claimed its last title in 2006.
“I think with the defenders we have, we?re solid all the way around in the back. That?s what we were hoping for this year, coming in,” Nelson said. “Defense is going to win you games. Offensively, we have probably the most talent in the league. As long as we can buckle-down and play great defense, you?re going to win more games. We take pride in only giving up two or three goals a game.”
The team allows a league-best average of nine points per game, and perhaps even more impressively, just 22.2 shots per game ? 2.7 shots less than the next-best team.
In the championship year of 2006, the Blast allowed 24.5 shots per game, and 5.6 goals per game, which today would translate to at least 11.2 points per game.
The defense?s improvemement has made life easier for goalie Sagu, who has saved 192 of 263 shots (73 percent) this season.
“We all take pride in what we do back there,” team captain P.J. Wakefield said. “This team is not afraid to get down, get dirty, block shots, and do whatever it takes to get the win.”
The Blast kills 63.6 percent of power plays, and has yielded a league-low 12 power play goals. The team doesn?t have a player in the league?s top five in blocks, but defender Mike Lookingland isn?t surprised since the team simply doesn?t allow many shots.
Suddenly, an organization that built a run of three league titles in four seasons behind a star-studded offense is proving it can win with defense.
“I think it goes a little unnoticed to the media and to other teams and stuff, because we have very good offensive players,” Lookingland said. “I think, out here with the team, everybody knows that defense is one of the points we emphasize.”
