Just a few minutes into the game, Detroit let loose a three-point shot that deflected off a Blast defender and past a stunned Sagu. It was just that kind of night for the Blast (4-4), which dropped the game, 15-4, in the process and fell to 0-4 in road games.
“Not a game we?re proud of,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said.
Kelly said his team had opportunities, but unlike the Ignition (4-5), the Blast did not convert on scoring chances.
“We even had a couple power plays that we didn?t convert on,” Kelly said. “Our inexperience in a couple positions hurt us.”
The Blast again played without defender P.J. Wakefield and forward Guiliano Celenza ? which hurt the team at both ends.
“Chasing the game, you try to force things a bit too much,” Kelly said. “When you?re pressing, you leave yourself vulnerable to counterattack.”
Detroit held Baltimore scoreless for the entire first half and was out to a nine-point lead at the intermission.
The Blast had been on the road since Thursday morning, flying across the country to California, before leaving for Detroit Friday morning.
“It wasn?t an ideal situation to be on the road chasing the game, especially after traveling from California the day before,” Kelly said.
The team got back into town Sunday morning and will take today off, before training Tuesday to Friday. The team will take off Monday for Christmas before preparing for the Dec. 30 game at Chicago.
“As a team we need to decide which team is going to continue on with the season,” Kelly said, noting that the Blast had lost their previous three road games by a combined four goals.
Up until Saturday?s contest, Kelly said, “We?ve been in every game.”
The blame for the loss can go in a number of directions. Leaving goalkeeper Sagu helpless, injuries forcing some players into uncommon roles, and of course, the cross-country flights on back-to-back days between games.
“The travel is difficult because no matter what you do it has an effect on your body,” Kelly said. “In the game it looked like Detroit was a step faster than us. I?m not going to make excuses ? but at the same time it does have an effect on you.”
