Ryan Pierce is confident.
“If we defend,” the Blast?s rookie defender said, “we?ll win.”
And against Milwaukee, it?s a simple strategy. If the Blast can stop forward Greg Howes, it likely will book a return flight to play in the Major Indoor Soccer League championship game on April 26.
Howes led the league with 130 points in the regular season ? 22 more than runner-up Dino Delevski of Monterrey and 42 more than the Blast?s point leader, forward Denison Cabral.
Blast coach Danny Kelly said the team won?t try to stop Howes, but contain him. The Blast will look to limit fouls in its defensive zone to prevent set-plays ? situations in which Howes thrives and the Blast has struggled to defend all season.
“He?s the leading scorer in the league for a reason,” Kelly said. “The guy can shoot with both feet and he can beat players one-on-one, and he can also thread balls when the double comes his way. I?m confident with our defenders, and we?ve done a good job with him this year.”
Howes is far and away the team?s top threat. Marcio Leite had 80 points, and nobody else on the Wave has more than 50.
The Blast enter tonight?s game at 7:05 at 1st Mariner Arena withthe same plan it used to defeat New Jersey in the first round: defend first, score second.
Game Two is Sunday afternoon at 3 at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, and if the series is tied, the team that scores first in the ensuing overtime period advances to play either Detroit (22-8) or Monterrey, Mexico (17-15) in the final.
“We can?t change anything,” forward Adauto Neto said. “We?ve got to work hard. It?s going to be another battle. We have to play good defense, and the goals will come.”
The rivalry with Milwaukee stems from the success the two teams have had in recent years. The two franchises have combined for seven league titles in the past ten seasons ? four for the Wave, three for the Blast.
The Blast won two of three games against the Wave this season. Machel Millwood had 12 points in those games, and the Blast held Howes to nine points.
“We know they?re going to come out and kick, scratch, grab and do whatever it takes to win. We?re going to go out there and do the same. We?re not going to let down,” Millwood said. “It?s a great rivalry.”
