Sunday night was busier than usual at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. More than 100 Baltimore Blast fans gathered before midnight to greet the team after its Major Indoor Soccer League championship win in St. Louis.
Blast interim player-coach Danny Kelly was aware that some fans would be waiting for the team at the airport, but did not expect the greeting they received. “I did not think that there would be that many people there because our flight did not get in until midnight,” Kelly said Monday.
Vickie Dulko, the president of the Baltimore Blast Fan Club, was among the many fans waiting for the team. “They were elated and ecstatic. They were just glad to be home,” she said.
Dulko said that the team greeted the fans, posed for pictures and showed off the trophy. “BWI was very accommodating, even though it was so late,” Dulko said.
Kelly said that after the Blast?s 2003 and 2004 championships the team held a celebration at the Korean War Memorial at Canton Waterfront Park. “I am anticipating that we will do something similar again,” Kelly said.
Amy Keller, Blast Director of Public and Community Relations, said that the team was planning a celebration but that nothing was definite as of early Monday afternoon. Keller said that the event could be as soon as Thursday and would likely be held at the Canton Waterfront Park.
“It is still sinking in,” Kelly said. The Blast defeated the St. Louis Steamers in the championship in a “golden goal” session. The Blast won the first game of the series at home Friday and dropped the second game on the road Sunday.
Towson University product Machel Millwood scored the “golden goal” to give Baltimore the series win and the championship Sunday.
Kelly said that he is not sure if he will continue as the Blast?s player/coach, but he is not concerned now.
Kelly said that Blast owner Ed Hale, Sr. told him from the beginning that his status as interim manager would be reevaluated at the end of the season.
ROAD TO THE TITLE
» This was the third MISL championship in four years for the Baltimore Blast. It is the fourth overall, including the 1983 title won by the original Blast team.
» The St. Louis Steamers finished the season with the best overall record in the MISL (23-7) and the best home record(14-1). The Blast finished the year 17-13 overall and were 5-10 on the road.
