Those footsteps the Spirit heard belonged to the Harrisburg Heat.
Two days ago, Harrisburg was within a half game of the Spirit, which was second behind the Cleveland Crunch in the National Professional Soccer League's American Division. Now, thanks to two straight victories, the Spirit (18-9) has a two-game lead on the Heat (15-10).
Led by ex-Heat player Franklin McIntosh, who had two goals last night and has 18 points in three games against his former team, the Spirit defeated Harrisburg, 11-9, before 5,619 at the Baltimore Arena. It ended Harrisburg's winning streak at a club-record six.
"We need to get some distance in this race," coach Dave MacWilliams said before the game.
He's getting it.
Barry Stitz and Kevin Sloan scored the final two Spirit goals, sandwiched around one by Harrisburg's Bob Lilley. Once Sloan provided a sliver of breathing room with his one-point shootout, the Spirit held on the final 3 1/2 minutes.
The Spirit was coming off what MacWilliams called its best game of the season, Thursday's 16-6 road win over the Milwaukee Wave. Last night, the Spirit played a full 60 minutes to MacWilliams' satisfaction.
"We played the system all night and were disciplined throughout," MacWilliams said. "We had never done it for a whole game."
McIntosh liked the team's effort for the second game in a row.
"We were just as good tonight," he said. "We expended a lot of energy in Milwaukee, but we came back tonight against a better team and did just as well."
Goalie and assistant coach Cris Vaccaro, who watched Joe Mallia stifle Milwaukee, had 14 saves in a strong performance. Only six points were scored in the second half, three by each team.
"You couldn't ask for better defense the last few games," Vaccaro said. "To hold two teams under 10 points on successive nights is an accomplishment."
The Spirit had a seven-game losing streak against the Heat stretching back to last season. Now it has won three straight, all since McIntosh joined the team.
McIntosh and Stitz led the Spirit with four points apiece. Stitz is within two points of his career high of 63 as a rookie in 1992-93.
McIntosh opened the game with a spectacular goal, kicking the ball with his back to the net past Harrisburg keeper Scoop Stanisic. After Lilley evened it, McIntosh scored his second goal only 6:28 into the game.
Tim Wittman gave the Spirit a 6-2 lead, but Mark Pulisic and Danny Kelly tied it at 6 before rookie Jamie Christie's two-pointer gave the Spirit a halftime edge.
NOTES: Vaccaro (6-5) probably will start again tonight. Mallia (10-2) opened the three-games-in-three-nights stretch with a 19-save effort against Milwaukee that ended the Wave's winning streak at eight. . . .
Brad Smith rejoined the Spirit after a one-game suspension following his ejection from Sunday's game in Canton for elbowing and kicking. . . . Ex-Spirit Tarik Walker has 27 points in his first 13 Harrisburg games. Walker, last season's NPSL Rookie of the Year, scored his 100th career point against the Dayton Dynamo two weeks ago. Steve Boardman, also an ex-Spirit, has 21 blocks in his first 14 games. . . . The Spirit Reserves, a farm team of local players coached by Vaccaro, clinched the Thursday Premier Unlimited League title with a 20-6 win over the Baltimore Colts Football Club that gave them a 6-1-1 record with one game remaining. Buddy Barlage had two three-point goals and Jim Gurry two two-pointers.
SPIRIT TONIGHT
Opponent: Kansas City Attack
Site: Baltimore Arena
Time: 7:05
Radio: WWLG (1360 AM), WAMD (970 AM)
Tickets: Many available
Outlook: This is the third game in three nights for the Spirit and the second in two nights for the Attack. In the teams' only meeting this season, eight days ago, Kansas City won, 17-16. Kansas City and the Cleveland Crunch are the only teams that have defeated every other NPSL club this season. Kansas City has two scorers with more than 100 points, Goran Hunjak and Wes Wade, and the Spirit has one, Kevin Sloan. Wade and Hunjak are ranked first and second in the league in assists. The first 2,000 youngsters 16 and under will receive free gym bags.