As laudable as it will be for the Blast if it makes the NPSL playoffs after starting out 0-4 and 4-10, the highlight of the season, competitively, unfolds over the next three weekends.
The Blast (17-16) has a 1 1/2-game lead over Harrisburg and Montreal, both 16-18, for the fourth spot in the five-team American Conference playoffs, and the return of goalie Brett Phillips and midfielder Danny Kelly off the injury list will no doubt help its cause down the stretch.
The schedule is brutal, however, and strange things often happen in this league. While the Blast, winner of four straight games, has a shot at capturing the East Division title, especially if it beats the Kixx in Philadelphia tonight (7: 35), any kind of slump could see the team sitting home come playoff time.
To begin with, the team has two more tough games on the road after tonight, visiting Cleveland tomorrow (7: 05 p.m.) and Milwaukee next Friday. These Midwest Division teams have the two best records in the NPSL and are 11-5 and 14-3 at home, respectively.
The Blast then comes home for three games, one against Cleveland, a team it has lost to twice previously, and two against Montreal, a club it was buried by, 25-14, a month ago.
Meanwhile, Harrisburg, which won two road games last week to keep afloat, and Montreal, which beat Milwaukee and lost a close one to Philadelphia in its last two outings, plays just about all of its remaining games against division or conference foes, which makes them doubly important.
The objective, of course, is to make the playoffs, the second season. But, too often, postseason play amounts to quick and barely noticed elimination. The fact is, these upcoming games carry far more impact.
Grateful for support
The Blast, which had more paid admissions for its first 10 home games this season than the Baltimore Spirit did all last season, is showing its appreciation tonight by picking up the ticket and transportation costs for 250 season-ticket holders attending the team's game in Philadelphia.
"By the end of the regular season, I think we will have realized 2 1/2 times the crowds and revenues they had last year," said team owner Ed Hale. "All we can do is compare ourselves to last year, and the improvement both on the field and in the business has been dramatic."
Pressure on Heat
The outlook couldn't have been much worse for Harrisburg a few games back. The team appeared to end its chances for a playoff spot with a pair of home losses, one a one-point defeat by the Blast, the other by two points to Edmonton in overtime.
Four games under .500 with eight games to play, the Heat had to go on the road to play Wichita and Kansas City. The Heat swept, but dead ahead is the despised three-game weekend, two at home against Milwaukee and Florida, then a visit to St. Louis.
Et cetera
Mark Thomas of the Blast, who says he has never missed a game due to sickness, has been hit bad by the flu and may miss tonight's game in Philadelphia. The Edmonton Oilers, 20-14 and leading the North Division by three games, are the only NPSL team that has clinched a playoff berth so far.
Pub Date: 3/19/99