Target practice.

This is what happens when you're playing the Cleveland Crunch and you play a loose, lifeless game.

Which is what the Blast did yesterday at the end of a long weekend while succumbing to the league leaders for the fourth time this season, 22-12.

It was the Blast's fifth straight setback and, at this point, the arithmetic is simple: The Blast must win its last two games, on Friday at home against Montreal and in Detroit the next day while the Impact is losing its three remaining games.

Otherwise, the Blast can stow its gear, secure in the knowledge it had a good season until the night in Philadelphia 10 days ago it lost a win in the last 13 seconds of regulation and overtime and went on a five-game losing streak.

"After losing in Harrisburg [Saturday] and having three of my best defenders out with sore hamstrings, I was worried about this game," said Cleveland coach Bruce Miller.

He was being a diplomat, yes, but at the same time his team is in a run to the wire with Milwaukee for the best record in the Central Division and American Conference.

The Crunch, which has won 11 of its past 12, has a 25-13 record, a half-game ahead of the Wave (25-14), which also won yesterday.

With Zoran Karic having missed a dozen games and Hector Marinaro half that, the Crunch actually has become a fair-to-middlin' defensive team.

Marinaro, who regained the league scoring lead from Wichita's Eric Rasmussen with a seven-point burst, including four goals, started the rout by hitting a two-pointer after five minutes. Karic assisted on the play to start his 10-point day.

The Crunch led 4-2 after a period, 10-4 at intermission and 16-4 after three quarters. The Blast never really got close after the first 15 minutes, and about all the 3,985 fans had to cheer about was a hat trick by Tarik Walker.

NOTES: With two goals, Goran Vasic joined Marinaro and Karic as 100-point scorers for the Crunch.

Crunch 4 6 6 6 -- 22

Blast 2 2 0 8 -- 12

First quarter -- 1. Cleveland, Marinaro, 2 pt. (Karic), 5: 17; 2. Cleveland, Vasic, 2 pt. (Cornett), 11: 06; 3. Blast, Neely, 2 pt. (Cabral), 14: 09. Penalties -- None.

Second quarter -- 4. Cleveland, Karic, 2 pt. (un.), 1: 55; 5. Cleveland, Marinaro, 1 pt. (shootout), 6: 53; 6. Cleveland, Marinaro, 3 pt. (un.), 10: 21; 7. Blast, Walker, 2 pt. (un.), 14: 17. Penalties -- Santoro, Blast (boarding), 6: 53.

Third quarter -- 8. Cleveland, Karic, 2 pt. (penalty kick), 3: 58; 9. Cleveland, Vasic, 2 pt. (un.), 7: 57; 10. Cleveland, Marinaro, 1 pt. (shootout), 10: 14; 11. Cleveland, Dusosky, 1 pt. (Karic), 10: 27 pp. Penalties -- Neely, Blast (holding), 3: 58; Neely, Blast (tripping), 11: 14.

Fourth quarter -- 12. Blast, Walker, 2 pt. (un.), : 15; 13. Cleveland, Karic, 3 pt. (Felician), 1: 41; 14. 14. Cleveland, Felician, 2 pt. (Karic), 2: 49; 15. Blast, Cabral, 2 pt. (McIntosh), 4: 09; 16. Cleveland, Deish, 1 pt. (Ball), 11: 54 pp; 17. Blast, Ronson, 2 pt. (Southern), 13: 47. 18. Blast, Walker, 2 pt. (Neely), 14: 45. Penalties -- Santoro, Blast (tripping), 10: 57.

Shots on goal: Cleveland, 10-10-11-7--38; Blast 6-6-7-16--35. Power play opportunities: Cleveland, 1-of-2; Blast 0-of-0. Goalies: Orf (25-10) 25 shots, 19 saves; Hileman (13-16) 27 shots, 15 saves. A: 3,985.

Pub Date: 3/29/99