MILWAUKEE -- The Blast's roller-coaster season took another dip as the team's six-game winning streak ended with a 16-12 loss to the Milwaukee Wave.
The Blast missed a chance to take first place in the Major Indoor Soccer League, losing for the second time in the past nine games and dropping to 3-6 on the road.
The intensity of the contest bubbled over in the third quarter when Denison Cabral and Milwaukee's Jonathan Santos got into a fight on the field. Within seconds, their teammates joined in. Cabral and Santos were ejected.
Machel Millwood, who had two goals and an assist, downplayed the confrontation.
"It was just the intensity of the game," Millwood said. "Both teams wanted to win. It's a great rivalry. We have to protect our teammates. It was just a little scuffle, no big deal."
The Blast might have been a little tense after Greg Howes, the MISL's leading scorer, recorded six points to keep the Wave (15-7) in first place.
The Blast (12-8) had won the first two meetings, both at home, while limiting Howes to three points.
"I don't think we played poorly defensively. I thought Milwaukee played well," Blast coach Danny Kelly said. "When you have guys like Greg Howes and Marcio Leite, you just try to limit their opportunities. I don't think you can stop them completely."
Blast 2 4 4 2 - 12
Milwaukee 0 8 6 2 - 16
First quarter: 1. Blast, Celenza (2 pt.), Millwood, 12:19. Penalty: Milwaukee, too many men, Ukah, 7:41. Second quarter: 2. Milwaukee, Deco (3 pt.), Howes, 3:58; 3. Milwaukee, Oliviero (2 pt.), Howes, 6:59; 4. Blast, Bascome (2 pt.), Garcia, 7:05; 5. Milwaukee, Howes (3 pt.), 13:10; 6. Blast, Milwood (2 pt.), Cabral, 14:32. Penalties: None. Third quarter: 7. Blast, Cabral (2 pt.), Neto, :38; 8. Milwaukee, Oliviero (2 pt.), Santos, 1:04; 9. Milwaukee, Maher (2 pt.), Hammes, 7:25; 10. Blast, Lucio (2 pt.), Neto, 12:02; 11. Milwaukee, Fontana (2 pt.), Howes, 14:56. Penalties: Blast, Cabral, violent conduct, 14:53; Blast, Pierce, tripping, 14:56; Milwaukee, Santos, violent conduct, 14:56 Fourth quarter: 12. Blast, Millwood (2 pt.), Neto, 8:19; 13. Milwaukee, Fontana (2 pt.), Maher, 10:04. Penalties: Blast, Lucio, boarding, 5:00; Milwaukee, Fontana, 4 fouls, 6:03; Milwaukee, Ackah, 4 fouls, 8:58. Shots on goal: Blast 8-9-5-8-30; Milwaukee 2-14-10-4-30; Power-play opportunities: Blast 1-for-3; Milwaukee 1-for-2. Saves: Blast, Sagu 0-7-5-0-12; Aristodemo 0-0-0-1-1; Milwaukee, Vorberg 1-5-2-4-12. A: 3,837.