The Blast opened the second half of its 20-game Major Indoor Soccer League season Saturday night at 1st Mariner Arena as it closed the first part: struggling mightily and in dire need of something positive to cling to.
Unable to finish scoring chances against a Milwaukee Wave team that has had its number all season, the Blast dropped its fourth straight game. The 10-6 loss leaves the Blast at 5-6, in fourth place in the MISL. The teams completed the regular-season series with the Wave taking all four games. Blast backup goalie Dave Kern started in place of Sagu, who was a late scratch because of a hamstring injury.
The Wave (7-6) gained an advantage in the first half and constantly stayed a step ahead of the Blast, which was hard-pressed to maintain a consistent spark.
"We always talk about doing the little things, and tonight we did not do that," Blast coach Danny Kelly said. "And if you're not going to go get on the field and battle and fight and give us a chance to win games, then the guys that don't do that will not be suiting up. That's just the way it is. That's not a threat, but we need a better squad on the field that is willing fight for each other and do those little things."
On the rare occasion the home team appeared to find an opening, it never grew into anything more.
Machel Millwood, who returned to the lineup after being out three games with an ankle injury, scored a goal after nice combination passes from Lucio Gonzaga and Denison Cabral to cut the Wave lead to 8-4 early in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Giuliano Celenza converted a power play off another nifty feed from Cabral to close within two, but the tying goal never came. A fine run down the left side and a finish by Wave defender J.P. Rodrigues gave the visitors a 10-6 advantage with 5:43 left.
After the Blast was unable to finish on a number of good scoring chances in the first 10 minutes, Milwaukee forward Giuliano Oliviero gave the visitors a 2-0 lead with 29 seconds left in the first quarter on a penalty kick after Kern was penalized for holding.
Gonzaga got the Blast even at 2 with a restart goal from the top of the circle early in the second quarter, but the Wave controlled play the rest of the quarter and was rewarded with a 6-2 halftime lead on two-point goals from Kyt Selaidopoulos and Travis MacKenzie.
NOTE: : On March 6, as part of its home game against Monterrey La RaZa, the Blast will induct at least one new member into its Hall of Fame. Last season, former standouts Billy Ronson and Richard Chinapoo were inducted.
Mil. 2 4 2 2 - 10
Balt. 0 2 2 2 - 6
FIRST QUARTER
Goals: 1. Milwaukee, Oliviero, 2 pt, 14:31.
Penalties: Blast, Kern (holding), 14:29.
SECOND QUARTER
Goals: 2. Blast, Gonzaga, 2 pt., 4:15; 3. Milwaukee, Selaidopoulos (Oliviero), 2 pt., 9:20; 4. Milwaukee, MacKenzie, 2 pt., 10:00;
Penalties: Blast, Celenza (five-minute misconduct, dissent), 5:18; Blast, Dyachenko (tripping), 12:43; Milwaukee, Santos (tripping), 12:43.
THIRD QUARTER
Goals: 5. Milwaukee, Oliviero (Selaidopoulos), 2 pt., 3:00; 6. Blast, Millwood (Cabral), 2 pt., 4:05;
Penalties: Milwaukee, Rife (tripping), 13:44.
FOURTH QUARTER
Goals: 7. Blast, Celenza (Cabral), pp., 1:24; 8. Milwaukee, Rodrigues, 2 pt., 9:17
Penalties: Milwaukee, MacKenzie (boarding), :39.
Shots on goal: Milwaukee 4-6-2-5 - 17; Blast 8-6-10-1 -- 35.
Saves: Milwaukee, Vorberg 7-1-5-1 - 14; Blast, Kern 3-2-1-1 -- 7.
Power-play opportunities: Milwaukee 1-for-2; Blast 1-for-3.