For the Blast, this weekend's home-and-home series with the rival Milwaukee Wave could have lasting playoff implications.
Both teams enter Saturday's 7:35 p.m. contest at 1st Mariner Arena — the first of six regular-season meetings — tied for first place in the Major Indoor Soccer League with 5-1 records. In order for the Blast to qualify for its fourth consecutive playoff appearance, it must prove it can beat the Wave.
After all, the Blast has had to beat Milwaukee in the postseason in four of its past five championship runs, leading to a distinct animosity between the squads.
"We want to win, and we want to beat them. It's that simple," coach Danny Kelly said. "They're our biggest rivals. Every game we play them, no matter what the records are for each team, it's a big game. They don't like us, and we don't like them. That's the way it is, and were fine with that."
The rivalry dates to last decade, when both franchises were members of the National Professional Soccer League and the Blast was known as the Spirit. Nine of the past 13 indoor championships have been won by Baltimore or Milwaukee, with the Blast claiming five and the Wave four.
"It's always been a battle," Blast forward Giuliano Celenza said. "Them and ourselves, we're always one of the top organizations, and it's always been a battle between both of us. This year doesn't change. Obviously, we can't lose both. It'd be nice to win both, but it's a huge weekend for us."
The Blast is led offensively by forward Machel Millwood's 18 points, including six goals. Midfielder Pat Healey (Calvert Hall, Towson University) ranks second on the team with 17 points. Midfielder Marco Terminesi leads Milwaukee with 19 points, and goalie Nick Vorberg has played nearly every minute of all six games this season, compiling a 9.57 goals-against average.
Both teams are coming off their first loss of the season on New Year's Eve. The Blast lost, 9-8, at Omaha while the Wave fell to Missouri, 13-8.
The rivalry aside, the importance of winning early this season is not lost on the Blast. The MISL regular-season champion earns a first-round bye in the playoffs and is awarded home-field advantage in the league championship.
After the team made a number of offseason acquisitions, the players are still trying to adjust to one another. But if their early success is any indication, Kelly has his team sitting exactly where he wants it.
"We're still trying to find our way a little bit," Kelly said. "We're still a work in progress. But I like where we are right now and we just have to keep improving."
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