In another high-scoring affair between Baltimore and Chicago, the Blast defeated the Soul 17-9 Friday night at 1st Mariner Arena.  With a goal and an assist in the first half, Blast forward Machel Millwood moved into fifth on the team’s all-time scoring list.

Unlike last week’s opening night match between the Blast and Soul, the Blast scored the first goal of the game tonight, when Lucio Gonzaga found the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.  The teams traded goals for the rest of the first quarter, as Carlos Munoz tied it at 2-2 before Pat Healey regained the Blast lead (4-2).  Chicago midfielder Matthew Stewart scored next, giving the Soul a short-lived 5-4 lead until Blast team captain Mike Lookingland put the Blast on top 6-5 to end the quarter.

Rookie Marco Mangione, the son of original Blast player Nick Mangione, scored the first goal of his career early in the second quarter to extend Baltimore’s lead to 8-5.  With Adriano Dos Santos serving a tripping penalty, CC Meza converted on a power play opportunity to cut the Blast lead to 8-7 before Neto and Millwood scored back-to-back goals two minutes apart to make it 12-7.  Tony Donatelli, who scored three goals last weekend against the Soul, scored a three-pointer to end the first half and extend the Blast lead to 15-7.

After a scoreless third quarter and nearly 10 scoreless minutes in the fourth quarter, Healey knocked in a power play goal to give the Blast a 17-7 lead.  Shortly after Healey’s second goal of the night, Stewart scored his second goal to cut Baltimore’s lead to 17-9.

The Blast will return to 1st Mariner Arena Saturday night to host the 1-1 Syracuse Silver Knights.

The Blast kicked off their 33rd season of professional indoor soccer in Baltimore last weekend with a 23-13 win over Friday night’s opponent, the Chicago Soul.  The Soul, led by former Blast player Carlos Farias, jumped out to a 7-2 lead after just four minutes of play but Blast newcomer Tony Donatelli recorded three first-quarter goals to lead the Blast to a come-from-behind victory.  Millwood, Baltimore’s longest-tenured player, recorded two goals and one assist in the victory as eight different Blast players scored in the game.

There’s no Place Like Home
The Blast, 9-3 at home last season, starts 2012-13 with four straight home games in the span of just 13 days.  The team has boasted winning records at home each of the last six seasons and has had winning home records in 17 of the last 19 seasons.  The Blast enters this weekend’s games on a seven-game regular-season home win streak.

Welcome to Baltimore
Donatelli, who was named to the MISL Team of the Week after his opening-night performance, recorded three goals in 14 minutes to keep the Blast in the game and lead the team to victory.  Donatelli added an assist late in the game for seven total points in his return to the indoor field.  Goalkeeper Troy Hernandez made his Blast debut last weekend, turning away nine of the 15 shots he faced and Lucas Roque, another newcomer, contributed one assist.

The Competition:

The Silver Knights, who lost their season opener to the Soul, bounced back the following night for a 16-10 win over the Rochester Lancers.  Led by Nelson Santana (eight points), Matt Clare (five points) and Andre Berenzen (four points), the Knights placed two players, Santana and goalkeeper Bryan O’Quinn, on this week’s MISL Team of the Week.

Upcoming Games
Friday, November 16 vs. Milwaukee Wave – 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, November 17 at Rochester – 7 p.m.

It wasn’t exactly the start that the Blast were looking for but in the end a tremendous offensive outburst, some solid defensive play and a good job of possession soccer propelled the Blast to a 23-13 victory over the Chicago Soul. Tony Donatelli was the offensive star of the night scoring seven points on a hat trick and an assist.

Donatelli scored in a bunch of different fashions. His first goal in a Blast uniform was a by-product of persistence. Donatelli took a feed down the right wing and had his shot deflected not once but twice. Donatelli got a third crack at it off the volley at the top of the box and this time he drilled it past Soul Goalkeeper Jeff Richey for Baltimore’s first goal of the 2012-2013 season. His second goal was a thing of beauty. The former Philadelphia Kixx player headed a wide shot by Audato Neto that ricocheted off the boards up under the bar. Donatelli finished off the hat trick when the Blast took advantage of a quick restart. Donatelli took a feed at the top of the box and drilled a shot past Richey at the 14:03 mark of the first quarter.

Things didn’t start out great for the home team. Carlos “Chili” Farias was a one man wrecking crew for Chicago. Farias notched his hat trick in the first four minutes of the first quarter. Farias took advantage of the inexperience of Blast rookie Goalkeeper Troy Hernandez. A mis-communication between Hernandez and his defenders allowed a loose ball to pop free at the top of the box. The ball rolled back to Farias, who blistered a three-point goal past Hernandez to give the Soul a quick 3-0 lead :18 seconds into the game. Farias completed the hat trick later in the first with two goals :23 seconds apart. He scored a restart goal at the 3:41 mark and then beat Hernandez on a shoot-out goal after Hernandez had been called for a tripping penalty. At that point the Blast were down 7-2 four minutes into the game but they were far from out of it.

Baltimore’s forwards would take over from there. Machel Millwood and Audato Neto dominated the rest of the first quarter. Neto set up Donatelli to cut the lead to 7-4, then Millwood scored to cut the lead to one. Just seconds later Millwood set up Lucio Gonzaga for a goal and the Blast had their first lead of the game 8-7. It was Gonzaga’s first goal since tearing his ACL in training camp last year and missing the entire 2011-2012 campaign.

The Blast would control the game the rest of the way. The Blast forwards would continue to dominate and Blast Goalkeeper Hernandez settled in. After giving up seven points in the first four minutes he would allow just six points the rest of the way. The effort was a combination of Hernandez and some great defense from the rotation of four Blast Defenders. Captain Mike Lookingland and second year player Stephen Deroux continuously ran Farias and the rest of the Soul attackers off the ball. Deroux also added a three point goal in the third quarter that gave the Blast a 15-9 lead. The Soul answered just over a minute later when Robert Gallo’s second chance goal cut the lead to 15-11. The Blast started to pull away in a key sequence late in the third. Baltimore got their first Power play at the 7:11 mark when Alex Megson went off for elbowing Donatelli.  :24 seconds later Will Kletzien was called for a handball in the box and the Blast were awarded a Penalty Kick. Richey stoned Millwood on the Kick and the Soul proceeded to kill off the 5 on 3 advantage. It looked like the Soul would kill both penalties until Mike Lookingland pounced on a rebound to the left of Richey and buried a shot to give the Blast a 17-11 lead with just :08 seconds left on the Power play. Just :26 seconds later Adriano Dos Santos took  Lucas Roque’s feed in the box and beat Richey off the volley to give the Blast an eight point lead heading into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was vintage Blast. They played keep away from the Soul while outscoring them 6-2 to come away with the 23-13 win. Eight different players scored a goal for the Blast led by Donatelli’s hat trick. Troy Hernandez turned away nine Soul shots to earn his first victory.

Don’t forget to tune into the Baltimore Blast report this Wednesday on Catch The Buzz on WNST.NET 1570 AM. We will recap the win over the Soul and look forward to this weekend’s big doubleheader at 1^st Mariner Arena when the Blast play a rematch against Chicago on Friday night and take on the Syracuse Silver Nights on Saturday night.

Baltimore – Baltimore Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey announced today that the team has signed midfielder Tony Donatelli and forward Tino Nunez, pending league approval.  The Blast opened training camp earlier this week and will kick off the 2012-13 MISL season on November 3 against the Chicago Soul at 1^st Mariner Arena.

Donatelli, who spent two seasons with the Philadelphia KiXX, most recently played for the 2012 USL PRO Champion Charleston Battery.  He recorded three goals and four assists (10 points) in the USL PRO regular season en route to the Championship win over the Wilmington Hammerheads.  Donatelli previously also played for the Rochester Rhinos (2011), Montreal Impact (2009-10) and Vancouver Whitecaps (2006-08), winning championships with Vancouver in 2006 and Montreal in 2009.  He played for the KiXX from 2006 to 2008, recorded 37 goals and 22 assists for 100 points and won a championship in 2007.  Donatelli finished his four-year collegiate career at Temple University tied for first in career assists (20) and eighth in Owls history with 64 points.  After his senior season, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team, the All Mid-Atlantic Region First Team and also earned the Philadelphia Soccer Seven Player of the Year award.

Nunez, who is new to indoor soccer, played for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer in 2008 and 2009.  Drafted by RSL in the Second Round (17th Overall) of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft, Nunez went on to play for the Rochester Rhinos (USSF D-2 Pro League) in 2010, the NSC Minnesota Stars (NASL) in 2011 and for the USL PRO’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds this summer.  He recorded two goals and one assist in 19 games with Pittsburgh.  Nunez started his collegiate career at Compton Community College before transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2004.  AT UCSB he played on the Gauchos team that lost on penalties to Indiana University in the ‘04 Division I Men’s College Cup and was a member of the school’s  first-ever NCAA Championship team in 2006.

“Tony has had an outstanding career, winning championships both indoor and outdoor, and is still very much in the prime of his career, ” said Blast head coach Danny Kelly.  “He’s a player that can both create and score goals, and he is very smart off the ball with his movement.  We are a much better team with Tony Donatelli on the squad.  Tino Nunez has had a very successful outdoor career, having played in MLS as well as the USL.  Although he hasn’t played indoor before, I think his skill set will translate well to the indoor game.  He can hold guys off and play with his back to the goal, as well as distribute and score goals.  Once he becomes comfortable with the game, he will have an immediate impact on our offense.”

Baltimore – The Baltimore Blast will host a soccer festival tomorrow at Honeygo Regional Park as part of the team’s “Goals for Daniel” program.   The program, initiated last month in conjunction with the Borowy family, will raise money for medical costs for Daniel Borowy, the 17-year-old victim of the Perry Hall High School shooting.  Daniel, who underwent three surgeries after the shooting, will attend the event along with his family from 2:30-4 p.m.

The soccer festival will take place tomorrow from 2-6 p.m. at Honeygo Regional Park.  Soccer players, students and members of the Perry Hall community and the surrounding areas will raise money for their participation in small-sided 6 vs. 6 soccer games. All proceeds from the soccer marathon will go directly to the Borowy family.  The soccer marathon will also feature a small-sided game between Blast players and participants from the Allied Sports Program at 4 p.m.

A 17-year-old special-needs student at Perry Hall Senior High School, Daniel has a love of sports including soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, bowling, swimming, horseback riding, tennis, gymnastics, hiking and climbing.  He has been an active participant in the Allied Sports Program through PHHS, Harford County’s Discovery League for individuals with disabilities, the Parkville Recreation Conquerors Program and Kingsville Recreation. Daniel also loves to dance, especially to the music of his favorite singer, Lady Gaga.

In addition to the soccer festival, the Blast will also host Goals for Daniel night at 1^st Mariner Arena on November 3.  Students from all over Baltimore County will be invited to attend the Blast’s opening night game and the team will donate a portion of ticket sales to Borowy’s family.

Additionally, the Blast players will continue to visit local Elementary, Middle and High Schools, urging students to learn from this incident and others like it.  The Blast diversity and respect school program, which highlights the diversity among the Blast teammates, features a soccer volleyball game between Blast players and school teachers along with the message that people who come from different backgrounds with vastly diverse experiences and beliefs can successfully work together as a team to reach a common goal.  Additional information on the Blast School Program is available at www.baltimoreblast.com.

“The Blast is happy to be able to help Daniel and his family,” said Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey.  “We always are looking for ways to make a positive impact on our community.  This event will be a fun way to help Daniel and raise money for his medical bills.  We encourage everyone to participate.”

The soccer marathon teams will be broken into travel, rec and just for fun levels of play and each player must raise a minimum of $20 in order to participate.  Teams and groups who want to participate in the Goals for Daniel soccer marathon should fill out the entry form available on www.baltimoreblast.com or call Mike Conway at 410-558-4292.

Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets are on sale now through the Blast office at 410-73-BLAST.  Single-game tickets are also be available at the 1^stMariner Arena Box Office and at all TicketMaster outlets including TicketMaster phone charge at 410-547-SEAT.  Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.  For additional information on Blast tickets, call the Blast at 410-73-BLAST.

Blast Announces 11 Returning Players

Millwood and Lookingland are Among the Veterans Set to Return to the Field

Baltimore – Baltimore Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey announced today that the team has re-signed 11 players from last year’s squad, pending league approval.  The returning players are forwards Machel Millwood, Adauto Neto, Lucio Gonzaga, Adriano Dos Santos and J.T. Noone; midfielder Max Ferdinand and defenders Mike Lookingland, Pat Healey, Ptah Myers, Mike Deasel and Stephen DeRoux.  The Blast will open the 2012-13 MISL season on November 3 against the Chicago Soul at 1^st Mariner Arena.

Head coach Danny Kelly and assistant coach David Bascome will also return for their seventh season together as the team’s coaching staff.  Millwood, a 2012 All-MISL Second-Team selection, becomes the team’s longest-tenured player as he prepares to return for his ninth season in Baltimore.  Millwood was among the team’s scoring leaders last season with 26 goals and 16 assists for 71 points.  Lookingland, the team captain and the 2012 MISL Defender of the Year, will be back for his eighth season with the Blast.  A three-time champion, Lookingland led the Blast’s defensive core with 34 points in 2011-12.  Ferdinand led the Blast with 72 points last year and was named First-Team All-MISL, just two seasons after being named Rookie of the Year in 2010.

“This group has a lot of offer, ” said Blast head coach Danny Kelly.  “There’s experience and youth, as well as guys that can change a game on both sides of the ball.  With the willingness to prepare and put in the work, I believe this group can help us compete for an MISL Championship.”

Healey, the 2009 NISL Rookie of the Year, moved to a defensive position last season and led the team with 33 blocks.  Neto, the 2006 MISL MVP who has won two championships with the Blast, is entering his sixth season in a Blast uniform.  He ranked third on the team with 49 points last season and boasts 150 career goals.  Gonzaga, who missed the entire 2011-12 season while recovering from knee surgery, will be back on the field for his fifth season in Baltimore.

Myers, a nine-year veteran, is back for his second season with the Blast after recording 11 points and 18 blocks last season.  Dos Santos, is back for his third season in Baltimore, and Noone, DeRoux and Deasel, rookies last season, all are returning for another season.  DeRoux was named to the MISL All-Rookie team after posting 10 goals and one assist for 22 points; Noone ranked sixth on the team with 33 points.

“GOALS FOR DANIEL” PROGRAM WILL RAISE MONEY FOR PERRY HALL RESIDENT DANIEL BOROWY 

Baltimore – The Baltimore Blast announced today that the team has partnered with the family of Daniel Borowy to create the “Goals for Daniel” program to raise money for medical costs for Daniel Borowy, the 17-year-old victim of the Perry Hall High School shooting that took place on August 24.  Borowy, who underwent three surgeries after the shooting, has recently returned home to continue his recovery.

Goals for Daniel will kick off on October 13 with a soccer marathon at Honeygo Regional Park from 2-6 p.m.  Soccer players, students and members of the Perry Hall community and the surrounding areas will raise money for their participation in small-sided 6 vs. 6 soccer games. All proceeds from the soccer marathon will go directly to the Borowy family.  The soccer marathon will also feature a small-sided game between Blast players and participants from the Allied Sports Program.

Daniel, a 17-year-old special-needs student at Perry Hall Senior High School, has a love of sports including soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, bowling, swimming, horseback riding, tennis, gymnastics, hiking and climbing.  He has been an active participant in the Allied Sports Program through PHHS, Harford County’s Discovery League for individuals with disabilities, the Parkville Recreation Conquerors Program and Kingsville Recreation. Daniel also loves to dance, especially to the music of his favorite singer, Lady Gaga.

“I am really excited that this event will not only raise funds for Daniel’s medical expenses but also raise awareness of the need to kick bullying and violence out of our schools,” said Carissa Smith, a close friend of Daniel’s sister who approached the Blast with the idea for a fundraising partnership.  “We all need to respect and be patient with each other’s differences.  Thanks to his athletic interests, he is strong enough to get through this. If you have ever met him you know that he would never hurt anyone. He didn’t deserve this at all. I hope to see him a month from now, singing in the car, turning the music up too loud, and doing everything he can do to make me laugh.”

In addition to the soccer marathon, the Blast will also host Goals for Daniel night at 1^st Mariner Arena on November 3.  Students from all over Baltimore County will be invited to attend the Blast’s opening night game and the team will donate a portion of ticket sales to Borowy’s family.

Additionally, the Blast players will continue to visit local Elementary, Middle and High Schools, urging students to learn from this incident and others like it.  The Blast diversity and respect school program, which highlights the diversity among the Blast teammates, features a soccer volleyball game between Blast players and school teachers along with the message that people who come from different backgrounds with vastly diverse experiences and beliefs can successfully work together as a team to reach a common goal.  Additional information on the Blast School Program is available at www.baltimoreblast.com.

“The Blast is happy to be able to help Daniel and his family,” said Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey.  “We always are looking for ways to make a positive impact on our community.  This event will be a fun way to help Daniel and raise money for his medical bills.  We encourage everyone to participate.”

The soccer marathon teams will be broken into travel, rec and just for fun levels of play and each player must raise a minimum of $20 in order to participate.  Teams and groups who want to participate in the Goals for Daniel soccer marathon should fill out the entry form available on www.baltimoreblast.com or call Mike Conway at 410-558-4292.

Season tickets and mini plans are on sale now through the Blast office at 410-73-BLAST.  Single-game tickets will go on sale on October 1 and will be available at the 1^st Mariner Arena Box Office and at all TicketMaster outlets including TicketMaster phone charge at 410-547-SEAT.  Tickets can also be purchased online atwww.ticketmaster.com.  For additional information on Blast tickets, call the Blast at 410-73-BLAST.

BLAST ANNOUNCES 2012-13 SCHEDULE

The 33^rd Season of Indoor Soccer in Baltimore Will Begin on November 3

Baltimore – The Baltimore Blast released its 2012-13 schedule today, with the action slated to kick off on Saturday, November 3 at 1st Mariner Arena against the Chicago Soul, the MISL’s newest addition.  The Blast will play 26 regular season games, 13 at home and 13 on the road, and will compete against teams from Milwaukee, Missouri, Syracuse, Rochester, Wichita and Chicago.

In a rematch of the 2011 and 2012 MISL Championships, the Blast and Wave will meet for the first time this season on November 16 in Baltimore.  The two teams, who boast the fiercest and longest-standing rivalry in the MISL, will play each other four times during the 2012-13 regular season.

The MISL Playoffs will begin with the semifinals March 8-10, featuring matchups between the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds and the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. Each pair will meet in a home-and-home series with a mini game following the second game if needed.  The championship will follow the same format on March 15-17. The higher seed will have the option to choose which game it hosts.

The MISL Board of Governors increased each team’s number of regular season games from 24 to 26 beginning with the 2012-13 season, adding two games for each team without increasing the length of the regular season. The Governors also voted for a single-table format, eliminating the past divisional alignment.

Keeping with the Baltimore Blast tradition of affordable family entertainment, fans will be treated to various promotional items throughout the season.  The team will also host a variety of theme nights including Hall of Fame night, Boy and Girl Scout nights and a post-game Christian concert featuring Thousand Foot Krutch on January 25.

Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets for the 2012-13 Blast season will go on sale soon.  Season tickets and mini plans will be available through the Blast office at 410-73-BLAST.  Single-game tickets will be available at the 1^st Mariner Arena Box Office and at all TicketMaster outlets including TicketMaster phone charge at 410-547-SEAT.  Tickets can also be purchased online atwww.ticketmaster.com.  For additional information on Blast tickets, call the Blast at 410-73-BLAST.

BALTIMORE BLAST 2012-13 SCHEDULE

Date                                                  Opponent                                Eastern Time

Saturday, November 3                                 vs. Chicago Soul                                   7:35 p.m.

Friday, November 9                                      vs. Chicago Soul                                   7:35 p.m.

Saturday, November 10                               vs. Syracuse Silver Knights                 7:35 p.m.

Friday, November 16                                    vs. Milwaukee Wave                            7:35 p.m.

Saturday, November 17                                    at Rochester Lancers                               7:00 p.m.

Friday, November 23                                        at Wichita Wings                                     8:35 p.m.

Saturday, November 24                                    at Missouri Comets                                  8:35 p.m.

Friday, December 7                                       vs. Wichita Wings                                 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, December 15                               vs. Missouri Comets                             7:35 p.m.

Friday, December 21                                        at Chicago Soul                                       8:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 22                                    at Milwaukee Wave                                  7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 1                                          at Rochester Lancers                               4:00 p.m.

Friday, January 4                                          vs. Rochester Lancers                          7:35 p.m.

Saturday, January 5                                     vs. Rochester Lancers                          7:35 p.m.

Friday, January 11                                            at Chicago Soul                                       8:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 12                                       at Milwaukee Wave                                  7:00 p.m.

Friday, January 18                                            at Syracuse Silver Knights                        7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 20                                          at Syracuse Silver Knights                        1:30 p.m.

Friday, January 25                                        vs. Rochester Lancers                          7:35 p.m.

Saturday, January 26                                   vs. Missouri Comets                             7:35 p.m.

Friday, February 1                                            at Syracuse Silver Knights                        7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 2                                    vs. Syracuse Silver Knights                 7:35 p.m.

Friday, February 8                                            at Wichita Wings                                     8:35 p.m.

Sunday, February 10                                        at Missouri Comets                                  4:10 p.m.

Saturday, February 16                                 vs. Wichita Wings                                 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, February 23                                 vs. Milwaukee Wave                            7:35 p.m.

Baltimore Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey announced that Sagu, the Blast’s veteran goalkeeper, will not return to the Blast for the 2012-13 MISL season.  After eight seasons with Baltimore’s indoor soccer franchise, Sagu will return to Dallas where his professional U.S. career began.  The Blast will start the 2012-13 MISL season in early November.

“The first time I saw Sagu was when he was the goalie for Dallas,” said Blast Owner Ed Hale.  “We were in need of a top-flight goalie when he came to Baltimore.  He exceeded all our expectations, winning three championships and four Goalkeeper of the Year awards.  We wish him and his wife the best in their future in Dallas.”

Sagu, the MVP of the 2009 Championship Game, earned seven All-League selections during his time in Baltimore.  He boasted an 11-4 regular season record during the 2008-09 season and led the Blast to a 6-5 victory in the championship game.  Sagu joined the Blast prior to the 2004-05 season via a trade with Cleveland (for Chris Handsor) after the Force acquired him in the dispersal draft. In eight Blast seasons Sagu went 95-61, averaging more than 11 wins a year.  Sagu, who served as team captain for the 2011-12 season, was named Goalkeeper of the Year four of the last five seasons and won championships with the Blast in 2006, 2008 and 2009.  En route to last season’s Championship Series appearance, Sagu went 15-5 and was twice named the MISL Goalkeeper of the Month.  He ended his career in Baltimore by leading the MISL with 15 wins and a 9.61 points allowed average, earning the MISL’s 2012 PAA award.

Upon returning to Dallas, Sagu will coach youth goalkeepers at the club level and join the Dallas Sidekicks of the PASL.  Sagu began his career with the Sidekicks and was named WISL Goalkeeper of the Year and First-Team All-WISL in 2000 and 2001.

“Before I moved to Baltimore I lived in Dallas and everyone who knows me knows that I always wanted to go back after my retirement from the Blast,” said Sagu.  “I got an excellent opportunity to go back and I can’t let it pass.  I’m thinking now about my future coaching goalkeepers and this is a choice I made for my future.”

(FROM PRESS RELEASE)

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – Joe Hammes scored off a restart 46 seconds into overtime to give the Milwaukee Wave a 12-10 overtime victory and the 2012 MISL Championship with a 2-0 series victory against the Baltimore Blast on Sunday evening at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. The championship was the Wave’s second in a row, and sixth overall in the club’s history, with Marcio Leite earning the series’ Most Valuable Player award after scoring five goals in the two games.

The Wave’s opportunity came after Blast forward Machel Millwood played a ball over the boards while trying to clear from his own end. After taking timeout to set up a play, Marco Terminesi swooped in from the right side to play the ball to Hammes on the left, and his first time, right-footed shot curled into the right corner of the net, sending the crowd of 5,243 into celebration.

The Blast opened on the front foot, taking a 4-0 lead within the first 2 minutes, 44 seconds as first Ptah Myers drilled a rebound off the end boards into the roof of the net and then Millwood stripped a defender and fired between Wave goalkeeper Marcel Feenstra’s legs from the right side. The game was a physical one, with Leite and Pat Healey being sent to the penalty box for coincidental minors after a coming-together in the Blast end, and before those penalties expired Baltimore’s Scott Buete was also sent to the box, giving the Wave a 4-on-3 power play.

The Wave weren’t able to capitalize there, but after Leite and Healey left the box Fabio Ribeiro did cash in on the 5-on-4 advantage, driving Giuliano Oliviero’s restart low into the left corner of the net with 4:02 to play in the quarter. The Wave were then set to get a second power play after Baltimore’s Stephen DeRoux was called for a trip, but after an ensuing scuffle Hammes joined him in the penalty box.

Having received a break from Hammes’ penalty, the Blast scored again early in the second quarter as Warren Ukah’s low cross from the left was met by Ricardinho for a 6-2 lead 1:10 in. Feenstra then made a big save to deny Shaun David to keep the Blast’s lead at four at the halftime break.

The overriding physicality was the theme for the first half, though, with DeRoux picking up his second penalty late in the second. The Wave weren’t able to capitalize on the advantage, which carried over into the third quarter, but they were able to strike soon after the penalty ended as Josh Rife scored from close range from Oliviero’s second assist 1:13 into the third. Oliviero then almost tied the game with just under seven minutes to play, his low shot coming back off the left post, but shortly after Leite made it 6-6 on a volley from close range off Terminesi’s restart.

The Wave then took their first lead of the game with 31 seconds to play in the third through Ian Bennett, whose tight-angle shot into the roof of the net caught out Baltimore goalkeeper Sagu and put Milwaukee 15 minutes from the championship.

But the Blast would rally quickly to regain the lead early in the fourth quarter, Ricardinho scoring his second goal of the night and third goal of the series to tie the game. The Brazilian was then brought down by Milwaukee’s JP Rodrigues in the penalty area, allowing Millwood to score his second from the penalty spot to make it 10-8 with 12:15 to play.

Ricardinho then went from potential hero to villain, taking a penalty that allowed the Wave to tie the game on the ensuing power play with Leite’s fifth goal of the series. Baltimore had the best chance to win the game in regulation, but Adauto Neto’s shot was cleared off the Wave’s goal line with less than two minutes to play, sending the game to overtime, and Hammes’ heroics

Marcio Leite had a hat trick as the Milwaukee Wave defeated the Baltimore Blast 14-2 in Game 1 of the MISL Championship Series on Friday night at 1st Mariner Arena. Game 2 of the series is set to be held Sunday at 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time at Milwaukee’s U.S. Cellular Arena, with the Wave having the opportunity to claim their second consecutive championship, and sixth in the club’s history.
Leite, who was a finalist for the MISL Most Valuable Player award, had a pair of goals in the second quarter before completing his hat trick midway through the third. He was backed by an outstanding defensive performance by the Wave, who finished with 22 blocked shots, while goalkeeper Marcel Feenstra had 11 saves.
The Blast held the majority of the possession to open the game, but the Wave were dangerous throughout on the counterattack, springing out of their tight defensive formation that left little room for the Blast to find a way through. Marco Terminesi almost gave the Wave the lead on one of those counters, breaking in behind the Blast defense before shooting wide, but Nicolas Perera broke the deadlock on a blistering shot from just beyond the right corner of the 3-point arc into the bottom left corner of the net.
Terminesi went close again early in the second quarter, hitting the crossbar on a well-worked move, and the Blast hit back as Ricardinho scored off a good pass from Machel Millwood to make it 3-2. But that would be the Blast’s only goal of the night, and the Wave restored their advantage on another counterattack as Leite scored his first from the right side with 4:51 to play in the half. Leite then added another off a restart with just less than two minutes to play in the half, giving the Wave a 7-2 advantage at the break.
The Wave, who blocked 10 of the Blast’s 17 first-half shots, continued to frustrate Baltimore offensively in the second half. And even when the Blast found a way through, Feenstra was on hand to save, denying Shaun David from close range with just over five minutes gone in the third quarter to maintain the five-point lead.
The Wave weren’t having the same struggles at the other end of the field, with Leite completing his hat trick, again on a low shot to the left corner, and Jonathan Greenfield adding a goal 37 seconds apart to make the score 11-2 at the end of the third quarter. The Wave then remained content to protect their lead throughout the fourth quarter, with Josh Rife capping the performance with 2:03 to play as he scored a 3-pointer into an empty net from his own half.
Game 2 of the MISL Championship Series can be seen on MISL Live (www.misllivesoccer.com) on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT.