Blast looking to recharge batteries against New Jersey

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The Blast needs this break.

In the midst of a five-game losing streak, the Blast doesn’t play until it hosts New Jersey (5-3) on Jan. 4, and will spend the break preparing for a stretch of games that may define its season.

‘We can’t lose sight of what’s in front of us,” Coach Danny Kelly said. “A third of the season is gone. We’re 5-5, we’re still in the thick of things and we can’t lose our focus.”

The Blast began the season with five consecutive victories to lead the Major Indoor Soccer League. Since then, the Blast has lost five straight, has been outscored, 65-42, and is in sixth place.

But the Blast has a golden opportunity to improve its standing. After facing New Jersey, the Blast plays at Philadelphia (4-7) on Jan. 5 and at New Jersey on Jan. 11 before hosting Monterrey (4-7) on Jan. 18 and traveling back to Philadelphia on Jan. 19.

“Once we get on the field, everything else is up to us,” forward Machel Millwood said. “If we don’t go into the games with the same intensity that we did during the first five games, then we let everything else take control of our minds when we’re in the game.”

When the Blast was winning, it was dominant. The Blast was the only team to not allow more than 10 points through its first five games, and its opponents scored a league-low 32 points. Baltimore held California to seven points on Saturday to end a four-game stretch where the defense allowed at least 11 points per game, but the Blast still left the West Coast with a 7-4 loss — two days after a 16-13 defeat to Monterrey, Mexico.

The Blast will use the break to rest several injured players. Forward David Bascome scored two goals against Monterrey while battling a sore hip, and defender Billy Nelson pulled a hamstring in the same game. Midfielder Scott Buete, who came off the injured list last Thursday, is playing with a deep bone bruise on his shin, and midfielder Matt Watson is out with a toe injury.

“We’re looking for everyone to come back healthy. I think that’s what we need,” Nelson said. “Other than Matt Watson, everybody should be back. It’s been a long time since everybody’s been on the field together, so maybe that’s what we need to get a spark going for this team.”

The Blast could also be bolstered with the return of Adauto Neto. The 2006 MISL Most Valuable Player who recorded 36 goals and 22 assists two seasons ago — the last time he’s played a full year — broke his foot for the second time on the first day of training camp in October.

Regardless of who plays, the Blast must stop getting off to slow starts. During the past five games, Baltimore has been outscored, 35-16, in the first half, but has played better in the second half, getting outscored, 30-26.

“We’ve got to remember why we lost those games,” Kelly said. “I think there’s a direct correlation between how many points that you give up and your chances of winning the game.”

mpeters@dcexaminer.com

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