Everything was going the Blast’s way in the fourth quarter against the New Jersey Ironmen until when it mattered most: the final minute.

That’s when Ironmen sixth attacker Kevin Sloan took advantage of a defensive lapse to score the game-winning goal with 55 seconds remaining in a 13-12 victory on Friday.

“We didn’t pay attention on the last shot,” Blast forward Denison Cabral said. “You can’t leave a guy like that in front of the box to put it in. He will finish that chance. We fell asleep a little bit on that play.”

And it cost the Blast (6-7) dearly. The Blast rallied to take a 12-11 lead with 1:38 remaining after the Blast pulled their goalie in exchange for sixth attacker Giuliano Celenza, who scored off a pass from Machel Milwood.

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Celenza’s goal forced the expansion Ironmen (9-5) to take the same risk — pulling goalie Tony Meola for sixth attacker Goran Vasic. New Jersey moved the ball into Baltimore’s zone, and with the defense swarming to the right side, New Jersey forward Frederico Moojen sent a crossing pass to Sloan, who beat Sagu with the game-winner.

“It’s tough to take,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “You go up by a goal and you think all you need to do is be strong on the sixth-attack defense. It was a game we needed to win. We don’t feel too good right now.”

That’s because the Blast turned what would have been an uplifting victory into a demoralizing defeat against New Jersey, which Baltimore blasted, 15-2, on Jan. 4. But on Friday, the Blast rallied from a 7-2 deficit in the second quarter before falling for the fifth time in six road games.

“We knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy game here,” Cabral said. “We knew that they were better than 15-2.”

The Blast has lost two straight and seven of its past eight to fall below .500 for the first time this season after a 5-0 start. Baltimore is in seventh place — 3 1/2 games behind league-leading Detroit (10-4) and Milwaukee (10-4)— entering Friday’s game against Monterrey (5-9) at 1st Mariner Arena at 7:35.

“We never thought that we’d be in the situation we’re in right now,” Cabral said. “But this is a long season. Any team can step up and beat you. You just have to play a good game. Winning five games, you don’t expect to drop another five.”

mpeters@baltimoreexaminer.com