BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Blast forward Machel Millwood wasn’t concerned his team mustered just two goals in the first half of Sunday’s semifinal game against the Wave in Milwaukee at U.S. Cellular Arena.

“We just had to keep our composure. We knew it would be a hard battle and we knew we would get our chances,” he said. “We have guys who can put the ball in the back of the net, so we just have to focus on defense and the offense will come around.”

And the offense came in bunches.

Consecutive goals by Millwood, midfielder Lucio Gonzaga and forward Giuliano Celenza early in the third quarter turned a 5-4 halftime deficit into a 10-5 lead. The Blast seized the momentum and never relinquished the lead en route to a 14-13 win. The victory, the Blast’s fourth straight, secured the team a berth in Major Indoor Soccer League final back at U.S. Cellular Arena against the Monterrey La Raza (20-15) on Saturday night at 7 in front of a national television audience on Fox Soccer Channel.

Baltimore (23-11) is making its fourth championship appearance in the past six seasons, winning its previous three, most recently in 2006.

“It’s what we worked for all year,” defender Billy Nelson said. “To play for a chance to lift that trophy again.”

If the Blast is to claim another title, it will be because of the stellar play of its defense, led by goalie Sagu. Sagu was among the league leaders in save percentage and goals-against average during the regular season and has been just as strong this postseason, posting an 8.75 goals-against average and made 18 saves in the win over the Wave (22-10). Baltimore also has allowed 10 or fewer points in three of its four playoff games.

“Win your shift and everything else will take care of itself,” Blast coach Danny Kelly said. “We can beat anyone on any given day. Like I told these guys all year long, ‘if we defend, we will win.’”

And team defense will be the key to defeating the first-year franchise from Mexico on Saturday.

The La Raza is led by forward Byron Alvarez, who has a league-high eight goals in six postseason games. Alvarez’s sudden-death “golden goal” in a semifinal mini-game eliminated regular season champion Detroit and sent Monterrey to the championship game.

Baltimore has had mixed results against the La Raza, splitting its four games. The Blast won its matches at 1st Mariner Arena, 12-9 and 10-9, but lost both of its trips to Mexico, where defensive lapses led to 16-13 and 15-13 defeats.

“We just have to focus on ourselves,” Millwood, who had two goals and an assist on Sunday, said. “Whenever we pay good defense we come out with wins.”

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com