Power-play goal allows Crunch to top Blast, 4-3

RICHMOND, Va. -- Zoran Karic scored a power-play goal with 1 minute, 54 seconds remaining in the game to give the Cleveland Crunch a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Blast in last night's Major Soccer League preseason game at the Richmond Coliseum.

Karic's goal capped a three-goal Cleveland comeback after the Blast had taken a 3-1 lead with 2:02 left in the third period. Billy Ronson, Waad Hirmez and Rusty Troy scored for Baltimore. Hector Marinaro -- with two goals -- and Rudy Pikuzinski accounted for the other Crunch goals.

The Blast led, 2-1, at the end of the first half and extended that lead to 3-1 on Troy's power-play goal late in the third period.

Marinaro then struck for a pair of goals to even the game at 3-3, setting up Karic's game-winning goal, which came 57 seconds after Blast midfielder Mark Mettrick had been sent off for charging.

PD The Blast's home opener is Oct. 19 against the Dallas Sidekicks.