Bays' Powers is Blast goalie insurance

Maryland Bays goalkeeper Steve Powers will be signed to a 15-day contract as the Baltimore Blast goalkeeper if Cris Vaccaro goes down with an injury, coach Kenny Cooper said yesterday.

Powers has been working out with the Blast the past several weeks even though the team told him during training camp that it could not offer him a contract as the backup to Vaccaro.

Powers, 27, said it has been a big adjustment from the outdoor game to indoor goalkeeping.

"There are so many more deflections and rebounds to worry about indoors," said Powers. "But I feel a little more comfortable every day I practice with the Blast. This is a great group of guys who are very team-oriented. It would be great to get a chance to play in a real game with this team."

Powers hasn't been able to practice every day with the Blast because he also is the assistant soccer coach at the University of Maryland and works in the Bays' front office during the off-season.

Cooper said Powers has a super attitude and is "improving all the time. It's great to have him around the team."

Blast vice president of soccer operations Drew Forrester said there also is a chance that Powers soon will be offered a developmental-roster contract, under which Powers would be paid to practice full time with team and can be activated at any time for games.

NOTES: The results from the Magnetic Resonance Imaging test on D Doug Neely this week came back last night and revealed a torn meniscus in his left knee. Blast trainer Marty McGinty said Neely probably will play in the next 3 games before having surgery around Nov. 18.