Chicago Storm

The Baltimore Blast will open its 2005-06 season with a Nov. 11 home game against the expansion California Cougars, the first contest on the 30-game schedule released today. The Blast will play 15 games at 1st Mariner Arena - seven on Friday nights (7:35 p.m.), seven on Saturday nights (7:35 p.m.) and one on Sunday afternoon (5:05 p.m.). The MISL will feature six teams this season - the Blast, Cougars, Philadelphia KiXX, St. Louis Steamers, Chicago Storm and the defending champion Milwaukee Wave.

Matchup -- Chicago Storm (15-13) at Blast (17-10) Site -- 1st Mariner Arena Time -- 7:35 TV/Radio -- Maryland Public Television (Ch. 22)/680 AM Outlook -- Unless something drastic happens down the stretch, the Blast is probably locked into a third-place finish in the regular season after losing, 15-13, on a last-minute goal at Monterrey on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Storm is locked in a four-team battle for three remaining playoff spots. The Blast scored the first shutout in the current franchise's history, 13-0, when the teams played last Saturday and has won all three games in the series.

Matchup: Blast (11-15) vs. Chicago Storm (13-13) Site: UIC Pavilion, Chicago Time: 4 p.m. Radio: WCBM (680 AM) Outlook: Two losses last weekend dropped the Blast into last place in the Major Indoor Soccer League. However, in the tightly bunched race, the Blast sits just two games out of fourth and the last playoff spot, currently held by the Storm. Chicago has won seven of its past eight games, including Friday night's 6-5 win over Philadelphia.

Matchup -- Chicago Storm (11-6) at Blast (9-7) Site -- 1st Mariner Arena Time -- 8 Radio -- 680 AM Outlook -- For the first time since the season opened more than three months ago, the Blast engages the Storm, which scored a rousing 21-6 victory in the final game of last season, knocking the Blast out of the playoffs. Chicago is a half-game out of first place and has a 5-2 road record. Matthew Stewart leads the Storm with 37 points. Jim Larkin and Jeff Richey split the goaltending. Machel Millwood, with 35 points, and Denison Cabral, with 34, continue to pace the offense for the Blast, which has won three straight and is 7-2 at home.

Matchup -- Chicago Storm (8-11) @ Blast (12-6) Time -- 7:35 Radio -- 680 AM Outlook -- The Blast will try to extend its winning streak to four in its first game in nine days. Adauto Neto (37 points) and Giuliano Celenza (34) have sparked the team's offense recently, while Joel Bailey has 12 points in the past 11 games. After this game, the Blast will play seven of its last 11 on the road. Chicago has had offensive problems all season, but Matthew Stewart helped last week with three goals in an 8-4 win over Philadelphia that earned him Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Matchup -- Chicago Storm (11-6) at Blast (9-7) Site -- 1st Mariner Arena Time -- 8 Radio -- 680 AM Outlook -- For the first time since the season opened more than three months ago, the Blast engages the Storm, which scored a rousing 21-6 victory in the final game of last season, knocking the Blast out of the playoffs. Chicago is a half-game out of first place and has a 5-2 road record. Matthew Stewart leads the Storm with 37 points. Jim Larkin and Jeff Richey split the goaltending. Machel Millwood, with 35 points, and Denison Cabral, with 34, continue to pace the offense for the Blast, which has won three straight and is 7-2 at home.

CHICAGO - With injuries mounting and his team without a win in three weeks, Blast coach Tim Wittman considered reaching into his team's storied past in a bid to reverse its fortunes yesterday. But with the Blast ahead through most of its Major Indoor Soccer League game against the Chicago Storm, the fourth-year coach figured he didn't need to play his alter ego - team Hall of Famer Tim Wittman. "No, that's the last thing I wanted to do," said Wittman, 42, who activated himself as a player for yesterday's game at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The Blast went into last night's game looking for victory and came away with disappointment, losing to the Chicago Storm, 5-3. Both teams are in a final, desperate run for a playoff berth, and neither could afford to lose. Coming into the game, it looked as if the Blast, playing at home with a week of rest, would have the advantage over Chicago, a team that had played the night before and was also struggling because of a loss of players due to injuries and suspensions. But as the game wore on, the Storm inexplicably got stronger and the Blast weaker.

The Blast had not played in two weeks before taking the field last night at 1st Mariner Arena, but showed little signs of rust against the Chicago Storm. Powered by an offense that jumped on Chicago for four unanswered goals in the first six minutes and lifted by a superb showing from goalie Sagu, the Blast maintained its grip on third place in the Major Indoor Soccer League standings with a 9-5 win before 6,478. Forwards Adauto Neto and Guiliano Celenza each scored two goals and Sagu recorded a season-high 20 saves as the Blast (7-4)

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- The Blast hit rock bottom in its regular-season finale yesterday, and later learned that its postseason chances had expired. The Blast (15-15) suffered its worst loss of the season - a 21-6 setback to the host Chicago Storm - while Milwaukee beat California, 9-6, to secure the last Major Indoor Soccer League playoff spot. The Blast closed its regular season with six straight losses. "It was a poor performance, no doubt," Blast coach Danny Kelly said. "We had everything to play for and we didn't get it done.

The Blast had not played in two weeks before taking the field last night at 1st Mariner Arena, but showed little signs of rust against the Chicago Storm. Powered by an offense that jumped on Chicago for four unanswered goals in the first six minutes and lifted by a superb showing from goalie Sagu, the Blast maintained its grip on third place in the Major Indoor Soccer League standings with a 9-5 win before 6,478. Forwards Adauto Neto and Guiliano Celenza each scored two goals and Sagu recorded a season-high 20 saves as the Blast (7-4)

The Baltimore Blast will open its 2005-06 season with a Nov. 11 home game against the expansion California Cougars, the first contest on the 30-game schedule released today. The Blast will play 15 games at 1st Mariner Arena - seven on Friday nights (7:35 p.m.), seven on Saturday nights (7:35 p.m.) and one on Sunday afternoon (5:05 p.m.). The MISL will feature six teams this season - the Blast, Cougars, Philadelphia KiXX, St. Louis Steamers, Chicago Storm and the defending champion Milwaukee Wave.

The Blast went into last night's game looking for victory and came away with disappointment, losing to the Chicago Storm, 5-3. Both teams are in a final, desperate run for a playoff berth, and neither could afford to lose. Coming into the game, it looked as if the Blast, playing at home with a week of rest, would have the advantage over Chicago, a team that had played the night before and was also struggling because of a loss of players due to injuries and suspensions. But as the game wore on, the Storm inexplicably got stronger and the Blast weaker.