Harrisburg

There are six games left to jockey for playoff position and, just as important for the Blast, six games left to play together as a complete unit. The injuries that have bothered the team over the past month or so appear to be healed. Leading scorer Denison Cabral (shoulder) is all but certain to play at Milwaukee on Saturday, and Danny Kelly (groin) is probable after missing more than a month. Since Kelly's injury, the Blast has added veteran David Vaurdreuil and rookie Guiliano Celenza.

Following a disastrous, rock-bottom weekend that led to the basement of the NPSL's American Conference, the Cleveland Crunch fired coach Bruce Miller and replaced him with assistant George Fernandez on an interim basis. Miller went 149-85 in his five-plus years in Cleveland, guiding the Crunch to two NPSL championships and a runner-up finish last season. Looking to get younger, Cleveland released three veterans prior to the season (including prominent forward Zoran Karic) and have since battled injuries throughout.

After a loss during his playing days at Loyola College, Blast coach Kevin Healey was asked by a reporter whether it might be helpful. He laughed. "I said, `If I would have thought that would have helped us, we would have tried to lose,' " Healey said. With his Blast (16-11) mired in a four-game skid and one-half game back of the Harrisburg Heat and Philadelphia KiXX for first place in the NPSL's American Conference, Healey is trying to turn a negative into a positive. "I'm not a guy that says right away, `OK, these losses will help us,' " he said.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - It was only 40 miles from here, across the Susquehanna River and down the road, that the climactic and bloody battle of Gettysburg took place 138 years ago. When Gen. Robert E. Lee brought his Army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania, Harrisburg was his objective, but Gettysburg and retreat were his fate. This city of 51,000 never saw battle (although skirmishes occurred within three miles of town), but its enticing presence induced a horrific turn in the war, a point that becomes clear at the newly opened National Civil War Museum here.

With a patchwork lineup that came to work on tired legs, the Blast couldn't quite find the resources or the energy last night to get by a fresher Harrisburg team. The Heat asserted itself with the game's first seven points and didn't allow a second-half response from the Blast, which had to settle for a .500 weekend after falling, 13-8, before 4,875 at Baltimore Arena. The season series now stands at two apiece for the two teams, with the Blast (11-4) just a half-game in front of idle Philadelphia (9-3)

Blast veteran forward Mark Thomas, who missed Saturday's 16-7 loss at Cleveland with a concussion, remains questionable for this weekend. Yesterday, coach Kevin Healey said Thomas - hurt in the second half of Friday's home win against Milwaukee - was still experiencing headaches, and the team will know more by tomorrow about his availability. The Blast travels to Wichita on Friday and returns home Saturday to play Harrisburg. Against Cleveland, newcomer Jeff Clarke, a 23-year-old defender picked up in the re-entry draft when the Edmonton franchise folded, played his first game in a Blast uniform.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Blast visited the Heat last night but did not resemble the team that had won seven straight games. Penalties and defensive lapses were self-destructive against a Heat team that was more than willing to take advantage as Harrisburg came away with a 20-11 win over the Blast in front of 4,169 at the State Farm Show Arena. The Heat, which led from start to finish, converted three of five power-play opportunities and added four shootout goals to send the Blast home a loser for the first time this season.

Blast forward Lee Tschantret, out since the second game of the season with torn rib cartilage, has returned to practice and is expected to play this weekend. After back-to-back road wins against Philadelphia and Harrisburg last weekend, the Blast (4-0) return home to take on Harrisburg tonight and the Bufflao Blizzard tomorrow. Both games start at the Baltimore Arena at 7:35 p.m. Last Saturday, the Blast left Harrisburg with an 18-13 win to spoil the Heat's home opener. Both wins for Harrisburg (2-2)

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Blast has built itself this National Professional Soccer League season with an emphasis on depth, versatility and fitness. All three came into play during a highly successful weekend on the road that was capped by an efficient 18-13 win last night at State Farm Show Arena, spoiling the Harrisburg Heat's 10th home opener. The Blast got goals from eight different players, 16 saves from Scott Hileman and a backbreaking final minute in the third quarter to separate itself from the Heat.

It's about a 50-50 proposition. Win half the time on the road, maybe a bit more, take care of business at home and ultimate success can be found in the National Professional Soccer League. The past two seasons are proof. Last season, the Milwaukee Wave was the only team to finish with a .500 mark on the road, going 31-13 overall and riding out the home-field advantage to win the league championship. The previous season, Cleveland posted the only winning road record (11-9) and went all the way. After two straight wins at Baltimore Arena, the Blast takes its show on the road for the first time, starting tonight in Philadelphia, then heading west to Harrisburg tomorrow night.