Missouri Comets

When: Friday, 7:35 p.m. Site: 1 s t Mariner Arena Video: http://www.MISLlivesoccer.com Outlook: The Blast once again tries to rid itself of the home game blues, which have plagued the team in the early season. Last weekend, coming off a five-game road winning streak, the Blast dropped two home games that appeared in hand. On Friday, the Comets turned a 10-2 deficit into a 12-10 win with eight unanswered points in the fourth quarter. On Saturday, the Blast again couldn't protect a seemingly comfortable 9-4 advantage against Syracuse, falling 12-9 to go to 0-3 at 1 s t Mariner Arena.

After surviving an oh-so-close call against the Syracuse Silver Knights in the semifinals of the Major Indoor Soccer League playoffs, Baltimore Blast head coach Danny Kelly has been preaching to his top-ranked team to take nothing for granted this time of the year, especially not with the Blast two wins away from its second straight MISL championship. "Hopefully we've learned something from that," Kelly said Thursday. "There are no easy games, especially against a team like Missouri, as talented as they are. " Tonight, the Blast opens its championship series against the Missouri Comets at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo.. The second game of the series and a 15-minute tiebreaking minigame, if necessary, will be played Sunday at the Baltimore Arena.

Blast at Missouri Comets What: MISL championship Game 1 When: Thursday, 8:35 p.m. Site: Independence (Mo.) Events Center Video: mislnation.com Outlook: Surprise! Most people expected to see the two-time defending league champion Milwaukee Wave playing against the Blast for the Major Indoor Soccer League title, but the Comets upset Milwaukee in the semifinals. After dropping the first game in overtime last Thursday, Missouri came back to stun the Wave on Sunday in the second game, 9-8, and then advanced to the championship series with a 5-4 win in the deciding mini game.

Pushed to the absolute limit by the Syracuse Silver Knights in the Major Indoor Soccer League's semifinal round, the Blast showed why it is the league's defending champion Tuesday at Baltimore Arena. Forced to play a deciding, 15-minute minigame after the Silver Knights claimed the second game earlier of the semifinal series earlier in the evening, the Blast scored and defended just enough to come away with a thrilling, 4-3 win and earn the right to defend its crown. Syracuse took a 9-6 win in Game 2 with a strong fourth quarter to tie the series at 1, but the Blast regrouped and did what it took to move forward in front of an announced crowd of 3,822.

The Blast won its fifth straight game Sunday, routing the host Missouri Comets, 18-4, to remain a half-game behind the Milwaukee Wave in the Major Indoor Soccer League standings. The Blast (13-3) scored first with a 3-point power-play goal by Lucio Gonzaga . Mike Lookingland (Loyola High) scored the first goal of the second quarter on an assist by Pat Healey . Less than five minutes later, Tony Donatelli assisted a goal by Max Ferdinand , and the Blast went into halftime with a 7-0 lead.

On Saturday night, the Blast expected to celebrate another Major Indoor Soccer League playoff berth. The Missouri Comets had another idea. Missouri (9-9) went on a 10-3 run in the middle of the second half to outlast the Blast (15-5), 14-11, before an announced 6,319 at the 1st Mariner Arena . "We had a decent stretch, but it wasn't good enough," Blast coach Danny Kelly said. "With some of the goals we gave up, you're not going to win a professional soccer game. Our defending was poor and our finishing was poor.

It took a half Saturday night for the Blast to play the top-notch style of indoor soccer it had displayed throughout the 2012-13 Major Indoor Soccer League season, but it was worth the wait for the home team. Overcoming a shaky start, the Blast relentlessly attacked the goal against the Missouri Comets to overcome a halftime deficit in the second game of the MISL Championship Series. After Adriano Dos Santos scored in the fourth quarter and rookie Lucas Roque followed shortly after with another goal, the Blast was able to confront the Comets' final stand with its signature defense to come away with an 8-6 win and a two-game sweep in front of an announced 8,704 at 1st Mariner Arena . "They've been tremendous all season long, only five losses, and a couple of those we probably could have won," coach Danny Kelly said.

During the golden age of Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1980s, the game featured players who dazzled fans with their nifty footwork, creativity and individual skills. Blast veteran forward Adauto Neto showed similar form Friday night against the visiting Missouri Comets. In the second quarter, he tied the game with a side-winding, half-volley from deep in the right corner that found the top of the net. With the game still tied in the third quarter and the Blast on a power play, Neto's perfectly timed backheel pass in tight quarters found a streaking Lucio Gonzaga, who scored to give the home team its first lead.

Ed Hale knows what a championship team looks like. After all, he's seen the Blast bring home five of its six Major Indoor Soccer League titles since he became owner of the team. So he's not hesitant in laying out his expectations for a Blast squad that's hoping to bring home its first MISL championship since 2009 on Saturday night against the Missouri Comets. "We fully expect to win," Hale said. "No ifs, ands or buts about it. " After winning the first game of the series in Missouri on Thursday, 21-12, the Blast could accomplish that task with a victory Saturday.

Blast midfielder Pat Healey was named the Major Indoor Soccer League's player of the week, the league announced Monday. Healey scored four goals Wednesday to lead the Blast to a 22-6 road win over the Missouri Comets. The Comets struck first but Healey tied the game at 2-2 in the first quarter and scored a goal in every quarter; he also had four blocks in the game. Healey added another goal Friday afternoon in Baltimore's first loss of the season, a 9-8 decision in favor of the Omaha Vipers.

With an 18-2 win Sunday over the host Pennsylvania Roar, the Blast claimed the Major Indoor Soccer League regular-season championship. The win gave the Blast (17-3) the No. 1 seed in the MISL playoffs. The Milwaukee Wave (16-4) lost to the Missouri Comets, 9-4, on Sunday, allowing the Blast to take first place in the league. The Blast's game started slowly, as midfielder Max Ferdinand got the Blast on the board first off an assist from midfielder Drew Yates (Maryland). Ferdinand scored another goal before the end of the first quarter, giving the Blast an early 4-0 lead.

Bandbox and Ilikecandy won their respective races Monday at Laurel Park. Bandbox took the $250,000 General George Handicap (G3), giving the horse its first win in nearly three years. Under Xavier Perez , Bandbox, who is trained by Rodney Jenkins , completed the 7-furlong distance in 1:24.18 and won by four lengths. Monday's 10-race card was the first since last Wednesday. A powerful storm dumped 17 inches of snow and nearly an inch of ice at the Central Maryland track last week which caused Laurel officials to cancel live racing last week.

The Blast won its fifth straight game Sunday, routing the host Missouri Comets, 18-4, to remain a half-game behind the Milwaukee Wave in the Major Indoor Soccer League standings. The Blast (13-3) scored first with a 3-point power-play goal by Lucio Gonzaga . Mike Lookingland (Loyola High) scored the first goal of the second quarter on an assist by Pat Healey . Less than five minutes later, Tony Donatelli assisted a goal by Max Ferdinand , and the Blast went into halftime with a 7-0 lead.

After outscoring Pennsylvania by a combined 74-2 in its three previous meetings this season, the Blast faced a much different Roar team Saturday night, one more committed to blocking shots and defending its goal. Pennsylvania kept four players behind the ball and put a forward just above midfield as a target for counterattacks. Playing its second game in as many days, the Blast overcame some early struggles to pull away for a 16-5 victory before an announced 4,585 at Baltimore Arena.

During the golden age of Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1980s, the game featured players who dazzled fans with their nifty footwork, creativity and individual skills. Blast veteran forward Adauto Neto showed similar form Friday night against the visiting Missouri Comets. In the second quarter, he tied the game with a side-winding, half-volley from deep in the right corner that found the top of the net. With the game still tied in the third quarter and the Blast on a power play, Neto's perfectly timed backheel pass in tight quarters found a streaking Lucio Gonzaga, who scored to give the home team its first lead.

Missouri Comets (5-2) at Blast (5-2) Friday at Baltimore Arena, 7:35 p.m. Pennsylvania Roar (0-9) at Blast (5-2) Saturday at Baltimore Arena, 7:35 p.m. Video: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBaltimoreBlast Outlook: The Blast enters the 2014 portion of its schedule on an impressive four-game winning streak, and tied for second place with Missouri in the Major Indoor Soccer League, one game back of the first-place Milwaukee...

In its third consecutive game against the Pennsylvania Roar, the Blast shut out the Major Indoor Soccer League expansion team for the second time, winning, 24-0, in Reading, Pa. In three games this season, the Blast have outscored the Roar 74-2 (with final scores of 21-2, 29-0 and 24-0). Three players scored twice Tuesday for the Blast: Levi Houapeau, Lucio Gonzaga and Diego Zuniga. Houapeau's goal in the first quarter was his first of the season. Blast goalie Troy Hernandez had six saves.

The Blast will open the 2012-13 season at 1st Mariner Arena against the expansion Chicago Soul on Nov. 3 at 7:35 p.m. In a rematch of the 2011 and 2012 Major Indoor Soccer League championship, the Blast will face the Milwaukee Wave for the first time on Nov. 16 at 7:35 p.m. in Baltimore. The two teams will meet four times during the 26-game slate, which was released Friday. The Blast and Wave will also square off on Dec. 22 and Jan. 12, both at 7 p.m. in Milwaukee, and in the regular-season finale on Feb. 23 at 7:35 p.m. in Baltimore.

In its third consecutive game against the Pennsylvania Roar, the Blast shut out the Major Indoor Soccer League expansion team for the second time, winning, 24-0, in Reading, Pa. In three games this season, the Blast have outscored the Roar 74-2 (with final scores of 21-2, 29-0 and 24-0). Three players scored twice Tuesday for the Blast: Levi Houapeau, Lucio Gonzaga and Diego Zuniga. Houapeau's goal in the first quarter was his first of the season. Blast goalie Troy Hernandez had six saves.

It took a half Saturday night for the Blast to play the top-notch style of indoor soccer it had displayed throughout the 2012-13 Major Indoor Soccer League season, but it was worth the wait for the home team. Overcoming a shaky start, the Blast relentlessly attacked the goal against the Missouri Comets to overcome a halftime deficit in the second game of the MISL Championship Series. After Adriano Dos Santos scored in the fourth quarter and rookie Lucas Roque followed shortly after with another goal, the Blast was able to confront the Comets' final stand with its signature defense to come away with an 8-6 win and a two-game sweep in front of an announced 8,704 at 1st Mariner Arena . "They've been tremendous all season long, only five losses, and a couple of those we probably could have won," coach Danny Kelly said.