Sean Bowers

Blast newcomer Sean Bowers has been the perfect fit in Baltimore except for one small matter, and that too will change once he gets his house sold in Detroit. Temporarily living in a two-bedroom apartment here with his wife, Maria, and their three small children certainly hasn't hampered the outstanding two-way play he has provided his new team this season. Just 10 games in, the longtime Detroit Rocker has shown the versatility to play two positions at one high, composed level, the durability to regularly finish chances at one end and block shots at the other, and the desire to make a difference.

Blast coach Tim Wittman needed another defenseman, and when he looked at his roster late last summer, it was apparent to him that midfielder Danny Kelly was the answer. The Blast had lost three defensive stalwarts. Jason Dieter, who is now the team's assistant coach; Lance Johnson, who retired; and Sean Bowers, the Major Indoor Soccer League's Defender of the Year, who was traded to San Diego. As outsiders assessed the team for the coming season, they came to the conclusion that the Blast's defense would be its weakest link.

The Blast's coaching carousel has taken another spin. In is Tim Wittman as an assistant to recently named coach Bobby McAvan. Out is former assistant Billy Ronson. The team announced the change yesterday, but Ronson - a fan favorite as a player from 1985 to '92 - said McAvan let him go early Sunday at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, when the team was returning from a 17-10 loss Saturday in Dallas. Ronson spent the past four-plus seasons as an assistant coach and assistant general manager, mostly under former coach and current general manager Kevin Healey.

The Blast and the San Diego Sockers hooked up last night in a game that brought back memories of what often happened when the teams met during their glory years in the 1980s. San Diego seemed to win most of those games and championships, but last night belonged to the Blast and its defense in a 3-1 victory before 7,106 at 1st Mariner Arena. The Blast (5-3) got second-half goals from P.J. Wakefield, Danny Kelly and Wendell Regis to win its third straight game to move to within a half-game of idle, first-place Philadelphia in the Major Indoor Soccer League's Eastern Division.

Injuries and a suspension have the Blast short-handed this weekend as it tries to get back on track starting with tonight's visit from the Cleveland Force. The Blast, last in the Major Indoor Soccer League's Eastern Conference with a 5-12 mark, will be without standout defender Sean Bowers (ankle sprain) for up to four weeks and also lost veteran midfielder Danny Santoro (torn anterior cruciate ligament in left knee) for the season. Forward Lee Tschantret also will be out of tonight's lineup, serving a one-game suspension after being ejected for receiving three penalties in the Blast's 11-2 loss to the Harrisburg Heat on Sunday.

SAN DIEGO - A scoring drought was replaced with a deluge of goals, and as a result, the Blast's bid to host a playoff match next week is still alive. The Blast gave up last night's first goal in the first quarter but then scored 11 consecutive points en route to a 17-8 victory over the San Diego Sockers in front of 5,167 at the San Diego Sports Arena. "We're coming into a building that hasn't been kind to us," said Blast coach Bobby McAvan. "So after San Diego got that early goal, I was concerned.

Now comes the tricky part for Blast general manager/head coach Kevin Healey. After adding a slew of talent courtesy of Friday's Major Indoor Soccer League dispersal draft, which distributed players from four former National Professional Soccer League teams that will not be competing in the new league this season, the numbers game begins. Looking for potential upgrades in the back and middle, the Blast used its first pick to select former Buffalo Blizzard midfielder Danny Barber and then shipped its second pick to Cleveland for veteran defender Scott Schweitzer.

All things considered, the Blast couldn't have scripted a better home opener than last Friday's 21-20, roller-coaster win over the Kansas City Attack. Featured was a gut-check fourth quarter that had four lead-changes, two in the last 53 seconds that displayed the team's character and had the 8,103 in attendance on the edges of their seats. Lee Tschantret's deciding two-pointer with 30 seconds left helped give the Blast the all-important first win, and at 7:35 tonight, when the Detroit Rockers visit the Baltimore Arena, the team will look to build on that.

Any doubts about what the Spirit would do for an offense this season have been erased by two major transactions within 48 hours.First, the Spirit signed Jean Harbor and Philip Gyau, skilled scorers who once played for the Maryland Bays.Yesterday, the club acquired Jon Parry, the fifth-leading goal scorer in the National Professional Soccer League last season, from the Kansas City Attack for defender Eric Dade and future considerations.Just like that, the Spirit's loss of last season's top scorers, Paul Wright and Goran Hunjak, doesn't seem so devastating after all."

Blast coach Tim Wittman needed another defenseman, and when he looked at his roster late last summer, it was apparent to him that midfielder Danny Kelly was the answer. The Blast had lost three defensive stalwarts. Jason Dieter, who is now the team's assistant coach; Lance Johnson, who retired; and Sean Bowers, the Major Indoor Soccer League's Defender of the Year, who was traded to San Diego. As outsiders assessed the team for the coming season, they came to the conclusion that the Blast's defense would be its weakest link.

SAN DIEGO - A scoring drought was replaced with a deluge of goals, and as a result, the Blast's bid to host a playoff match next week is still alive. The Blast gave up last night's first goal in the first quarter but then scored 11 consecutive points en route to a 17-8 victory over the San Diego Sockers in front of 5,167 at the San Diego Sports Arena. "We're coming into a building that hasn't been kind to us," said Blast coach Bobby McAvan. "So after San Diego got that early goal, I was concerned.

Injuries and a suspension have the Blast short-handed this weekend as it tries to get back on track starting with tonight's visit from the Cleveland Force. The Blast, last in the Major Indoor Soccer League's Eastern Conference with a 5-12 mark, will be without standout defender Sean Bowers (ankle sprain) for up to four weeks and also lost veteran midfielder Danny Santoro (torn anterior cruciate ligament in left knee) for the season. Forward Lee Tschantret also will be out of tonight's lineup, serving a one-game suspension after being ejected for receiving three penalties in the Blast's 11-2 loss to the Harrisburg Heat on Sunday.

The Blast's coaching carousel has taken another spin. In is Tim Wittman as an assistant to recently named coach Bobby McAvan. Out is former assistant Billy Ronson. The team announced the change yesterday, but Ronson - a fan favorite as a player from 1985 to '92 - said McAvan let him go early Sunday at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, when the team was returning from a 17-10 loss Saturday in Dallas. Ronson spent the past four-plus seasons as an assistant coach and assistant general manager, mostly under former coach and current general manager Kevin Healey.

PHILADELPHIA - The Blast has struggled on the road all season and struggled against the rival Philadelphia KiXX home and away. So last night, the Blast faced a major challenge that turned out to be just too much. The KiXX dominated early and then hung on for an 11-7 victory. "We've been trying to figure out how to have better starts all year," said Blast defenseman Lance Johnson, when asked about the difference between the team's play in the first and second halves. "We dug ourselves another hole and had to dig out of it. The first half was just a lack of energy.

CLEVELAND - The inaugural 2002 Major Indoor Soccer League Legends Game started with the white Spalding soccer ball that is now used. But after the opening tap, it was replaced by the orange and black paneled ball of the first MISL generation. The old and the new came together for a weekend in Cleveland and for former Blast standout and current Harrisburg Heat coach Richard Chinapoo, that's what it was all about. "To play against some of these guys, to play with them, to come back and have time to sit down and talk to them - what they're doing now, about their families - that's a time in your life that's precious," Chinapoo said.

Blast newcomer Sean Bowers has been the perfect fit in Baltimore except for one small matter, and that too will change once he gets his house sold in Detroit. Temporarily living in a two-bedroom apartment here with his wife, Maria, and their three small children certainly hasn't hampered the outstanding two-way play he has provided his new team this season. Just 10 games in, the longtime Detroit Rocker has shown the versatility to play two positions at one high, composed level, the durability to regularly finish chances at one end and block shots at the other, and the desire to make a difference.

PHILADELPHIA - The Blast has struggled on the road all season and struggled against the rival Philadelphia KiXX home and away. So last night, the Blast faced a major challenge that turned out to be just too much. The KiXX dominated early and then hung on for an 11-7 victory. "We've been trying to figure out how to have better starts all year," said Blast defenseman Lance Johnson, when asked about the difference between the team's play in the first and second halves. "We dug ourselves another hole and had to dig out of it. The first half was just a lack of energy.

The Blast and the San Diego Sockers hooked up last night in a game that brought back memories of what often happened when the teams met during their glory years in the 1980s. San Diego seemed to win most of those games and championships, but last night belonged to the Blast and its defense in a 3-1 victory before 7,106 at 1st Mariner Arena. The Blast (5-3) got second-half goals from P.J. Wakefield, Danny Kelly and Wendell Regis to win its third straight game to move to within a half-game of idle, first-place Philadelphia in the Major Indoor Soccer League's Eastern Division.

Now comes the tricky part for Blast general manager/head coach Kevin Healey. After adding a slew of talent courtesy of Friday's Major Indoor Soccer League dispersal draft, which distributed players from four former National Professional Soccer League teams that will not be competing in the new league this season, the numbers game begins. Looking for potential upgrades in the back and middle, the Blast used its first pick to select former Buffalo Blizzard midfielder Danny Barber and then shipped its second pick to Cleveland for veteran defender Scott Schweitzer.

All things considered, the Blast couldn't have scripted a better home opener than last Friday's 21-20, roller-coaster win over the Kansas City Attack. Featured was a gut-check fourth quarter that had four lead-changes, two in the last 53 seconds that displayed the team's character and had the 8,103 in attendance on the edges of their seats. Lee Tschantret's deciding two-pointer with 30 seconds left helped give the Blast the all-important first win, and at 7:35 tonight, when the Detroit Rockers visit the Baltimore Arena, the team will look to build on that.