Baltimore Blast Game Preview
March 29, 2019 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Baltimore Blast @ Harrisburg Heat
Saturday, March 30th @ SECU Arena 7:05 p.m. ET
Baltimore Blast @ Utica City FC
Sunday, March 31st @ SECU Arena 2:00 p.m. ET
You can watch both games on MASLTV at: https://www.maslsoccer.com/masltv
Baltimore Blast: 15-6
Tied for first place in the Eastern Division
Harrisburg Heat: 8-13
Third place in the Eastern Division
Season Series: Baltimore leads 4-1
Utica City FC: 15-6
Tied for first place in the Eastern Division
Season Series: Utica City leads 3-2
Baltimore Players to Watch:
The Blast are currently riding a six game winning streak entering their last three games of the season. The Blast will take on two division rivals this weekend, in an effort to clinch the Eastern Division title.
Blast midfielder Jonatas Melo leads the team in assists (18) and points (36) on the season, and continues to fly up the scoring charts. Vini Dantas maintains the team lead for goals this season (23) and is second on the team in points. Forward Andrew Hoxie added a Team of the Week selection to his resume with the two goal and two assist performance last Sunday versus Mississauga. Midfielder Tony Donatelli was red hot last weekend as he tallied nine points against Harrisburg and Mississauga.
Defender Jereme Raley was also nominated to the MASL Team of the Week following his three goal performance last weekend. Raley also ranks second place on the Blast in blocked shots this season (17). Defender Mike Deasel made his 100th career regular season appearance for the Blast last weekend, while also posting a team-high eighteen blocks on the season. William Vanzela added to his great season with an even greater performance last weekend. Vanzela only allowed three goals on forty-two shots, which gave him the best save percentage in the MASL this season (75.7%).
The Blast have one of the best defensive units in the MASL, ranking fourth in goals allowed average with 4.43 per game. Away from home this season, the Blast are 5-4, with three of those losses coming from their opponents this weekend. The Blast will be without Lucas Roque, Daniel Peruzzi, and Marco Nascimento as they recover from their knee injuries. The Blast are coached by Head Coach Danny Kelly and Assistant Coach David Bascome.
The Competition- Harrisburg Heat
Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Heat have come into form down the stretch, winning five of their last nine games. The Heat will play spoiler as they attempt to knock their I-83 rivals out of the first place spot in the Eastern Division.
The Heat have been led by a second half resurgence from midfielder Ricardo Carvalho, who leads the team in assists (17), and leads the division in points (44), goals (27), and points per game (2.2). Carvalho has totaled twenty-three points during the nine game resurgence. Forward Tavoy Morgan is second on the team in points and averages one goal per game over the course of this season. He has found success against the Blast this season, totaling four points in the five games this season. Daniel Villela ranks second behind Carvalho in assists with fifteen, and is ranked fourth in the Eastern Division for assists. Villela recorded five points in the two games last weekend against Orlando and Utica City.
Former Blast player and current Heat defender Nelson Santana leads the Heat in blocked shots with twenty-six this season, and also ranks tied for sixth in the MASL. Santana has shown up against his former team this season with eight points against the Blast this season, which ranks first on the team. Midfielder Danny DiPrima ranks second on the team in blocked shots with twenty-three this season. The Heat have an 8-13 record on the season while posting a 6-3 record at the PA Farm Show Arena. The Heat are coached by former Blast defender Pat Healey and Assistant Coach Lester Felician.
The Competition- Utica City FC
Depending on the results before Sunday, both the Blast and Utica City could enter Sunday's game with the same record. This game will be the second to last game for both teams, so the winner of this game will stamp their mark as division leaders with one game to play.
The trio of Slavisa Ubiparipovic, Joey Tavernese, and Bo Jelovac have terrorized the MASL, combining for 100 points this season. Forward Slavisa Ubiparipovic leads the team in goals (19), points (40), and points per game (2.1). Ubiparipovic leads the Eastern Division in assists this season with twenty-one. Joey Tavernese has totaled thirty-two points this season, which ranks second on the team. Tavernese and Mauricio Salles both recorded four power play goals this season on the third best power play offense in the league. Bo Jelovac has the third most goals and points on the team with seventeen and twenty-eight respectively.
Defender Darren Toby leads the league in blocked shots this season with thirty-four. Utica City has been able to post a third-best penalty kill percentage (65.7%) in the league this season, as Toby has been a consistent defensive force. Goalkeeper Andrew Coughlin has recorded the second most wins in the league this season, winning every game that Utica City has won. Utica City has a 15-6 record on the season, with an 8-2 record at home. Utica City FC is coached by Head Coach Ryan Hall.
Upcoming Games:
March 30th 7:05 p.m. ET Baltimore Blast @ Harrisburg Heat
March 31st 2:00 p.m. ET Baltimore Blast @ Utica City FC
April 6th 7:05 p.m. ET Baltimore Blast @ Florida Tropics
April 20th 6:00 p.m. ET Baltimore Blast vs. Utica City FC*
April 22nd 6:30 p.m. ET Baltimore Blast @ Utica City FC*
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