Baltimore Blast v. Harrisburg Heat Game Preview
March 15, 2019 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Baltimore Blast @ Harrisburg Heat
Sunday March 17th @ PA Farm Show Arena 5:05 p.m EST
You can watch the game on MASLTV: https://www.maslsoccer.com/masltv
Baltimore Blast: 12-6
Second place in the Eastern Division.
Harrrisburg Heat: 7-11
Third place in the Eastern Division.
All-time Series: Baltimore leads 60-37
Season Series: Baltimore leads 3-1
Baltimore Players to Watch:
The Blast can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over Harrisburg this weekend. Midfielder Jonatas Melo leads the Blast in points this season (31) and has tallied ten points in his last three games. Melo also leads the team in assists after a five assist performance in the 10-9 victory versus Kansas City. Melo ranks third in the Eastern Division in points and assists for the 2018-19 campaign. Forward Vini Dantas leads the team in goals with twenty after his five goal game versus the Comets, ranking second in the Eastern Division. Dantas also leads the team in points per game with two points per game and has eight in his last three games. Tony Donatelli continues to be one of the best-rounded players in the league with nineteen points on nine goals and ten assists, with twelve blocked shots as well.
The Blast defense has been consistently one of the best in the MASL this season, ranking fifth in the MASL with 4.89 goals allowed per game. A large part of this has to do with defenders Jereme Raley and Mike Deasel, both of which lead the team in blocked shots with fourteen this season. Goalkeeper William Vanzela continues to perform at a high level in his seventh season with the Blast. Vanzela has recorded a 4.57 goals against average and a .723 save percentage this season, which both rank fifth in the MASL. The Blast currently have a 12-6 record on the season with a 4-4 record away from home this season.
The Blast will be without Lucas Roque and Daniel Peruzzi 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
Harrisburg faces a must-win game, in which a win will keep their playoff hopes alive. Despite a slow start to their 2018-19 season, Harrisburg has been able to fight back into the playoff picture by winning four of their last six games, including a win over Milwaukee. Ricardo Carvalho continues to be one of Harrisburg's most dangerous players, tallying thirty-seven points on the season, which is second in the Eastern Division. Carvalho also leads the team in goals (22), assists (15), and points per game (2.2), only having been held to zero points twice this season. Forward Tavoy Morgan ranks second on the Heat in goals scored (16) and points (23) and has averaged nearly two points a game over his last seven games. Daniel Villela has recorded eleven assists this season, ranking second on the team.
Former Blast player and current Heat defender Nelson Santana has recorded twenty-five blocked shots on the season, which ranks second in the MASL. Defender Danny DiPrima ranks fourth in the Eastern Division with nineteen blocks. Harrisburg have been able to get goals from the power play, with a 46.2% power play success rate. Tom Mellor leads the team and ranks second in the MASL with four power play goals and accounts for one-third of the team's power play goals this season. The Heat have a 7-11 record overall and a 5-1 record at home this season.
The Harrisburg Heat are coached by Head Coach Pat Healey and Assistant Coach Lester Felician.
Upcoming Games:
March 22nd 7:30 p.m. EST Baltimore Blast vs. Orlando SeaWolves
March 24th 3:00 p.m. EST Baltimore Blast vs. Mississauga Metrostars
March 30th 7:05 p.m. EST Baltimore Blast vs. Harrisburg Heat
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