MISL 2 Baltimore Blast

Baltimore Blast Weekly

Published on October 12, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Baltimore Blast News Release


New-Look Blast:

The Blast takes the field this season with a new look, a new assistant coach and several new players. Tim Wittman returns for his second season as head coach of the team and will work in tandem with his former teammate, Max Thompson, to lead the Blast from the bench. Thompson, a member of the original Blast from 1983-85, has re-joined the organization, this time as the team's assistant coach. Several new players will take the field for the Blast this season, the most notable being goalkeeper Sagu, who the Blast acquired just days before the start of the season in a trade with the Cleveland Force. Sagu, a five-season veteran of indoor soccer, led the Dallas Sidekicks to 14 regular-season wins last year before a groin injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Defender Scott Schweitzer is also playing in his first season in a Blast uniform, though the Blast acquired his rights in a trade with Cleveland in 2001. Schweitzer spent seven seasons with the then-Cleveland Crunch before deciding to concentrate his efforts on his outdoor A-League career. The season opener was Schweitzer's first indoor game since the conclusion of the 2000-01 season. Adilson DeLima also took the field in San Diego (10/9) for the first time as a member of the Baltimore Blast.

In addition to the many new players, several players are missing from last season's roster. Most notably again is the goalkeeper change with Sagu taking the place of Scott Hileman. Hileman retired in May after winning his second consecutive MISL Championship with the Blast. Defender Dewan Bader also chose to retire, ending his 10-year indoor career, and neither Rich Daughtridge nor Karim Moumban will take the field for the Blast this season. Moumban now serves as the Blast goalkeeper coach, lending his knowledge of the position to Sagu and Brian Rowland. Also missing this year is forward Chris Handsor and defender Wendell Regis. The Blast dealt Handsor to Cleveland earlier this month in exchange for Sagu.

Home Opener:

The Blast will be celebrating its 2004 MISL Championship Saturday, October 16 with a pregame championship banner-raising and ring-presentation ceremony. Heading into this weekend's game, Baltimore is 9-3 in home openers (since the 1992-93 season).

Baltimore vs. San Diego:

The Blast lost last weekend, 5-3, in San Diego in the first game of the 2004-05 MISL season. The teams will face off again, this Saturday night in Baltimore's home opener. Steve Butcher led the Sockers last weekend against the Blast with two goals and one assist (three points) while P.J. Wakefield led the Blast with two assists on the night. Rookie goalkeeper Brian Rowland made the first start of his career in San Diego, allowing four goals and stopping 11 of the 15 shots he faced.

Date Location Result
10/9 @ San Diego Sockers, 5-3
10/16 Baltimore
2/5 Baltimore
2/26 @ San Diego

Season Openers:

With last weekend's 5-3 loss to the Sockers, the Blast is 9-4 in opening-night games since the 1992-93 season. The Blast lost to the Philadelphia KiXX, 5-3, last season at home to start the championship 2004 season. Baltimore's two other season-opening losses came in Philadelphia (21-19 in overtime) to start the 1997-1998 season and at home against Harrisburg, 19-18, to start the 1998-99 season. This season marked just the third time the team has opened the season on the road in the franchise's 13 years of play (since the team joined the NPSL for the 1992-93 season). Baltimore is now 1-2 in opening games on the road with a 13-11 win in Milwaukee to start the 1992-93 season, the 21-19 loss to Philadelphia in 1997 and last this year's 5-3 loss in San Diego.

Baltimore All-Time Regular-Season Records:
Season Regular-Season Record Postseason
1992-93 27-13 0-2
1993-94 26-14 0-2
1994-95 23-17 1-2
1995-96 25-15 3-3
1996-97 21-19 3-2
1997-98 12-28 DNQ
1998-99 19-21 DNQ
1999-00 26-18 2-2
2000-01 22-18 3-2
2001-02 18-26 0-1
2002-03 18-18 4-1
2003-04 25-11 1-0
2004-05 0-1 0-0

Injury Report:
Player David Bascome Injury Knee Status Questionable Total Games Missed (Due to Injury) 1 1

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, October 12 – Practice - 10 a.m. – Du Burns Arena
Wednesday, October 13 – Practice - 4 p.m. – 1st Mariner Arena
Thursday, October 14 – Practice - 10 a.m. – 1st Mariner Arena
Friday, October 15 – Practice - 10 a.m. – 1st Mariner Arena
Saturday, October 16 - Game vs. San Diego Sockers, 7:35 p.m.
Sunday, October 17 – Day Off
*Practice times and location are subject to change; to confirm times and locations, call the Blast office at 410-558-4294

For Tickets:

Blast season tickets and mini-plans are on sale now by calling the Blast office at 410-73-BLAST. Single-game tickets cost $20 and $17 and are available at the 1st Mariner Arena Box Office and by calling TicketMaster at 410-547-SEAT or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information on all Blast tickets, call the Blast office at 410-73-BLAST.

Check out the Baltimore Blast Statistics

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from October 12, 2004


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