Blast Players Named to All MASL Honorable Mention and Top Newcomer Lists
May 1, 2019 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Ibrahima Keita of the Baltimore Blast
(Baltimore Blast, Credit: Sabina Moran)
(Baltimore, MD) The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) announced today the All MASL Honorable Mentions and All MASL Top Newcomers for the 2018-19 season. Those selected as an All MASL Top Newcomer must not have played in more than five games in any prior MASL, MISL, or PASL season. Voting was available to all MASL players, staff, head coaches, and general managers. This season, Blast forward Vini Dantas was selected to the All MASL Honorable Mentions, while Defender Ibrahima Keita earned All MASL Top Newcomers honors.
Despite missing one-third of the season due to injury, Dantas posted a career-high 23 goals in his fifth season. He finished second on the team for points with 31 behind midfielder Jonatas Melo. Dantas posted four hat-tricks this season, accounting for more than half of his goals this year. In the playoffs, Dantas placed second on the team in points with five and goals with three. He was selected as the SporTurf Week Eight Player of the Week earlier this season, and collected four Team of the Week selections.
Ibrahima Keita previously played for Connecticut-based clubs Newtown Pride FC and the Elm City Express. Keita made his MASL debut on January 3rd at Mississauga, where he had two blocks in the 6-5 overtime victory. He scored his first goal on February 15th versus the Mississauga Metrostars. He accumulated four points from four goals this season, and often featured regularly in the team. Keita also seven blocks and one game-winning goal against the Florida Tropics on April 6th.
The All MASL Second and Third teams will be announced Thursday May 2nd, while the All MASL First Team and Major Award Nominees will be announced Friday May 3rd.
ALL-MASL HONORABLE MENTION
F - Vinicius Dantas - Baltimore Blast
F - Moises Gonzalez - RGV Barracudas
F - Kraig Chiles - San Diego Sockers
F - Justin Stinson - St Louis Ambush
M - Ricardo Carvalho - Harrisburg Heat
M - Angel Curiel - Milwaukee Wave
M - Gordy Gurson - Orlando SeaWolves
D - John Sosa - Kansas City Comets
D - Robert Palmer - Kansas City Comets
D - Miguel Vaca - Monterrey Flash
D - Damian Garcia - Monterrey Flash
D - Emmanuel Aguirre - RGV Barracudas
D - Luis "Pee Wee" Ortega - San Diego Sockers
D - Jake Schindler - Utica City FC
GK - Chris Toth - Ontario Fury
GK - Paulo Nascimento - St Louis Ambush
GK - Danny Waltman - Tacoma Stars
ALL-MASL TOP NEWCOMERS
F - Tavoy Morgan - Harrisburg Heat
F - Kevin Ellis - Kansas City Comets
F - Zach Reget - St Louis Ambush
F - Luis RamÃrez - RGV Barracudas
M - Molham Babouli - Mississauga MetroStars
M - Landon Donovan - San Diego Sockers
M - Jermaine Jones - Ontario Fury
D - Magui Souza - St Louis Ambush
D - Felipe Silva - St Louis Ambush
D - William Eskay - Harrisburg Heat
D - Ibrahima Keita - Baltimore Blast
D - Mitchell Cardenas - RGV Barracudas
GK - William Banahene - Harrisburg Heat
Images from this story
 Vini Dantas of the Baltimore Blast with possession against the Kansas City Comets (Sabina Moran) |
 Ibrahima Keita of the Baltimore Blast (Sabina Moran) |
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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from May 1, 2019
- Three Comets Earn Postseason Honors - Kansas City Comets
- Jake Schindler Named All-MASL Honorable Mention - Utica City FC
- Blast Players Named to All MASL Honorable Mention and Top Newcomer Lists - Baltimore Blast
- MASL Announces First Set of Postseason Awards - MASL
- MASL Announces Schedule for Ron Newman Cup Championship Week - MASL
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