Posts Tagged ‘Chicago Riot’

Eat Some Candy and Vote for Me!

Posted by Staci on Monday, October 31st, 2011

Adrian Bumbut as Bob Marley and Scott Buete as...wait, why didn't Scott dress up for Halloween? (Photo Courtesy Adrian Bumbut's Cellphone)

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you got your candies and your scares and enjoyed the official end-of-the-rest-of-the-year-before-Christmas-season-starts. Not that I’m complaining. I like my Christmas Pandora station just as much as I like my Halloween Pandora station. (But neither as much as my Lil Wayne station.)

What did you dress up as? I dressed up as struggling writer.

Anyway, as advertised, the voting for the Mobbies opened today! So…

VOTE HERE!! VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR ME (us)!!

You’ll have to sign in or make a log-in to the Sun’s website, but it’s free and only takes approximately 30 seconds. You can vote once a day in my category – Best Sports Blog.

Vooooooooote!

And just know that I’m going to annoy you a lot via Facebook and the Twitter. Aaaand maybe in your inbox if I have your e-mail address. Sorry in advance, except not really.

***

In legitimate soccer news, the Blast announced today that they have signed Ptah Myers, perhaps just to prove me wrong when I said Akira Fitzgerald has the best name ever. I mean, Ptah sounds like a pharoah or something, right? If that’s not intimidating, I don’t know what is.

Myers is a veteran midfielder, and you probably recognize his name from his seven seasons with the now defunct Philadelphia KiXX. He spent last season with the Chicago Riot and also coaches the Philadelphia men’s soccer team.

This is a nice pickup for the Blast, whose veteran presence on the roster took a hit with the departures of Robbie Aristodemo, Pat Morris, Giuliano Celenza, and Billy Nelson.

***

Finally, big shoutout to my buddy Adrian “DJ B” Bumbut, who is taking time out of his busy schedule to support Care for Africa, a charitable organization working to aid the efforts in easing the pain caused by drought and famine in east Africa.

Bumbut is holding a soccer clinic to raise money to send help to Somalia. The clinic will be held December 14 at 7:30 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bel Air. For more information, and to support Bumbut’s efforts, visit Care for Africa’s facebook page.

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Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | 4 Comments »

Blast Secure Championship Chance

Posted by Staci on Sunday, March 13th, 2011

Max Ferdinand

2010 Rookie of the Year Max Ferdinand led the Blast in Sunday's 17-6 victory over the Missouri Comets...for a ticket to the MISL Championship. (Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Blast)

They put the pressure on themselves, dropping two games that could have secured a spot in the championship game, but the Baltimore Blast came through with a 17-6 win over the Missouri Comets Sunday in the final game of the 2010-2011 MISL regular season.

The victory, before 6,425 fans, crowned the Blast regular season league champions, and they will fight for the title March 25 at 1st Mariner Arena.

“Obviously this was the most important game of the season,” said head coach Danny Kelly. “This is why we play. We want to compete for a championship, and tonight we had the opportunity to secure the championship game in front of our home fans, and we weren’t going to let that opportunity slip by. … We don’t need any other motivation than that. We play to raise the trophy.”

Forward Max Ferdinand led the offensive effort with eight points on three assists and one each of a two-point and a three-point goal.

“We knew we had to come out and win today,” Ferdinand said. “We lost the last one, so we knew we had to come out with a lot of energy.”

With three games left in the regular season, the Blast needed only one win to host the championship game, but they lost in overtime to the Chicago Riot and then on the road to the Milwaukee Wave.

Winning was not a problem tonight though, with the Blast dominant. In addition to Ferdinand’s scores, Matt Watson, Robbie Aristodemo, Machel Millwood, and Pat Healey all contributed goals. Adauto Neto scored two goals as well, one a header into the net on the power play.

The Blast will face either the Milwaukee Wave or the Missouri Comets in the championship game.

***

I’ve been remiss in posting this last week, and haven’t mentioned that Pat Morris and Sagu have been named defender of the month and co-goalkeeper of the month, respectively, for February. Kudos!

And more importantly, happy belated birthday to Danny Kelly! The 42-year-old’s birthday was March 7; make sure you wish him a happy one. I think the team got him a pretty nice present…don’t you think so?

***

Tonight was Fan Appreciation Night and all the players signed autographs following the game. The matchup, however, started late because the Missouri Comets were a little late to the arena. I almost was too, due to major traffic from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but I’m pretty sure the Comets were in walking distance of the arena, coming from their hotel.

***

As part of the last game of the season, the Blast held its annual media/celebrity halftime game. Admittedly, I wasn’t feeling much like a celebrity tonight and I didn’t play, but it was good to see some old friends (I’m looking at you, Sean Welsh), and watch my out-of-shape colleagues run around.

Almost as fun as watching the Blast snag another chance at the championship.

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Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | 2 Comments »

No Pressure, But…

Posted by Staci on Sunday, March 6th, 2011

Machel Millwood

Forward Machel Milwood's hat trick Sunday afternoon was not enough to give the Blast a victory. (Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Blast)

If the Baltimore Blast want the regular season title, and the chance to host the MISL Championship game, they must win their final game of the season next Sunday against the Missouri Comets.

Going into Friday night’s game against the Chicago Riot, one more win was all the Blast needed to secure homefield advantage for the championship. But after dropping an overtime game to the Riot Friday, the Blast lost their second straight to the Milwaukee Wave today, 15-10.

Frustrating.

It was a lackluster performance by the Blast, who did not score until Max Ferdinand found the back of the net in the second quarter. But by then, the Wave had already jumped out to a 6-0 start on goals from resurrected veteran Greg Howes, playing in his second game this season, Giuliano Oliviero and Marco Leite.

Two of those goals came off assists from Marco Terminesi, who also contributed three goals of his own.

After Ferdinand scored in the second quarter, Machel Milwood scored his first of three goals off an assist from Pat Healey, the other two coming in the fourth quarter, one as a sixth attacker. Adauto Neto also contributed a goal for the Blast.

The Wave and the Blast, both 14-5 are tied for first in the MISL, keeping things interesting as the regular season winds down. Stay tuned!

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Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | No Comments »

Spoiled

Posted by Staci on Friday, March 4th, 2011

Pat Morris

Pat Morris may have stolen Giuliano Celenza's thunder. Just sayin'. (Courtesy of the Baltimore Blast)

When the Philadelphia KiXX folded prior to this season, Pat Morris could have retired. After all, this season was going to be the veteran’s 11th of an illustrious career.

But that career also included two championships with Philadelphia, and Morris wasn’t ready to give up the chance at drinking dirty backwash beer out of a beautiful championship cup.

Well, I don’t know that for sure, but he did want another chance at a championship, and he knew he’d have his best opportunity here in Charm City.

This is the part where I was going to tell you that thanks to Morris, the Blast are on their way to competing in another championship, but the last-place 5-14 Chicago Riot pulled out an overtime win against the home team before 9,118 at 1st Mariner Arena on Christian Youth Night.

Sigh.

Well, they did put up a good fight, with Morris leading the way with two back-to-back goals to start the game and a third for 3 points to complete the hat trick in the third quarter off an assist from Warren Ukah. Matt Watson scored Baltimore’s fourth goal.

Head coach Danny Kelly said the team did not play solidly on defense.

“The goals we gave up are not goals we can give up if you want to get where we want to go,” he said.

But it wasn’t enough because Ante Cop got them again in overtime, scoring a 2-point goal off an assist from Miodrag Djerisilo. I’m not a fan of cops either.

In order to gain homefield advantage for the championship, the Blast simply need to win either Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Wave or next Sunday’s game against the Missouri Comets.

I’d give you more playoff scenarios, but there’s someone on stage rapping about Jesus, and I’m in a hurry to get into my car and pop in some Weezy.

***

Prior to the game, the Blast honored the career of Giuliano Celenza, who will be retiring at the end of the season. The crowd showed their love with a standing ovation and a warm response to the video tribute on the Jumbotron.

Morris and captain Robbie Aristodemo were recognized as well. For staying injury-free this season, Aristodemo earned the IWIF Safety Saves Award. Morris received the Play Fair Award for the fewest amount of penalties this season.

***

The MISL announced earlier today that Wichita, Kansas, will be an indoor soccer home again. The Wings are set to play the 2011-2012 season under the ownership of Willis “Wink” Hartman, president of Hartman Oil.

What I wouldn’t give for a cool nickname like Wink.

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Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | 1 Comment »

Win Column for Blast, Bale

Posted by Staci on Sunday, February 27th, 2011

Max Ferdinand

Max Ferdinand scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Blast a 16-13 victory over the Chicago Riot. (Courtesy of the Baltimore Blast)

Welcome to tonight’s Oscar edition of Just for Kicks & Giggles. OK, to be honest, there isn’t anything Oscars about this post other than the fact that I am distractedly writing while watching the Oscars and these two things I’d like to say:

- What’s up, NYU?

- Was I the only one who had absolutely no idea that Christian Bale isn’t American? Shocked. I mean, this is almost as earth-shattering to me as the time when I learned that the top of a candy corn isn’t the white tip – that’s the bottom. (It was also quite distressing to me the day I found out that not everyone loves candy corn.) All my life I thought of candy corn as upside down, and all my life I thought of Christian Bale as not British. Who knew?

Like Mr. Bale, the Blast had a win tonight, defeating the Chicago Riot 16-13, and extending their win streak to eight games. Forward Max Ferdinand scored the game-winning three-point goal in overtime, after scoring a power play goal in the third quarter off an assist from Pat Healey.

Machel Millwood, who scored the first Baltimore goal of the game, also scored twice, as did Matt Watson. Warren Ukah also contributed a three-point goal in the close contest.

The Blast are now 14-3 and need one more win to secure the regular season title and to earn home-field advantage in this year’s MISL championship.

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Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | 1 Comment »

Pat Trick (Get It?)

Posted by Staci on Monday, January 31st, 2011

Pat Healey

MISL Player of the Week? You're looking at him. (Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Blast)

Well, if you had any doubts about him, now’s the time to eat crow.

Actually, to be honest, you probably should have done that a long time ago. He’s quiet and unassuming, but he’s making himself hard to miss. So in case you haven’t chowed down yet, here’s what you’re getting from third-year midfielder Pat Healey, your MISL Player of the Week.

-Four goals (two on power plays) and two assists in this weekend’s home-and-home series against the Chicago Riot. Which is partly why I say Chicago hates Pats.

-This is the second time this month (alone) the 2009 Rookie of the Year has been named Player of the Week.

–Who leads the Blast in scoring? Not Machel Millwood. Not Adauto Neto. Not even Max Ferdinand. Healey leads the team with 43 points on 16 goals and 10 assists. He’s third in the league as well, behind Missouri’s Byron Alvarez and Omaha’s Chile Farias.

-Also, he happens to just be a really nice guy. Well done, Pat.

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    Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | 2 Comments »

    Attack of the Pats

    Posted by Staci on Sunday, January 30th, 2011

    Pat Morris

    With two fourth quarter goals, defender Pat Morris had five of the Blast's 15 points. (Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Blast)

    You kind of have to feel for the Chicago Riot. With a 2-9 record after tonight’s loss to the 10-3 Baltimore Blast, they’re seven games out of first place, and they pretty much spent the weekend coming close to beating the Blast, but not quite getting there.

    You have to feel bad for them, right? Or not. The Blast, on a four-game winning streak, are now tied with the diabolical Milwaukee Wave for first place in the MISL. (Are they really diabolical? I don’t know, but it sounded good.)

    Chicago midfielder Miodrag Djerisilo scored the only goal of the first quarter and teammate Eric Duda scored next in the second. But the Blast picked things up with goals from Pat Healey, Giuliano Celenza and Worteh Sampson to close out the half with the lead.

    Healey got the second half started with his second goal before Chicago scored three in a row. But a contribution from Warren Ukah and two from Pat Morris, one a 3-pointer, kept the Blast on top.

    I’m betting Chicago fans hate the name “Pat” right now.

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    Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | 3 Comments »

    Blast Edge Out Riot, 18-17

    Posted by Staci on Saturday, January 29th, 2011

    Pat Healey

    Who's on fire? This guy. (Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Blast)

    It wasn’t pretty, but the Baltimore Blast (9-3) wrapped up a nail-biter against the Chicago Riot (2-8), winning 18-17. The Blast remain a half game behind the Milwaukee Wave, who won two in a row last night and tonight.

    The Blast looked…well, a little sloppy when the Riot’s Anthony Maher put a beautiful header in the net 2:48 into the game. Lucio Gonzaga quickly answered with one of his own on an assist from Machel Millwood, who returned tonight from a hamstring injury. But Chicago’s Miodrag Djerisilo (say that three times fast) scored easily on goalkeeper Sagu through a Swiss cheese Blast defense. (Mmmm. Swiss cheese.)

    But then Baltimore got it together and scored an onslaught of goals with contributions from a number of different players, continuing last week’s total team effort. Led by Pat Healey, who had two goals, his first on a power play in the first quarter, and Gonzaga who scored two as well, the 6,916 fans in attendance also witnessed first-half goals from Mike Lookingland, Carlos Garcia, Worteh Sampson, and Pat Morris, bringing the score to 14-6 at the half.

    Baltimore’s offense cooled down (slash melted down) in the second half while the Chicago offense heated up. Midfielder Semir Mesanovic scored a quick 3-pointer for the Riot 27 seconds in. Gonzaga knocked in a pass from Sampson 9:14 into the quarter, and those remained the only two goals of a relatively quiet third.

    “We just got complacent,” said assistant coach and birthday boy David Bascome. “And that’s the most frustrating thing. You can’t get complacent in these games.”

    Djerisilo started the fourth quarter with his second goal of the game off an assist from Maher, who finished the game with two goals and three assists, narrowing the margin to five points. Penalized for pushing, Marco Sullo earned two minutes in the box and gave the Blast a shootout attempt, which Giuliano Celenza easily cashed in on.

    Maher answered with a 2-pointer six seconds later and things got interesting. Chicago’s Eric Lukin scored off a Maher assist, and Sandre Naumoski scored off Maher’s third assist to bring the game within a point.

    “It tends to happen when you get out to a big lead against a last place team,” said team captain Robbie Aristodemo. “You kind of figure you’ve got the game in the bag and in indoor, things happen so fast. You have to give them credit, but we took our foot off the pedal and obviously gave them hope.”

    The Blast hung on, though, to come out on top. They will travel to Chicago tomorrow night for the second game of the home-and-home.

    I’d love to give you a quote from head coach Danny Kelly, but he peaced out before the press made it back to the locker room. Big date, DK?

    P.S. Am I really going to have to reward myself as the winner of the caption contest? Come on, people! It’s like the greatest photo ever.

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    Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | 1 Comment »

    Cop Got ‘Em

    Posted by Staci on Monday, January 17th, 2011

    Pat Healey

    Pat Healey's goal and two assists were not enough to give the Blast a victory over the Chicago Riot. (Photo courtesy of the Baltimore Blast)

    A severely weakened Baltimore Blast squad headed to Chicago Sunday night, but the last place Riot (2-6) edged out the Blast, 14-12, thanks to a 3-pointer from goalkeeper Ante Cop with 23 seconds left in the game. With the loss, the Blast falls to 6-3, a full game in second place behind the 7-2 Milwaukee Wave.

    Having been suspended for an on-field altercation, the Blast were without forward Lucio Gonzaga, defender Mike Lookingland and forward Warren Ukah. Goalkeeper Sagu and forward Adauto Neto were also absent due to injury.

    Despite the diminished roster, the Blast got off to a strong start with a goal each from team DJ Adrian Bumbut and Matt Watson. But Chicago put three in the net during the second quarter before the Blast could score again, thanks to Pat Morris on one of the assists from Pat Healey.

    Worteh Sampson and Max Ferdinand scored unassisted goals in the third quarter, while Healey contributed one in the fourth, but it was ultimately Novi Marojevic and Cop’s fourth quarter 3-point goals that decided the game in the Riot’s favor.

    It was a rough weekend all around for Baltimore sports fans. Le sigh.

    The Blast take on the Wave Friday night at 1st Mariner Arena. Get your butts there, it’s bound to be a good one.

    P.S. Ante Cop’s name would be so much cooler if it was “Anti.”

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    Posted in Baltimore Blast, MISL | No Comments »