Baltimore Blast record season-high 13 goals in dismantling of Harrisburg Heat

TOWSON, Md. (December 29, 2023) – The Baltimore Blast picked up its first home of the season, 13-4, in front of over 1,700 fans, and with the Champions League Trophy on display at TU Arena. 

It didn’t take long for Baltimore to score, with Moises Gonzalez chipping in a cross from Victor Pareiras in the game’s first four minutes. The Heat evened the game up in the later stages of the first quarter, but Jairo Guevara gave Baltimore the lead with an assist by Adriano Dos Santos.

The Blast scored again at the beginning of the second quarter to take a 3-1 lead after Parreiras sent the ball through the defender and goalie’s legs. The floodgates opened in the second quarter, with Patrick Thompson picking up a goal and then Josh Hughes minutes later. The pair of scorers gave Baltimore a 5-2 lead.

Raphael Araujo joined in on the scoring for Baltimore with less than three minutes to go in the half. His goal gave Baltimore a 6-2 lead. Dos Santos had a big half for Baltimore, racking up three assists. Parreiras recorded a goal and an assist. No player for Harrisburg had more than one point.

Baltimore did not take its foot off the gas in the third quarter, with Parreiras and Juan Pereira scoring in the quarter’s first seven minutes. Gonzalez and Araujo picked up assists. Minutes later, Heat goalkeeper Grant Glorioso mishandled a shot. Araujo was there for the rebound and scored his second goal.

Josh Hughes scored in the third quarter’s final minute to give the Blast a 10-3 lead going into the fourth quarter. Fifteen seconds into the fourth quarter, Pereira scored again with Jamie Thomas assisting on the shot.

Tony Donatelli netted a goal off a free kick to give Baltimore a 12-3 lead. Harrisburg and Baltimore each scored another goal in the fourth quarter, and Baltimore walked away with its highest goals scored and lowest goals allowed figures on the season.