BLAST BREEZE PAST TROPICS 12-4 IN FLORIDA

LAKELAND, FL – The Florida Tropics set another record Sunday, just not the kind you like to take credit for. 

The Baltimore Blast came into the RP Funding Center and manhandled the Tropics, 12-4. It was the most goals conceded at home in Florida’s six-year history in the Major Arena Soccer League. 

For Florida, it was only their second regulation loss in 19 starts this year, and they have already clinched the Eastern Division regular season title over Baltimore, who will finish second in the division. It also snapped a six-game Tropics win streak. Baltimore improved to 11-8-0. 

Taylor Walter Bond actually got Florida the lead midway through the first quarter, but the Blast reeled off six unanswered to lead 6-1 at intermission. Ricardo Carvalho scored 49 seconds in the third quarter to bring Florida to within four goals, but they got no closer, effectively playing the entire fourth-quarter with the sixth attacker. 

Jonatas Melo had four goals and three assists to lead the Baltimore attack. Tony Donatelli had three goals and three assist while Jereme Raley also had a hat trick. Other Blast goals came from Ibrahima Keita and Josh Huges. The Tropics got additional goals from Victor Parreiras and Drew Ruggles. 

The Tropics now hit the road for the next four – starting Friday night in Harrisburg with stops in Utica (March 27), Ontario (March 30), and San Diego (March 31) – before returning home to finish the regular season on April 3 in a rematch against the Blast. 

The Tropics will host its first-ever home playoff game the weekend of April 8-10, with the opponent and exact date to be determined. 

For more information, visit www.fltropics.com.