Blast defeat Comets 7-4 behind three-point performances from Melo, Pereira

TOWSON, Md. (March 19, 2023) – The Baltimore Blast (11-7-3) have officially clinched a playoff berth in the MASL playoffs after defeating the Kansas City Comets (9-9-4).

The Blast got out to an early three-goal lead, but the Comets stormed back. A three-goal fourth quarter from Baltimore put the game out of reach, and they clinched at least a No. 5 seed in the MASL Playoffs. 

It took less than two minutes before Jamie Thomas scored for the Blast, with Moises Gonzalez picking up the assist. There were no goals until the quarter's final minute when the Blast took a 2-0 lead after Juan Pereira netted one that deflected off a Comets player. 

Nine seconds later, Jonatas Melo headed a deflection into Tony Donatelli, and he booted it in for the goal. The first quarter ended with the Blast leading 3-0.

Kansas City got on the board with less than seven minutes remaining in the half. Zach Reget assisted on the goal to Adrian Guttierez Llorente. 

Reget picked up his second assist of the night a couple of minutes later as the Comets cut the deficit to 3-2. Christian Anderaos was credited with the goal. The Blast went into halftime up 3-2 after the two-goal quarter from the Comets. 

Kansas City tied the game at three after Lucas Sousa took his miss and put it back into the goal. With six seconds left in the third quarter, Thomas picked up an assist after sending it to Pereira for the goal. Pereira had a strong two-game homestand, scoring four goals over the stretch.

The Blast led 4-3 at the end of the third quarter. The final quarter was quiet until the 7:24 mark, when Melo gave it to Donatelli for their second connection of the night. The Blast took a 5-3 lead.

Kansas City had a chance to cut the deficit to one, but Vanzela came running up on a penalty shot and blocked the ball before Reget got a shot off. The Blast penalty kill was successful.

Kansas City brought in a sixth attacker with around four minutes remaining in the game. A string of physical plays gave Baltimore a five-on-three advantage, and on the free kick, Pereira floated it to Gonzalez, who struck the ball into the goal. The Comets cut the game to 6-4, but Roque responded with a header to Melo, who then headed it into the goal. 

Baltimore's late surge gave them a 7-4 win. 

The Blast's next game will be on Saturday when they travel to Texas to face the Mesquite Outlaws.