BLAST OPEN SEASON WITH WIN OVER HEAT

Dantas and Donatelli Lead Blast to 11-6 Victory

The Baltimore Blast began their championship defense on Saturday night in Harrisburg. In the opening game of the season for both teams the Blast defeated the Heat 11-6.

Both teams came out with high energy in the first quarter. The first Blast goal of the season came from Vini Dantas at the 5:47 mark of the first quarter. The Heat would get on the board at the 2:54 mark with a goal from Tom Mellor. With only 21 seconds left in the quarter the Heat would score again when Dominic Francis put a ball in the back of the net. At the end of the first the Blast trailed 2-1.

The Blast offense came to life in the second quarter with three goals. Andrew Hoxie tied the game at 2 off an assist from Nelson Santana.The Blast regained the lead at the 1:47 mark when Vini Dantas recorded his second goal of the game assisted by Tony Donatelli. Before the end of the half the Blast extended their lead with a goal from Geaton Caltabiano assisted by Dantas. Blast goalkeeper, William Vanzela, recorded 3 saves in the half and the Blast went into the locker room leading 4-2.

The Blast came out in the second half and took control of the game with five straight goals. Jereme Raley recorded a goal to kick off the third quarter followed by Andrew Hoxie recording a power play goal to extend the Blast lead. Vini Dantas would complete the hat trick at the 6:05 mark but didn’t stop there. Minutes later Dantas would record his 4th goal of the game assisted by Tony Donatelli to put the Blast up 8-2. Donatelli got in on the scoring when he found the back of the net with just over a minute remaining in the quarter. After a late Heat goal the Blast entered the final quarter leading 9-3.

Less than two minutes into the final quarter Geaton Caltabiano recorded his second goal of the night assisted by Jordan Becker. Josh Hughes recorded his first Blast goal at the 10:08 mark off an assist from Tony Donatelli. This was Donatelli’s fourth assist of the night. The final three goals were scored by the Heat but it would not be enough as the Blast defeated the Heat 11-6.

The Blast were led by offensively by Vini Dantas who recorded 4 goals and an assist and Tony Donatelli who recorded 4 assists and added a goal. William Vanzela recorded 5 saves in the victory.