Blast Outlast Metrostars In Sudden Death Thriller 6-5
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario Canada (January 3, 2019) – The Baltimore Blast collect their fourth win of the season in an action-packed 6-5 game versus the Mississauga Metrostars.
The Metrostars were the first on the scoreboard as Damion Graham found Dwayne De Rosario in front of the net to make it 1-0 Metrostars. This was De Rosario’s seventh goal of the season and Graham’s second assist. The Blast responded two minutes later with Jonatas Melo’s seventh assist making its way to Jamie Thomas who scored his first goal of the season. A Blast blue card minutes later opened the door for the Metrostars to go back ahead, but the Blast defense held firm as the quarter ended 1-1.
Two minutes into the second quarter, Andrew Hoxie found Josh Hughes in front of the net to make it 2-1 Blast. Several minutes later, Andrew Hoxie played a beautiful pass off the boards to Josh Hughes, who fired the ball past the Metrostars goalkeeper. This was Hughes second goal of the night, which extended the Blast’s lead to 3-1. Both teams continued to fight for goals throughout the rest of the second quarter. A last-minute rally by the Metrostars was quelled by the Blast defense as they went into halftime leading 3-1.
The Blast entered the third quarter with a 3-1 lead, but quickly found themselves back in a defensive battle. Dwayne De Rosario scored his second goal of the game with ten minutes remaining to make it 3-2 Blast. Minutes later, Matthew Rios scored his second goal of the season from Damion Graham’s second assist of the night to even the score at 3. The Blast found themselves with opportunities towards the end of the third quarter, but could not convert as both teams went into the intermission level at 3 goals apiece.
Damion Graham took the lead back for the Metrostars to make it 4-3. An own goal from Josip Keran leveled the score back to 4 for the Blast. Jonatas Melo grabbed the go-ahead goal for the Blast with under five minutes remaining from Jamie Thomas. Marco Rodriguez leveled the score again for the Metrostars with two minutes remaining from a set piece goal. The Blast went into overtime tied 5-5 with the Metrostars. Jon Orlando scored the game winner for the Blast after a goal line scramble five minutes into overtime, for a final score of 6-5.
Four Blast players led the team in points with two points each, with Andrew Hoxie leading in assists with two and Josh Hughes leading in goals with two. The Blast out shot the Metrostars 38-23 and William Vanzela recorded nine saves in the winning effort.
The Blast are back in action Saturday, January 12th when they come back home to SECU Arena to face the Harrisburg Heat at 6:00 p.m. EST.
MASL Match Report
January 3, 2019
Baltimore Blast vs. Mississauga Metrostars
Venue: Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
Kickoff: 7:35 p.m. EST
Scoring Summary:
Goals 1 2 3 4 OT F
Baltimore 1 2 0 2 1 6
Mississauga 1 0 2 2 0 5