By Krystina Lucido

It seemed to start out like a repeat of last year’s championship matchup --60 minutes littered with penalties and rough play to rival that of any rugby match -- but the Blast’s Friday the 13th rematch against Rockford didn’t end quite the same.

With just over five minutes remaining in overtime, Rockford defender Chris Brisson kicked a goal to the top right corner of the post that bounced right back, giving the 9,614 attending the illusion the goal hadn’t made it in. But it counted, giving Rockford the 10-8 win.

Shoddy play in the first half led to a first half score of 4-2. Looking a little rusty, many same-colored jerseys crowded the ball, toes didn’t stretch quite far enough and almost zero man-to-man coverage defined the first half.

“We just weren’t good enough tonight,” Blast head coach Danny Kelly said. “In the first half, we didn’t do the little things -- we lost runners, our communication wasn’t good enough. It just wasn’t good in a lot of ways. I expect more from those guys in the locker room; I think they expect more from themselves.

“In the second half we played a little bit better -- we had chances, we had opportunities. We could have won the game, but I don’t know if we deserved it. We just have to play better.”

In front of dedicated fans that came to celebrate the unveiling of the championship banner from last season’s crown was a display atypical of the Blast of old.

“It’s always disappointing to lose, especially on such a special night, but it comes down to winning and losing,” said 13-year veteran Denison Cabral. “Nobody wants to lose but they came with more energy than we did. That can’t happen; that’s not the Blast; that’s not how we play.”

A disappointing loss for the Blast to say the least, however, the team went head-to-head with the Rampage most of the game; neither team let the other hold a lead for long.

Cabral, the Blast goal-scoring machine, scored the first one of the night on an assist from rookie Rod Dyachenko 3:47 into the first quarter, but the Blast didn’t get a minute to enjoy it when Bato Radoncic knocked one past Sagu to tie it up. 

A second one by Matthew Stewart slipped right past Sagu’s fingers with 6:20 left in the first for Rockford’s 4-2 lead going into the second half.

But it was just seconds into the second quarter when Blast forward Machel Millwood kicked the ball to the center where Cabral was in the right place to pick it up and squeeze it past Rampage goalie Danny Waltman whose curly top waved in frustration.

Rockford was on a rampage and certainly did not look as if they wanted to give up a win as easily as they did in April.

“I definitely think Rockford came to play,” Kelly said. “The first half they had us on our heels, but again that was more of our own doing. We were more reactionary then taking the game to them. We were content to let them take the game to us and you can’t do that. Rockford is a very good team and we know every time we play them it’s going to be a battle and this time was no different. I think it just took us longer to show up tonight.”

A scoreless third quarter was a sign at least the Blast defense had arrived. And with the game tied at 4-4 going into the fourth, the offense made it sudden death.

Rockford’s Gary Brooks snuck one in the far right corner past Sagu for two points and a 6-4 lead, but Pat Healey retaliated, knocking one right across the goal -- and right across Waltman’s hands -- into the corner.

Rockford defender Ibrahim Kante brought Rockford’s total to eight when Sagu went left and the ball went right with just 3:15 left on the clock. But again, the Blast didn’t let the Rampage think they had won that easily when Celenza hit a shot straight up and in to tie it.

Overtime play sealed the deal for Rockford and reminded the Blast they are not going to get it easy this season.

“For the first 30 minutes we just did not play well,” Kelly said. “We just weren’t good enough. In the second half I thought we played a bit better and created some chances, but the game is 60 minutes not 30. …

“Every team is coming for us and anything less than your best is not going to be good enough. … If you want to defend that title, it’s going to take everything you have, every time you step out on that court.”

Posted: November 14, 2009