Baltimore Blast
Full name | Baltimore Blast | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Blast | ||
Founded | 1992 (as Baltimore Spirit) | ||
Stadium | SECU Arena[1] | ||
Capacity | 3,580 | ||
Chairman | Edwin F. Hale, Sr.[2] | ||
Coach | David Bascome | ||
League | Major Arena Soccer League | ||
2022–23 | 2nd, Eastern Division Playoffs: Ron Newman Cup Runner-up | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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The Baltimore Blast is an American professional
Including one championship victory as the original Baltimore Blast, the team has won 10 championships since its founding in 1980. Beginning with the 2017-2018 season, home games have been played at Towson University's SECU Arena. The Blast previously played at Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore. Team colors are red and gold. Their current head coach is David Bascome, who took over from Danny Kelly who held the position for 15 years.[4]
History
NPSL, MISL II and MISL III years
The team was founded by
Shift to MASL
One day after the 2013–2014 MISL Championship final, USL President Tim Holt announced a number of teams would not be returning to the MISL the following year.
In their first two seasons as a member of MASL, the Blast would win 33 out of 39 games. They placed first in the Eastern Division in both the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons, played in the 2015 and 2016 championship series and won the 2016 series over Soles de Sonora two games to none. The Blast repeated as Newman Cup Champions in 2017, again winning the final series over Soles de Sonora two games to one. In 2018, the Blast won their third straight championship, defeating the Monterrey Flash 4-3 in the final.
Attempted launch of the IPL
On February 18, 2016, Blast owner Ed Hale announced his intentions to leave the Major Arena Soccer League and form a new league.[11]
On May 3, 2016, the expansion franchise
On August 29, 2016, the Blast, Heat, Ambush re-entered the MASL with the expansion Tropics joining.[14] The move effectively folded the IPL as no teams remained in the league.
After rejoining the MASL, the Blast would go on to win their second Eastern Division championship and MASL championship over Soles de Sonora for the second year in a row.
Move to SECU Arena
The Blast announced in August 2017 that they would move from the
Players
2021–22 roster
Active players
- As of 6 July 2020 [17]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Inactive players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
- David Bascome – Head coach, (2020–present)[18]
Retired numbers
Player | Number |
---|---|
Stan Stamenkovic
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#10 |
Hall of Fame
Position | Person | Inducted |
---|---|---|
Coach | Kenny Cooper | 2004 |
FW | Stan Stamenkovic
|
2004 |
DF | Mike Stankovic | 2004 |
DF | Bruce Savage | 2005 |
N/A | Earl Foreman | 2005 |
FW | Tim Wittman | 2005 |
FW | Joey Fink | 2006 |
FW | Dave MacWilliams | 2006 |
FW | Heinz Wirtz | 2007 |
FW | Domenic Mobilio | 2008 |
GK | Keith Van Eron | 2008 |
FW | Billy Ronson | 2009 |
DF | Richard Chinapoo | 2009 |
FW | Pat Ercoli | 2010 |
GK | Cris Vaccaro | 2010 |
DF | Doug Neely | 2011 |
FW | Dan Counce | 2012 |
DF | Rusty Troy | 2012 |
FW | Tarik Walker | 2013 |
MF | Denison Cabral | 2014 |
DF | Lance Johnson | 2015 |
MF/Coach | Danny Kelly | 2017 |
GK | Sagu | 2018 |
DF | PJ Wakefield | 2019 |
FW | Giuliano Celenza | 2019 |
MF | Lee Tschantret | 2020 |
FW/Coach | David Bascome | 2020 |
Trainer | Marty McGinty | 2020 |
Notable former players
- Denison Cabral
- Jason Dieter
- Levi Houapeu
- Jason Maricle
- Tony McPeak
- Tino Nuñez
- Onua Obasi
- Rusty Troy
- Barry Stitz
- PJ Wakefield
- Tarik Walker
Year-by-year
Year | League | W | L | Win% | GF | GA | GF/G | GA/G | Finish | Playoffs | W | L | Avg. attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992–93 | NPSL II | 27 | 13 | .675 | 309 | 256 | 7.73 | 6.40 | 1st American | Quarterfinal | 0 | 2 | 5,444 |
1993–94 | NPSL II | 26 | 14 | .650 | 322 | 293 | 8.05 | 7.33 | 1st American | First Round | 0 | 2 | 6,471 |
1994–95 | NPSL II | 23 | 17 | .575 | 317 | 307 | 7.93 | 7.68 | 3rd American | First Round | 1 | 2 | 5,733 |
1995–96 | NPSL II | 25 | 15 | .625 | 306 | 258 | 7.65 | 6.45 | 2nd American | Division Semifinal | 3 | 3 | 5,037 |
1996–97 | NPSL II | 20 | 20 | .500 | 260 | 258 | 6.50 | 6.45 | 2nd East | Conference Semifinal | 3 | 2 | 4,760 |
1997–98 | NPSL II | 12 | 28 | .300 | 250 | 300 | 6.25 | 7.50 | 3rd East | DNQ | — | — | 5,001 |
1998–99 | NPSL II | 19 | 21 | .475 | 271 | 290 | 6.78 | 7.25 | 3rd East | DNQ | — | — | 4,795 |
1999–2000 | NPSL II
|
26 | 18 | .591 | 339 | 275 | 7.70 | 6.25 | 1st East | Conference Final | 2 | 2 | 5,445 |
2000–01 | NPSL II | 22 | 18 | .550 | 300 | 260 | 7.50 | 6.50 | 3rd American | Conference Final | 3 | 2 | 5,376 |
2001–02 | MISL II | 18 | 26 | .409 | 265 | 274 | 6.02 | 6.23 | 4th MISL | Semifinal | 0 | 1 | 4,998 |
2002–03 | MISL II | 18 | 18 | .500 | 189 | 182 | 5.25 | 5.06 | 3rd Eastern | Champions | 4 | 1 | 5,559 |
2003–04 | MISL II | 25 | 11 | .694 | 241 | 192 | 6.69 | 5.33 | 1st Eastern | Champions | 4 | 0 | 6,330 |
2004–05 | MISL II | 15 | 24 | .385 | 205 | 238 | 5.26 | 6.10 | 7th MISL | DNQ | — | — | 5,752 |
2005–06 | MISL II | 17 | 13 | .567 | 184 | 168 | 6.13 | 5.60 | 2nd MISL | Champions | 4 | 2 | 7,005 |
2006–07 | MISL II | 15 | 15 | .500 | 154 | 150 | 5.13 | 5.00 | 5th MISL | DNQ | — | — | 7,449 |
2007–08 | MISL II | 19 | 11 | .633 | 186 | 135 | 6.20 | 4.50 | 3rd MISL | Champions | 5 | 0 | 7,230 |
2008–09 | NISL | 14 | 4 | .778 | 132 | 66 | 7.33 | 3.67 | 1st NISL | Champions | 1 | 0 | 7,534 |
2009–10 | MISL III | 11 | 9 | .550 | 105 | 97 | 5.25 | 4.85 | 2nd MISL | Semifinal | 0 | 2 | 6,259 |
2010–11 | MISL III | 15 | 5 | .750 | 131 | 93 | 6.55 | 4.65 | 1st MISL | Runner-up | 0 | 1 | 6,933 |
2011–12 | MISL III | 18 | 6 | .750 | 165 | 108 | 6.88 | 4.50 | 1st Eastern | Runner-up | 2 | 2 | 5,961 |
2012–13 | MISL III | 21 | 5 | .808 | 181 | 108 | 6.96 | 4.15 | 1st MISL | Champions | 4 | 0 | 5,544 |
2013–14 | MISL III
|
17 | 3 | .850 | 147 | 46 | 7.35 | 2.30 | 1st MISL | Runner-up | 3 | 3 | 6,123 |
2014–15 | MASL | 18 | 2 | .900 | 167 | 69 | 8.35 | 3.45 | 1st Eastern | Runner-up | 4 | 2 | 6,201 |
2015–16 | MASL | 15 | 4 | .789 | 129 | 57 | 6.79 | 3.00 | 1st Eastern | Champions | 6 | 0 | 6,102 |
2016–17 | MASL | 14 | 6 | .700 | 113 | 69 | 5.65 | 3.45 | 1st Eastern | Champions | 6 | 3 | 6,299 |
2017–18 | MASL | 17 | 5 | .773 | 143 | 108 | 6.50 | 4.91 | 1st Eastern | Champions | 4 | 0 | 3,491 |
2018–19 | MASL | 17 | 7 | .708 | 144 | 103 | 6.00 | 4.29 | 2nd Eastern | Semifinal | 2 | 2 | 3,317 |
2019–20 | MASL | 15 | 8 | .652 | 175 | 104 | 7.61 | 4.52 | 4th Eastern | Play-off cancelled | — | — | 2,641 |
2021 | MASL | did not participate | |||||||||||
2021–22 | MASL | 12 | 9 | .571 | 142 | 111 | 6.76 | 5.29 | 2nd Eastern | Quarterfinal | 1 | 2 | 2,183 |
2022–23 | MASL | 13 | 11 | .542 | 141 | 101 | 5.88 | 4.21 | 2nd Eastern | Runner-up | 4 | 3 | 2,778* |
Total | 544 | 366 | .598 | 6,113 | 5,076 | 6.72 | 5.58 | Win% = .629 | 66 | 39 | – | ||
*Attendance average excludes one 15 minute mini match played directly after their quarter-final matchup. |
Records
Statistics below show the all-time regular-season club leaders and include player statistics from the original Baltimore Blast which competed in the Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992).[19][20] Bold indicates active Blast players.
Category | Record holder | Total |
---|---|---|
Games | Tim Wittman | 441 |
Goals | Denison Cabral | 445 |
Assists | Srboljub Stamenković | 199 |
Game-winning goals | Denison Cabral | 32 |
Blocks | Lance Johnson | 694 |
Shutouts | William Vanzela | 11 |
Wins | William Vanzela | 105 |
Head coaches
- Kenny Cooper Sr. (1992–1994)
- Dave MacWilliams (1994–1996)
- Mike Stankovic (1996–1998)
- Kevin Healey (1998–2002)
- Sean Bowers (2002)
- Bobby McAvan (2002–2003)
- Tim Wittman (2003–2006)
- Danny Kelly (2006–2020)
- David Bascome (2020–present)[18]
Arenas
- Baltimore, Maryland(1992–2017) (previously known as Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore Arena, 1st Mariner Arena)
- SECU Arena; Towson, Maryland (2017–present)
References
- ^ a b "Blast find new home at Towson University's SECU Arena".
- Baltimore, MD: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ^ "MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE EXPANDS TO THE SUNSHINE STATE | Major Arena Soccer League". Archived from the original on 2016-09-02. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
- ^ "Blast replace head coach Danny Kelly with assistant David Bascome. Kelly departs after 15 years, six championships". Baltimore Sun.
- Baltimore, MD: Advance Publications. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
- ^ "Sidekicks Opponents: Baltimore Blast (New-MISL)".
- ^ "Video: MISL Statement ~ Frequency". Archived from the original on 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
- ^ Graham, Glenn (April 3, 2014). "Seeking to become 'more relevant,' Blast breaks away from MISL". The Baltimore Sun.
- Baltimore, MD: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ^ "Ed Hale moves Baltimore Blast to Professional Arena Soccer League - Baltimore Business Journal". Archived from the original on 2014-04-17.
- Baltimore, MD: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- ^ "Press Conference | By Florida Tropics SC | Facebook". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Blast owner ed Hale launches Indoor Professional League; eight to 10 teams to start play in November".
- ^ "MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE EXPANDS TO THE SUNSHINE STATE". Major Arena Soccer League. Archived from the original on 2016-09-02. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ Graham, Glenn. "Blast welcome the Baltimore Kings, who will serve as farm team in Major Arena Soccer League's third division". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (March 17, 2023). "THEY'LL BE HAVING A BLAST: Lancers announce affiliation with Baltimore". Front Row Soccer.
- ^ "Stats - Major Arena Soccer League".
- ^ a b https://www.baltimoreblast.com/news/baltimore-blast-announce-new-coach[dead link]
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "All-Time Roster". Baltimore Blast. Retrieved 8 September 2022.