01/08/2010 10:59 AM - Led by Giuliano Celenza, the first-place Baltimore Blast defeated the Monterrey La RaZa, 13-4, Friday night at 1st Mariner Arena. The Blast (5-2) returns to the 1st Mariner Arena playing field Saturday night to host the Milwaukee Wave.
After a scoreless first quarter, Machel Millwood scored the first goal of the game at 6:01 of the second quarter to give Baltimore a 2-0 lead. With Monterrey's Carlos Farias serving a two-minute penalty, Celenza scored a power-play goal to increase the Blast lead to 4-0 but Mark Ughy scored at the buzzer to cut the lead to 4-2 at halftime.
The Blast took control in the third quarter, scoring three goals in the first four minutes. Rookie Max Ferdinand opened the scoring spree at 1:42 and Celenza followed up with his second goal of the night 17 seconds later. Denison Cabral scored a three-point power-play goal at 3:29 to extend Baltimore's lead to 11-2 before Hector Vallejo scored to make it 11-4.
Celenza scored again, to complete his first hat trick of the season, in the fifth minute of the final quarter to put the Blast on top, 13-4.
Notes:
* Celenza led all players with eight points in the match (three goals, two assists).
* Celenza's second goal of the game was the 200th goal of his career.
* A Blast player has recorded a hat trick in each of the team's five wins this season.
* Blast goalkeeper Sagu stopped 14 of the 16 shots he faced.
* The Blast scored on three of four power-play opportunities.
Up Next:
The Blast return to 1st Mariner Arena Saturday night to host the second-place Milwaukee Wave. The Wave defeated the Blast, 12-10 in overtime, on New Year's Eve at U.S. Cellular Arena.
Watch this weekend's home games live at www.B2TV.com.
Friday, January 8 – Baltimore 13 - Monterrey 4 Saturday, January 9 – Rockford at Philadelphia Saturday, January 9 – Milwaukee at Baltimore Sunday, January 10 – Monterrey at Milwaukee Sunday, January 10 – Philadelphia at Rockford
