Overtime Goal Shocks Blast in Milwaukee Heartbreak
IslandStats.com
David Bascome and his Baltimore Blast side were left reeling at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena after a dramatic overtime defeat to rivals Milwaukee Wave. Despite a spirited second-half comeback, the Blast fell to a sudden-death strike from Alex Sanchez, who completed a four-goal haul to hand the hosts a thrilling victory.
The Wave established an early stranglehold on the contest during a dominant first period. Alex Sanchez opened the scoring for Milwaukee at the 07:26 mark, before Max Ludwig doubled the advantage less than three minutes later at 09:53 to leave the Blast with significant work to do.
Baltimore responded with clinical precision in the second period, striking three times to turn the game on its head. Jairo Guevara ignited the recovery just 01:02 after the restart, followed by a leveler from Patrick Thompson at 05:31. The turnaround was complete barely a minute later when Juan Pereira found the net at 06:36 to give Bascome’s men their first lead of the night.
The third period proved to be a high-octane affair as both sides traded blows in a seesaw battle. Chad Poarch extended the Blast lead at 01:07, but the Wave clawed their way back through Mario Alvarez at 03:54 and a second from Alex Sanchez at 05:09. Baltimore appeared to have seized control late in the quarter with a rapid double from Oumar Sylla at 11:32 and Kevaughn Frater at 12:57, entering the final frame with a two-goal cushion.
The Wave refused to concede, mounting a fourth-period charge that silenced the traveling support. Alex Sanchez secured his hat-trick at 06:57 to reduce the deficit, and Mario Alvarez broke Baltimore hearts with a dramatic equalizer at 14:28 to force the game into the extra period.
With the tension at its peak in sudden-death overtime, it was Alex Sanchez who emerged as the hero for Milwaukee. At 05:33 of the additional frame, Sanchez's clinical finish secured his fourth goal of the match and condemned the Blast to a gut-wrenching defeat on the road.
