Share

Although sometimes lost in the vast sports landscape of the Baltimore region, soccer remains an important part.

And when it comes to indoor soccer, Baltimore remains spectacular as the Baltimore Blast are on a quest for an 11th indoor championship.

The Blast are off to a typically good start. They're currently riding a nine-game win streak. But what's different is the players. You can look out at practice and not know who they are.

The championship DNA of the Blast usually includes longtime stars leading the way. This season, some of the usual suspects remain.

However, there are a host of new, young players. The team found several players through its own combines, something only the Blast does. Those players have made immediate impacts.

But more than talent, they also needed a history lesson.

"I think another thing that the young players (need to know) … what it means to play for this team that has been around for 40 years, gets to the championship all the time," said Blast captain Jonatas Melo. "And the young players are doing really well."

Wellington Brasmusse, 20, part of a Brazilian pipeline that has seen so much success in Baltimore, shows no fear in his first indoor professional season. Brasmusse embraces the culture established in Baltimore.

"I think the first thing we needed to do was listen," Brasmusse said. "We listen to the old guys, the captains, the coach for sure. And enjoy the game, enjoy, don't be scared, just try to do the best."

A 10-1 start to the season has the Blast in great shape, but the message at practice on Tuesday was that they haven't won anything yet, and things are about to get harder.

The Blast play their home games at TU Arena on the campus of Towson University. However, because of basketball cranking up in February, the team won't be back home until March 2.

In the meantime, the Blast will just have to keep cranking out wins on the road.