Tropics can't find offense in falling to Baltimore for third time this season

BALTIMORE, Md. – Playing five road games early in the season, including their second road back-to-back matchups in three weekends, caught up with the Florida Tropics Saturday night in Baltimore.

The defending MASL Blast had little trouble in dispatching the expansion Tropics 7-0 Saturday night before a crowd of 7,450 at the Royal Farms Arena.

It was the Tropics third loss of the season to Baltimore – two of them on the Blast's home turf – and dropped their overall mark to 2-5. The hosts scored three goals in a 73 second span midway through the second quarter to open a 5-0 lead. Five different Baltimore players got goals, including Vin Dontas, who also added two assists for a three-point half. He added a second half goal as well.

William Vanzela made 20 saves in posting his eighth career shutout. It was the second whitewash in the MASL this year, and first for the Baltimore goalkeep, who came into the game with a 3.02 goals against average. Florida played the final five minutes with a sixth attacker, but still could not get one past the Blast defense. In three games against the Tropcs this season, he allowed just two goals.

The two teams have now concluded their season series. The Tropics have six Eastern Division games left, all in February, with three against Syracuse and three against Harrisburg.

Florida will be back at the Lakeland Center Saturday night, Dec. 17, to host the Kansas City Comets. Game time is 7:05 p.m., and tickets are available at www.fltropics.com, or by calling 863-333-5353. All Tropics games are broadcast live on YouTube's MASL.tv, which is accessible through the team's website, or league website at www.maslsoccer.com.