Indiana Blast
Encyclopedia
Indiana Blast were an American soccer team, founded in 1997. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues
, and played in the D-3 Pro League
, the A-League and the USL Premier Development League
, until folding at the end of the 2004 season.
The Blast played their home games at Kuntz Memorial Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
. The team's colors were white and blue for its last four years after four years with red and black as its colors.
, 17 July 2004
and signed its second star player in Marc LeBere who came over from the Philadelphia Freedom after tallying 13 goals for the Freedom. The club played its first match at Kuntz Stadium on April 25, 1997, a 2-0 loss to eventual A-League champion Milwaukee Rampage
in front of 2,886 fans. The team claimed its first victory on May 9, beating the Cincinnati Riverhawks
4-0.
By August, the team's original owner, businessman Ferid Poturkovic, had sold the club to MorSports, Inc. On the day the sale was announced, the Blast beat the Chicago Stingers 2-0 to clinch a playoff berth with their fifth consecutive victory to end the regular season. Two weeks later, the Blast came from 2-0 down to defeat the Cleveland Caps
3-2 and win a first-round playoff game. The Blast would then defeat Chicago 1-0 on August 22 to make it to the D3 Pro League quarterfinals, where they fell 6-0 to the Charlotte Eagles
.
The 1998 season was the best in the club's history, as the Blast went 15-3 in league play (17-4 overall) and won the North Central Division's regular-season championship. The Chicago Stingers would exact their revenge for 1997's playoff defeat, though, as they would beat the Blast 3-0 on August 21, 1998 in a first-round playoff match. The year would end with the Blast winning "Organization of the Year" honors from the USISL and earning promotion to the A-League.
In its first A-League game, the Blast won away to Tennessee Rhythm
3-1, but would finish a mere point out of the playoff race with a 13-15 record, having lost the final postseason spot to the El Paso Patriots
by virtue of a tiebreaker.
Though the Blast struggled to a 9-15-4 record in 2000, they qualified for the playoffs and absorbed a 7-0 pounding at the hands of the Minnesota Thunder
in the first round. The club would never qualify for postseason play again.
Original coach Jimmy McDonald stepped down after the 2000 season and was replaced by Bret Hall
, who had coached the Chicago Stingers and Sockers to three consecutive championships. For health reasons, Hall was forced to relinquish his duties before ever coaching a game and he was replaced by assistant Ian Martin, the former head coach at Butler University
in Indianapolis. Martin's only season at the helm resulted in an 8-18-0 record in 2001.
Former French professional and Mauritanian international Eric Descombes
took over as player-coach for the 2002 season, which saw the team go 6-18-4, including a stretch of 16 games over two months in which it won just one match. A highlight was a 2-2 draw against Rochester Raging Rhinos
in a nationally-televised game on August 17 that drew a then-club-record 4,557 fans (a figure that would be topped on July 13, 2003 when 5,140 saw a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
).
McDonald returned to the sidelines for the 2003 season, but it would be the worst in the club's history, as they continued losing and controversy dogged the Blast from the season's start. McDonald resigned for the final time after a horrendous start and was replaced by assistant Mike Sanich. Before the 3-23-2 season was over, player Peter Baah
had taken the reins. It would be the Blast's last season in the A-League.
A move to the Premier Development League for the 2004 season infused the club with young talent, but the results weren't much better as the Blast finished 5-12-1 under coach John Dolinsky
(who was first replaced by player Mark Allen and then by Baah before the season's end). The team's final match ever was a 3-2 loss to the Kalamazoo Kingdom
at home on July 17, 2004. The final victory in club history came the night before, a 7-3 home decision over the Kansas City Brass
.
In its history, the Blast established quite a rivalry with the Cincinnati Riverhawks
, as the teams met 25 times. Indiana won 12, Cincinnati 11 and there were 2 draws in the series. At the other end of the spectrum, Indiana went just 2-15-1 in 18 matches against the Minnesota Thunder
. In eight seasons, the club won 67, lost 114 and tied 11 in league play.
Jamar Beasley
Eric Descombes
Jeffrey Dresser John Michael Hayden
Aleksey Korol
Marc LeBere Chris Lemons
Amarildo Oliveira Jon Pickup Nick Pasquarello Mark Phillips Matt Reiswerg
Godfrey Tenoff
Steve Weiger
2001 Ian Martin 2001 Eric Descombes
2002 Mike Sanich 2003 Peter Baah
2003, 2004 John Dolinsky
2004 Mark Allen 2004
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
, and played in the D-3 Pro League
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
, the A-League and the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, until folding at the end of the 2004 season.
The Blast played their home games at Kuntz Memorial Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. The team's colors were white and blue for its last four years after four years with red and black as its colors.
Final Squad
vs Kalamazoo KingdomKalamazoo Kingdom
Kalamazoo Kingdom were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Kingdom folded their...
, 17 July 2004
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 | USISL D3-Pro League | 2nd, North Central | Quarter Finals | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 3 | USISL D3-Pro League | 1st, North Central | Division Finals | Did not qualify |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 4th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Central | Conference Quarterfinals | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 6th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2002 | 2 | USL A-League | 4th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | 2 | USL A-League | 5th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | 4 | USL PDL | 9th, Heartland | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Competition History
Officially announced a press conference on September 30, 1996, the Blast signed its first player that November in goalkeeper Mile MilovacMile Milovac
Mile Milovac was an American soccer goalkeeper who was drafted by D.C. United in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. He played for United Serbs in Chicago’s Metropolitan Soccer League as well as in the Continental Indoor Soccer League and Premier Development League.Milovac played for the United...
and signed its second star player in Marc LeBere who came over from the Philadelphia Freedom after tallying 13 goals for the Freedom. The club played its first match at Kuntz Stadium on April 25, 1997, a 2-0 loss to eventual A-League champion Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
in front of 2,886 fans. The team claimed its first victory on May 9, beating the Cincinnati Riverhawks
Cincinnati Riverhawks
The Cincinnati Riverhawks were a professional soccer team that debuted in the USISL Premier Development League in 1997 and joined the A-League from 1998 to 2003...
4-0.
By August, the team's original owner, businessman Ferid Poturkovic, had sold the club to MorSports, Inc. On the day the sale was announced, the Blast beat the Chicago Stingers 2-0 to clinch a playoff berth with their fifth consecutive victory to end the regular season. Two weeks later, the Blast came from 2-0 down to defeat the Cleveland Caps
Cleveland Caps
The Cleveland Caps were an American soccer team that played in Cleveland, Ohio.-Year-by-year:...
3-2 and win a first-round playoff game. The Blast would then defeat Chicago 1-0 on August 22 to make it to the D3 Pro League quarterfinals, where they fell 6-0 to the Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.
The 1998 season was the best in the club's history, as the Blast went 15-3 in league play (17-4 overall) and won the North Central Division's regular-season championship. The Chicago Stingers would exact their revenge for 1997's playoff defeat, though, as they would beat the Blast 3-0 on August 21, 1998 in a first-round playoff match. The year would end with the Blast winning "Organization of the Year" honors from the USISL and earning promotion to the A-League.
In its first A-League game, the Blast won away to Tennessee Rhythm
Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
3-1, but would finish a mere point out of the playoff race with a 13-15 record, having lost the final postseason spot to the El Paso Patriots
El Paso Patriots
Chivas El Paso Patriots is an American soccer team based in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...
by virtue of a tiebreaker.
Though the Blast struggled to a 9-15-4 record in 2000, they qualified for the playoffs and absorbed a 7-0 pounding at the hands of the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
in the first round. The club would never qualify for postseason play again.
Original coach Jimmy McDonald stepped down after the 2000 season and was replaced by Bret Hall
Bret Hall
Bret Hall is a retired American soccer player who played in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He has coached at the collegiate, professional and national team levels.-Player:...
, who had coached the Chicago Stingers and Sockers to three consecutive championships. For health reasons, Hall was forced to relinquish his duties before ever coaching a game and he was replaced by assistant Ian Martin, the former head coach at Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
in Indianapolis. Martin's only season at the helm resulted in an 8-18-0 record in 2001.
Former French professional and Mauritanian international Eric Descombes
Eric Descombes
Eric Descombes is a former Mauritanian footballer who spent his career with Chico Rooks, Cascade Surge, Sacramento Scorpions, Southend United, New Orleans Storm, Cincinnati Riverhawks and Indiana Blast. He also capped twice for the n national team.-External links:...
took over as player-coach for the 2002 season, which saw the team go 6-18-4, including a stretch of 16 games over two months in which it won just one match. A highlight was a 2-2 draw against Rochester Raging Rhinos
Rochester Raging Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having self-relegated from the USSF D2 Pro League...
in a nationally-televised game on August 17 that drew a then-club-record 4,557 fans (a figure that would be topped on July 13, 2003 when 5,140 saw a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
).
McDonald returned to the sidelines for the 2003 season, but it would be the worst in the club's history, as they continued losing and controversy dogged the Blast from the season's start. McDonald resigned for the final time after a horrendous start and was replaced by assistant Mike Sanich. Before the 3-23-2 season was over, player Peter Baah
Peter Baah
Peter Baah is an English former professional footballer. During his playing career, Baah played as a winger in England and the United States, before becoming a football coach.-Career:...
had taken the reins. It would be the Blast's last season in the A-League.
A move to the Premier Development League for the 2004 season infused the club with young talent, but the results weren't much better as the Blast finished 5-12-1 under coach John Dolinsky
John Dolinsky
John Dolinsky is a retired German-American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He also coached in the American Indoor Soccer Association where he was the 1989 Coach of the...
(who was first replaced by player Mark Allen and then by Baah before the season's end). The team's final match ever was a 3-2 loss to the Kalamazoo Kingdom
Kalamazoo Kingdom
Kalamazoo Kingdom were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Kingdom folded their...
at home on July 17, 2004. The final victory in club history came the night before, a 7-3 home decision over the Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass
Kansas City Brass is an American soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games on...
.
In its history, the Blast established quite a rivalry with the Cincinnati Riverhawks
Cincinnati Riverhawks
The Cincinnati Riverhawks were a professional soccer team that debuted in the USISL Premier Development League in 1997 and joined the A-League from 1998 to 2003...
, as the teams met 25 times. Indiana won 12, Cincinnati 11 and there were 2 draws in the series. At the other end of the spectrum, Indiana went just 2-15-1 in 18 matches against the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
. In eight seasons, the club won 67, lost 114 and tied 11 in league play.
Notable former players
Mark Allen Peter BaahPeter Baah
Peter Baah is an English former professional footballer. During his playing career, Baah played as a winger in England and the United States, before becoming a football coach.-Career:...
Jamar Beasley
Jamar Beasley
Jamar Beasley is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League.-Career:...
Eric Descombes
Eric Descombes
Eric Descombes is a former Mauritanian footballer who spent his career with Chico Rooks, Cascade Surge, Sacramento Scorpions, Southend United, New Orleans Storm, Cincinnati Riverhawks and Indiana Blast. He also capped twice for the n national team.-External links:...
Jeffrey Dresser John Michael Hayden
John Michael Hayden
John Michael Hayden is an American soccer player, currently playing for semi-professional indoor soccer team, the Louisville Lightning.-Youth and College:...
Aleksey Korol
Aleksey Korol
Aleksey Korol is a Ukrainian soccer forward and coach who has spent most of his career in the United States.-Player:Korol played both hockey and soccer growing up in Ukraine. However, he signed with Dynamo Kiev as a youth player. His family sent him to the United States when he was 14 where he...
Marc LeBere Chris Lemons
Chris Lemons
Chris Lemons is an American soccer player who plays for the Wichita Wings.-Youth and College:Lemons was a two time All State high school soccer player before attending Oklahoma Christian University where he was a 2000 NAIA honorable mention All American and a 2001 third team All...
Amarildo Oliveira Jon Pickup Nick Pasquarello Mark Phillips Matt Reiswerg
Matt Reiswerg
Matt Reiswerg was an American soccer player. Currently, he is the goalkeeper coach at IUPUI.-College:...
Godfrey Tenoff
Godfrey Tenoff
Godfrey Tenoff is a South African soccer player, currently without a club.-College:Tenoff came to the United States from his native South Africa in 1995...
Steve Weiger
Coaches
Jimmy McDonald 1994-2000, 2003 Bret HallBret Hall
Bret Hall is a retired American soccer player who played in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He has coached at the collegiate, professional and national team levels.-Player:...
2001 Ian Martin 2001 Eric Descombes
Eric Descombes
Eric Descombes is a former Mauritanian footballer who spent his career with Chico Rooks, Cascade Surge, Sacramento Scorpions, Southend United, New Orleans Storm, Cincinnati Riverhawks and Indiana Blast. He also capped twice for the n national team.-External links:...
2002 Mike Sanich 2003 Peter Baah
Peter Baah
Peter Baah is an English former professional footballer. During his playing career, Baah played as a winger in England and the United States, before becoming a football coach.-Career:...
2003, 2004 John Dolinsky
John Dolinsky
John Dolinsky is a retired German-American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He also coached in the American Indoor Soccer Association where he was the 1989 Coach of the...
2004 Mark Allen 2004