It paid to be good as well as lucky for the Indiana Blast Friday night.
Indiana withstood a barrage of blasts by the Minnesota Thunder - three of which hit either the posts or crossbar - and held on to a 2-1 win at a cold and rainy Kuntz Stadium.
The Blast have now won two straight after going winless in their prior 12 matches dating to last season. They also doubled their point total to 8 and moved past Minnesota and out of the Central Division cellar.
Friday's match was also the first of a home-and-home series in the U.S. Open Cup tournament. Round 2 of the set between the teams will be next Saturday at Minnesota.
After Rodrigo Costa scored what would be the match winner in the 50th minute, it was up to the Blast defense to preserve the lead, and that it did.
The Thunder sent everybody forward and came up with two great chances to draw even, but they were to no avail.
Minnesota forward Mike Gentile, who had a shot hit the post in the first half, banged one off the right post in the 65th minute.
Then during the six minutes of second-half stoppage time, Indiana goalkeeper Josh Lynk punched away a shot at point-blank range, one of three in rapid succession by the Thunder.
Lynk made 11 saves on the night as the Blast were outshot 20-8.
"All the chances (the Thunder) got were very dangerous and they were pretty much on target," Indiana coach Eric Descombes said. "They just threw everybody up front and we tried to adjust and weather the storm."
The Blast opened the scoring with a goal by Gino DiGuardi from about 20 feet out in the 12th minute. Minnesota over-committed to the attack and, as Descombes stated in his pre-game scouting report, found itself exposed to a huge chance on the other side.
After seeing two shots hit a post and crossbar in the first half, the Thunder finally found the net with Jakob Fenger's shot from inside the box in the 48th minute.
The tie was short-lived, however, as Costa found an small opening between the left post and Minnesota keeper Jon Lowery and deposited the ball through.
"It was a huge win," Lynk said. "We have to start making a name for ourselves and as coach said we need to get rid of the ghosts and demons that have haunted us from years past and have seemed to linger."
Lineups
Minnesota - Lowery, Gentile, Magee, Torres, Menyongar, Fenger (Prendergast 76), Eyre, Schulte, Llamas, Gores, Gramerz.
Indiana - Lynk, DiGuardi, Dresser (Vaughn 73), Ottesen, Tenoff (Prosser 81), Sweet, Costa, Dolinsky, Allen, Less, Keenan (Rue 80, Ihekoronye 84)
Scoring -- DiGuardi (Sweet, 16), Fenger (Schulte, 48), Costa (Dolinsky, 50).
Cautions - Costa (55), Dolinsky (84), Gentile (86).
Shots on goal - M 20, I 8
Saves - M (Lowery) 3, I (Lynk) 11.
Corners - M 14, I 1.
Fouls - M 8, I 22.
Offsides - M 1, I 7.
