PHILADELPHIA - While some unlucky bounces may have prevented the Philadelphia KiXX (8-12) from going to the postseason this year, the character of the team has never been in question. In a night that saw 13-year Philadelphia goalkeeper Peter Pappas have his #22 jersey permanently retired, the KiXX showed its strong resolve to battle past rival Baltimore Blast (12-8), 19-12.

Philadelphia struck first in this match-up, with forward Ptah Myers setting up Semir Mesanovic at 7:13 of the first period to make it 2-0. Baltimore midfielder Pat Healey then responded for the Blast at 11:21, but a KiXX connection at 11:57 from defender Ryan Heins to midfielder Angel Rivillo gave Philadelphia back the lead, 4-2. The KiXX then finished off the quarter with a pair of goals to hang an 8-2 tally, first by Adauto Neto to Myers at 13:02, and player/coach Don D'Ambra then scored a wall pass from midfielder Sandre Naumoski at 14:29. The assist by Neto on the Myers notch made it 19 consecutive games with at least one point.

Philadelphia made it eight unanswered points at the 6:54 mark of the second quarter, with veteran defender Pat Morris scoring a Jeremy Ortiz feed. The Blast ended the run on a Rob Dyachenko to Healey 2-pointer at 7:54, but the KiXX retailed at 9:38 when defender Kevin Coleman scored a pass from Neto to make it 12-4. Neto then picked up his third assist of the half at 12:24 on a Naumoski notch, and Philadelphia took