The Baltimore Blast, defending Major Indoor Soccer champion, and the Milwaukee Wave advanced to the MISL championship series with one-sided victories in Friday's semifinals.
The Blast scored the first four goals and held the visiting Dallas Sidekicks scoreless until the second half in a 6-1 romp at 1st Mariner Arena.
Milwaukee also netted the first four goals and carried a shutout into the second half in a 7-3 triumph over the visiting Kansas City Comets at U.S. Cellular Arena.
The best-of-five championship series, which begins Friday night in Milwaukee, is a rematch of last year's title series. The Wave will be home for Games 1 and 2 next weekend, with Baltimore home May 1 and 2 for Games 3 and, if necessary, 4. The series would return to Milwaukee on May 8 if Game 5 is needed.
Milwaukee has home-field advantage based on a better regular-season record. The Wave was 27-9, and Baltimore was 25-11.
Tarik Walker scored two goals in the Blast's semifinal victory, and Denison Cabral, Lee Tschantret, Allen Eller and Neil Gilbert added goals. Goalkeeper Scott Hileman stopped 15 of 16 Dallas shots; Patrick Shamu scored the Sidekicks' goal.
Greg Howes netted two goals and one assist in the Wave's win, and Todd Durosky, Troy Durosky, Marcelo Fontana, Joe Hammes and Pat White also scored goals. Goalkeeper Dan Green made 17 saves and assisted two goals.
Jamar Beasley, Jeff Davis and Wes Wade tallied for Kansas City.
MISL PLAYOFFS
Semifinals
Friday, April 16
Baltimore 6 Dallas 1
Milwaukee 7 Kansas City 3
Quarterfinals
Saturday, April 10
Dallas 7 Cleveland 4
Kansas City 8 Philadelphia 5
CHAMPIONSHIP
Baltimore Blast vs. Milwaukee Wave
Best-of-five series
April 23: at Milwaukee, 7:35 p.m. CDT
April 24: at Milwaukee, 7:35 p.m. CDT
May 1: at Baltimore, 7:35 p.m. EDT
*May 2: at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m. EDT
*May 8: at Milwaukee, 7:35 p.m. CDT
* – if necessary