He can still feel the soreness in his leg, but veteran forward Guiliano Celenza will be in the lineup tonight when the Baltimore Blast hosts Chicago at 1st Mariner Arena.
Celenza had missed nine games with a groin injury after leaving the team?s Dec. 2 game in the fourth quarter after taking a shot on goal.
“It?s something I?m probably going to deal with until the end of the season,” said Celenza, a product of both Archbishop Curley and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
After leading the Blast (6-8) in scoring last season with 38 goals in 29 games, Celenza opened this season with seven goals and 15 points.
“He?s a guy that can change the game,” coach Danny Kelly said. “He?s been an all-star in this league. One thing Guils can do is finish. He finishes chances other guys can?t finish.”
Kelly also noted that defending league MVP Adauto Neto could see some limited action Saturday.
In Celenza?s absence, theteam has struggled. In the nine games he has missed, the defending Major Indoor Soccer League champions have gone 3-6. Celenza has had a tough time sitting back and watching the group struggle.
“It?s been tough. At the same time, it?s not like we got blown away,” Celenza said. “We had our chances, but we were in each game. As [Kelly] says at times, it?s mental mistakes that put us in that situation. Hopefully, we can turn that around.”
The Blast plays Chicago (7-7) tonight and Detroit (10-7) Saturday in the middle of a five-game home stand. The team went 1-1 last weekend, with a win Saturday against California following a Friday night loss to Milwaukee.
After completing the current home stand, the Blast will play back-to-back home games just once in its remaining 13 games. The team enters the weekend 3.5 games out of first place and one game out of the league?s fourth and final playoff spot, compounding the importance of the next three games.
“Its very important. We?re playing everybody ahead of us now,” Celenza said. We?re in a situation where we need to start winning games. That?s not to say we?re out of it, because we still have a chance to make the playoffs.”
BIG BLAST WEEKEND
» Friday: Chicago, 7:35 p.m.; Radio: 680 AM
» Saturday: Detroit, 7:35 p.m.; Radio: 680 AM
» Noteworthy: Blast veteran Lee Tschantret is just three points away from 1,000 for his career ? The Blast are 5-2 at home ? Denison Cabral and Machel Millwood pace the team with 32 points apiece ? Millwood leads the team with 13 goals.
