Panzetta

Injured Baltimore Blast defender Angelo Panzetta will require major reconstructive knee surgery and extended rehabilitation that may keep him out of action seven to 12 months, Blast trainer Marty McGinty said yesterday.Panzetta, a starter in his second year with the Blast, injured his left knee in Sunday's 9-6 victory over the Wichita Wings, suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn lateral meniscus.He will undergo surgery Monday. At best, Panzetta could return for the start of next season, McGinty said.

Player .. .. .. .. .. This yearJoe Barger . . . . . .Local businessRichard Chinapoo . . .DallasDominic Feltham . . . Ret. to EnglandChris Haywood . . . . IndefiniteHank Henry . . . . . .DallasScott Manning . . . . Asst., Loyola CollegeDale Mitchell . . . . TacomaAngelo Panzetta . . . Harrisburg, NPSLBruce Savage . . . . .U.S. National teamChris Simon . . . . . Local businessDavid Vaudreuil . . . Harrisburg, NPSLTim Wittman . . . . . San Diego

Blast defender Angelo Panzetta, who suffered a knee injury in the team's 9-6 win over Wichita Sunday, will miss the rest of the Major Soccer League season after a test showed that he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the team announced today.Panzetta, a 23-year-old defender, also tore cartilage in the knee, and will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Friday. Reconstructive surgery to repair the torn ligament will be performed in the next few weeks. Panzetta is not expected to resume playing soccer for another 8-12 months, team doctors said.

The Blast has released Angelo Panzetta, who would have been entering his third year with the team.After a serious knee injury last season, Panzetta had worked hard at rehabilitation to be ready for this season. The Blast, however, is overloaded with defenders, and Blast vice president Drew Forrester said the cut was made because management was afraid it could not give Panzetta, 24, the playing time he needed to make a complete comeback."Hershey coach Jim Pollihan wants to make Panzetta a starter with his [National Professional Soccer League]

The Blast has released Angelo Panzetta, who would have been entering his third year with the team.After a serious knee injury last season, Panzetta had worked hard at rehabilitation to be ready for this season. The Blast, however, is overloaded with defenders, and Blast vice president Drew Forrester said the cut was made because management was afraid it could not give Panzetta, 24, the playing time he needed to make a complete comeback."Hershey coach Jim Pollihan wants to make Panzetta a starter with his [National Professional Soccer League]

Blast defender Angelo Panzetta, who injured his left knee Jan. 19 against the Wichita Wings, underwent two hours of surgery yesterday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Panzetta is expected to be out from eight to 12 months.*The Blast, which has toned down its player introductions out of respect for the war in the Middle East, may scale back even more after the Feb. 13 All-Star Game. Surveys were issued fans last weekend to determine if they wanted player introductions to continue.

Blast defender Angelo Panzetta will miss the remainder of the 1990-91 season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He also suffered torn cartilage in the knee and will undergo arthroscopic surgery tomorrow. Reconstructive surgery will be performed in the next few weeks.Panzetta, 23, suffered the injuries in the Blast's 9-6 win over Wichita Sunday. Team doctors say that he will not be able to return to soccer for eight to 12 months."We are all sickened by the news," said Blast coach Kenny Cooper.

Since suffering a torn knee ligament that forced him to miss half of last season, Baltimore Blast defenseman Angelo Panzetta has endured a grueling rehabilitation while looking forward to a comeback this season.Yesterday, he said his leg was fit -- but he found himself without a team to prove it.In its latest move in a busy off-season, the Blast yesterday cut Panzetta, leaving the team with just five players from last season's roster. Coach Kenny Cooper said the decision was based on the team composition, which would have deprived Panzetta of the playing time to make a complete comeback.

Player .. .. .. .. .. This yearJoe Barger . . . . . .Local businessRichard Chinapoo . . .DallasDominic Feltham . . . Ret. to EnglandChris Haywood . . . . IndefiniteHank Henry . . . . . .DallasScott Manning . . . . Asst., Loyola CollegeDale Mitchell . . . . TacomaAngelo Panzetta . . . Harrisburg, NPSLBruce Savage . . . . .U.S. National teamChris Simon . . . . . Local businessDavid Vaudreuil . . . Harrisburg, NPSLTim Wittman . . . . . San Diego

Wichita Wings midfielder Chico Borja has been absolved of wrongdoing in the Jan. 11 collision that has sidelined Baltimore Blast goalkeeper Scott Manning with a sprained right knee.Major Soccer League commissioner Earl Foreman said yesterday, "I did not find conclusive evidence that Chico Borja tried to intentionally injure Scott Manning."The decision by Foreman didn't sit well with Manning and Blast owner Ed Hale."It's very consistent with the way the league is run," Manning said sarcastically.

Since suffering a torn knee ligament that forced him to miss half of last season, Baltimore Blast defenseman Angelo Panzetta has endured a grueling rehabilitation while looking forward to a comeback this season.Yesterday, he said his leg was fit -- but he found himself without a team to prove it.In its latest move in a busy off-season, the Blast yesterday cut Panzetta, leaving the team with just five players from last season's roster. Coach Kenny Cooper said the decision was based on the team composition, which would have deprived Panzetta of the playing time to make a complete comeback.

The Baltimore Blast announced a 40-game 1991-92 Major Soccer League schedule yesterday that will be highlighted by 18 of 20 home games on the weekend in addition to the 13th MSL All-Star Game at the Baltimore Arena on Feb. 13.The only two weeknight games will be Feb. 27 against the Wichita Wings and March 26 against the St. Louis Storm. Both of those games will start at 7:05.The Blast will open and close the season at home, meeting the Dallas Sidekicks Oct. 19 in the home opener and closing the season against the Tacoma Stars on April 4. All the weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

Mark Mettrick, a quiet, intimidating defender and midfielder, will be part of the Baltimore Blast's attempt to bounce back from last season's 21-31 record.Mettrick, 26, re-signed with the Blast yesterday and will begin his fourth season with the Major Soccer League team Sept. 17 when training camp opens at Myers Pavilion in Brooklyn.Blast coach Kenny Cooper said yesterday that he plans to use Mettrick, a native of Glossup, England, and a graduate of Hartwick College, primarily at midfield this season.

The news just keeps getting worse for the Blast.The roster has dwindled to 12 healthy field players, and yesterday defender Mike Stankovic learned he has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount, thought to be about $1,000, for a punching incident in Tacoma against Star Steve Kinsey.The Blast is appealing the suspension, thus keeping Stankovic eligible for Saturday's game in San Diego and Tuesday's game in Tacoma.Other bad news concerns second-year defender Joe Barger, who will be out for 10 days with a severe neck strain suffered in St. Louis a week ago. Also out for 10 days is defender Mike Reynolds.

It might be the first time Blast goalkeeper Scott Manning has fallen behind a Socker and been able to smile about it.Tied with San Diego keeper Victor Nogueira with one shutout apiece, Manning dropped one back in last night's 4-0 Sockers victory, but gained something much more important -- a Cleveland Crunch loss.For first-place Cleveland (22-20), 2 1/2 games ahead of the slumping Blast (19-22), it was the first loss in 11 games.Nogueira's eighth career shutout was his second this season.

It could be remembered as the play that finally turned a struggling Baltimore Blast team around.The score was tied at 3 late in the third quarter and Billy Ronson and Dale Mitchell had a two-on-none fast break.Ronson, the team's leading scorer, had the ball on the left sidand Mitchell was wide open on the right side.Ronson, who has been accused at times this season of takintoo many shots, gave the ball up to Mitchell, who could have easily taken the shot, but Mitchell passed the ball back to Ronson, who scored from 35 feet for a 4-3 lead and the Blast went on to a 9-6 victory over the Dallas Sidekicks last night before 7,543 at the Baltimore Arena.

Practice was finished, but veteran Mike Stankovic and second-year man Angelo Panzetta worked on."I think Mike has adopted Angelo," said Blast coach Kenny Cooper. "I like him to work with our young players. It's like having a third coach in many ways, and it is making a difference in the way we play."Stankovic has had a lot of roles with the Blast through the years. He has been an enforcer, an intimidator, a clutch scorer and, from time to time, a finesse player.In a memorable moment Jan. 5 against St. Louis, he was also something of a wizard, hitting a shot from an angle that would have made Houdini blink.

Mark Mettrick, a quiet, intimidating defender and midfielder, will be part of the Baltimore Blast's attempt to bounce back from last season's 21-31 record.Mettrick, 26, re-signed with the Blast yesterday and will begin his fourth season with the Major Soccer League team Sept. 17 when training camp opens at Myers Pavilion in Brooklyn.Blast coach Kenny Cooper said yesterday that he plans to use Mettrick, a native of Glossup, England, and a graduate of Hartwick College, primarily at midfield this season.

Blast defender Angelo Panzetta, who injured his left knee Jan. 19 against the Wichita Wings, underwent two hours of surgery yesterday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Panzetta is expected to be out from eight to 12 months.*The Blast, which has toned down its player introductions out of respect for the war in the Middle East, may scale back even more after the Feb. 13 All-Star Game. Surveys were issued fans last weekend to determine if they wanted player introductions to continue.

Injured Baltimore Blast defender Angelo Panzetta will require major reconstructive knee surgery and extended rehabilitation that may keep him out of action seven to 12 months, Blast trainer Marty McGinty said yesterday.Panzetta, a starter in his second year with the Blast, injured his left knee in Sunday's 9-6 victory over the Wichita Wings, suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn lateral meniscus.He will undergo surgery Monday. At best, Panzetta could return for the start of next season, McGinty said.